Favorites and Rarities
Don McLean · 1993
144 min · 42 tracks · folk music
An evocative collection blending folk storytelling with soulful melodies and poignant reflections on love and life.
Top tracks — play these first
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American Pie — This track serves as McLean's signature song, encapsulating the cultural shifts of the early 1970s through its rich narrative and allegorical lyrics.
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Vincent (Starry, Starry Night) — A haunting tribute to artist Vincent van Gogh, this song showcases McLean's lyrical depth and emotional resonance, making it a standout in his catalog.
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Castles in the Air Start here — This track exemplifies McLean's ability to weave personal introspection with universal themes, showcasing his skill as a lyricist and melody writer.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- reflective moments of nostalgia
- dynamic journey with peaks
- heartfelt storytelling and melodies
- for leisurely afternoons
Maybe skip if you
- seeking fast-paced excitement
- prefer standalone singles
Where this album fits
- Themes
- American nostalgia· Vincent van Gogh tribute
- Career context
- By 1993, Don McLean was already an established artist, known primarily for his classic hit 'American Pie' from 1971. 'Favorites and Rarities' is a compilation that revisits beloved tracks alongside lesser-known gems, showcasing his enduring appeal as a storyteller and musician. This release came in the wake of his commercial success, serving both as a retrospective and an introduction to new listeners.
- Stylistic neighbors
- James Taylor· Simon & Garfunkel· Cat Stevens
Tracklist
Disc 1
- 1 Castles in the Air Start here 2:56
- 2 And I Love You So 4:18
- 3 American Pie 8:35
- 4 Vincent (Starry, Starry Night) 4:01
- 5 Babylon 1:44
- 6 Empty Chairs 3:26
- 7 Dreidel 3:46
- 8 If We Try 3:34
- 9 Fool's Paradise 3:51
- 10 Sitting on Top of the World 1:59
- 11 La la Love You 3:46
- 12 Wonderful Baby 2:06
- 13 Crying in the Chapel 2:21
- 14 Magdalene Lane 4:06
- 15 Crying 3:42
- 16 Since I Don't Have You 2:36
- 17 Castles in the Air Start here 3:44
- 18 He's Got You 4:51
- 19 Superman's Ghost 4:47
- 20 You Can't Blame the Train 3:05
Disc 2
- 1 Good Old Wagon 2:24
- 2 Milkman's Matinee 5:21
- 3 Aftermath 4:05
- 4 Mother Nature 6:57
- 5 Every Day 2:32
- 6 That's All Right 3:22
- 7 Profiteering Blues 3:01
- 8 Hit Parade of Love 2:34
- 9 The Carnival Is Ended 5:39
- 10 I'm Blue, I'm Lonesome (Blue and Lonesome Too) 2:14
- 11 Nature Boy 1:07
- 12 Black Sheep Boy 2:43
- 13 Mountains O'Mourne 5:13
- 14 And Her Mother Came Too 2:44
- 15 Yonkers Girl 3:05
- 16 Turkey in the Straw 0:39
- 17 Dubuque 0:50
- 18 Medley: Sally Ann / Muleskinner Blues / Old Joe Clark 3:26
- 19 If We Try 4:00
- 20 Perfect Love 3:21
- 21 Little Child 3:04
- 22 Gotta Make You Mine 3:15
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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