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Don Mclean American Pie

Huss

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First off, I hope it's ok to post this image. Not mine (obviously!!!), belongs/belonged to UA. This is for purpose of discussion.

Don McLean's American Pie is back in view with a new documentary covering its meaning. But man, how about that album cover? I love it, whoever came up with it - hopefully someone here can add that info - genius.



Thing is, if someone did this now, and presented it as such, how do you think it would go down from a technical perspective? For me - awesome - the artist's vision. Or the art department's vision! Whoever had the ultimate edit, but they still had to work with the original image.

So what do you think of the choices made? Again - I love it and it was whoever's idea to make it like that so they can do what they want. But you know there are a bunch of people (maybe then but definitely now in this digital age) who would say the white balance is off. Too murky. Hazy shadows etc.
 
Another thing - is this what the album cover actually looked like? Or is what I attached above a poor representation of it?
 
Huss said:
Another thing - is this what the album cover actually looked like? Or is what I attached above a poor representation of it?
Click to expand...

Yes, that is the original cover bought when the album came out. Mine has some marks across it from sliding back and forth when I remove it from the shelf.
 
I dunno. It was a long, long time ago.
 
According to discogs it was done by

George S Whiteman studios.​

Who knows who's idea it was.
Don't think the record company would of spent any more money than they had to.
I have that and a few other Don McLean records. Use to be always a few at the charity shops for a buck a piece.
 
I doubt if anyone who nit picked the cover art would appreciate the album inside anyway.

I also don’t think there was any deep meaning to the song.

Does there need to be?
 
KerrKid said:
I doubt if anyone who nit picked the cover art would appreciate the album inside anyway.

I also don’t think there was any deep meaning to the song.

Does there need to be?
Click to expand...

Ever notice that many songs have words that do not make sense or the whole song does not make sense?
 
Heard him sing it in Christchurch, NZ in 1975.
I was hoping to hear "Homeless Brother".
 
Sirius Glass said:
Ever notice that many songs have words that do not make sense or the whole song does not make sense?
Click to expand...

You gotta do what you gotta do to make things rhyme, some time. I've always liked "do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do". That probably didn't make sense when they wrote it, but now, well, it still doesn't make any sense,
 
Last edited:
Sirius Glass said:
Ever notice that many songs have words that do not make sense or the whole song does not make sense?
Click to expand...

Sometimes that's the point. Questioning language, questioning meaning itself.

Of course, a bit of LSD helped in some cases...

I am he as you are he as you are me
And we are all together
See how they run like pigs from a gun
See how they fly
I'm crying

Sitting on a corn flake
Waiting for the van to come
Corporation T-shirt, stupid bloody Tuesday
Man you've been a naughty boy
You let your face grow long


Still love that song. Goo goo g'joob.
 

Hahaha heeheehee hohoho
 
Watched it last night. The subject of the cover photo as well as the meaning of the lyrics was discussed in some detail. Worth a watch.
The song still has meaning for today, given current events. History has a way of repeating it self so it seems. I believe that is why it was made.
 
Jeremiah is a bullfrog. He’s your friend. You don’t have to understand him. And he’ll let you drink his wine.

Say, you know it’s dangerous to mix all these drugs, right? Yeh, man.
 
And then there is Commander Cody:

"I'm sittin alone, Saturday night, watching the Late Late Show
A bottle of wine, some cigarettes, I got no place to go
Well, I saw your other man today, he was wearing my brand new shoes
And I'm down to seeds and stems again, too

Well, I met my old friend Bob today from up in Bowling Green
He had the prettiest little gal that I'd ever seen
But I couldn't hide my tears at all 'cause she looked just like you
And I'm down to seeds and stems again, too

Now everybody tells me there's other ways to get high
They don't seem to understand, I'm too far gone to try
Now these lonely memories, they're all I can't lose
And I'm down to seeds and stems again, too"

 
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