"American Pie" is a timeless rock song...but it doesn't make McLean a timeless rock artist.

Had one immortal moment, plus other fine contributions.

If ever there were an artist worthy of consideration based on one song alone, McLean is that artist.  "American Pie" is a classic on the level of very few other songs because of its depth and breadth and, yes, its length.   What other songs would be in this category?  Certainly Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" and maybe the Eagle's "The Last Resort."  "Crucifixion" by Phil Ochs also comes to mind.  The point is this:  "American Pie" is an ambitious song which aims to, in one song, tell the story of rock and roll from its birth in the fifties through the end of the sixties. And he did it!  Anything short of brilliant would have been, rightfully, dismissed long ago as grandiose.  The staying power of the song proves its success.


And McLean did write other good songs.  "Vincent", "Castles in the Air" and Jerusalem" are examples.  He also did a credible cover of Roy Orbison's "Crying".  Recognize the man.

A pop singer, a ballad singer, but had NOTHING to do with rock and roll, except to diss the British Invasion. Whoop de doo. Rock music before The Beatles was AWFUL. 1960-1963 was a DESERT for decent music - just wall-to-wall forgetable stuff (except for Del Shannon and a very few others). The best thing that ever happened to rock was the British Invasion. It pumped a HUGE lot of life and great music into it. So he didn't like Mick Jagger - big freaking deal - it only made him look like he liked his mother's music rather than rock and roll.

Were it not for the incredible legs under the song American Pie he would have faded into the woodwork with Stephen Bishop, Dan Hill and Seals and Crofts after James Taylor's coat tails quit carrying every singer-songwriter of the day.  A fine singer and occassionally decent writer, but not Hall of Fame level.

No

Bye, bye Hall

Does he really even need anything more than American Pie? That song is incredible.

American Pie while overplayed is a great well written song. Also, Vincent is superb as well. Even though he was never able to match the success of that 1971 album he is a quality artist. He has since gone on to dabble in classical and other non-rock pursuits.

Forget American Pie. DM has had many other clasic ballads i.e. And I love You So, Vincent,