Don McLean's iconic American Pie to go under the hammer [View all]
Source: HindustanTimes
Legendary songwriter Don McLean's original manuscript of American Pie will soon be auctioned.
McLean's American Pie, one of the most iconic songs of its time, could fetch up to $1.5 million when it is sold on April 7, auctioneers Christie's said on Thursday.
The 16 pages of hand-written and typed drafts include notes and deletions for the recording that became a hit after it was released in 1971. It was named a Song of the Century by the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts.
McLean, 69, is among the most renowned singer-songwriters of his generation. He said he decided to sell the manuscript on a whim and has admitted the beginning of the more than eight-minute song is about the death of singer Buddy Holly, who died in a plane crash with Ritchie Valens and JP Richardson in 1959.
But he has been elusive about the meaning of most of the lyrics, which has heightened interest and led to countless interpretations.
"I wanted to capture, probably before it was ever formulated, a rock-and-roll American dream," McLean told Reuters. "The writing and the lyrics will divulge everything there is to divulge."
Read more: http://m.hindustantimes.com/music/don-mclean-s-iconic-american-pie-to-go-under-the-hammer/article1-1316406.aspx
Used to sing this while driving down to the Tailrace, the confluence of the Loup and Platte rivers--there really was a levee, we really did drive Chevys, and we really did drink whiskey (not sure about rye...)
Immortal.
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