Don McLean discography

Don McLean discography
Don McLean performing in 2009
Studio albums	21
Live albums	4
Compilation albums	10
Singles	16

The discography of American singer Don McLean consists of 20 studio albums, four live albums, 11 compilation albums, and 16 singles.

Albums

Studio albums

Year	Album	Chart positions				Certifications
		US [1]	AUS [2]	CAN	UK [3]
1970	Tapestry [A]	111	22	—	16
1971	American Pie	1	1	1	2	RIAA: 2× Platinum [4] MC: Gold [5] BPI: Gold [6]
1972	Don McLean	23	15	15	—
1973	Playin' Favorites	—	22	—	42
1974	Homeless Brother	120	65	—	—
1977	Prime Time	—	—	—	—
1978	Chain Lightning [B]	28	41	25	19
1981	Believers	156	15	—	—
1987	Love Tracks	—	—	—	—
1990	Headroom	—	—	—	—
1991	Christmas	—	—	—	—
1995	The River of Love	—	—	—	—
1997	Christmas Dreams	—	—	—	—
2001	Sings Marty Robbins	—	—	—	—
2003	You've Got to Share: Songs for Children	—	—	—	—
	The Western Album	—	—	—	—
2005	Rearview Mirror: An American Musical Journey	—	—	—	—
2009	Addicted to Black	—	—	—	—
2018	Botanical Gardens	—	—	—	—
2020	Still Playin' Favorites	—	—	—	—
2024	American Boys	—	—	—	—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Live albums

Year	Album
1976	Solo
1982	Dominion
2001	Starry, Starry Night
2014	Don McLean: Live in Manchester

Compilation albums

Year	Album	Chart positions		Certifications
		AUS [2] [7]	UK [3]
1980	The Very Best of Don McLean	2	4	ARIA: Platinum [8] BPI: Gold [9]
1986	For the Memories	63	—
1987	Don McLean's Greatest Hits · Then & Now	—	—
1989	For the Memories Vols I & II	—	—
	And I Love You So	—	—
1991	The Best of Don McLean	—	—
1992	Classics	—	—	RIAA: Gold [10] MC: Gold [5]
1992	Favorites and Rarities	—	—
2000	American Pie – The Greatest Hits	—	30	BPI: Gold [11]
2002	Classic Collection	57	—
2003	Legendary Songs of Don McLean	—	71
2004	Christmastime!	—	—
2007	The Legendary Don McLean	—	—
2008	American Pie & Other Hits	—	—
2012	American Troubadour	—	—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Singles

Year	Title	Peak chart positions									Certifications	Album
		US [1]	US A/C [1]	US Cou. [1]	AUS [2]	CAN	CAN A/C	CAN Cou.	UK [3]	IRL [12]
1971	"Castles in the Air" [C]	—	40	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Tapestry
	"American Pie"	1	1	—	1	1	1	—	2	7	RIAA: 3× Platinum [13] MC: 5× Platinum [5] BPI: 2× Platinum [14]	American Pie
1972	"Vincent"	12	2	—	3	3	13	—	1	1	RIAA: Platinum [13] MC: Platinum [5] BPI: Gold [15]
1973	"Dreidel"	21	7	—	34	16	5	—	56 [D]	—		Don McLean
	"If We Try"	58	12	—	9	82	22	—	—	—
	"Everyday"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	38	—		Playin' Favorites
1974	"Mountains o' Mourne"	—	—	—	90	—	—	—	—	2
	"Fool's Paradise"	107	25	—	—	—	90	—	—	—
	"La La Love You"	— [E]	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Homeless Brother
1975	"Wonderful Baby"	93	1	—	—	—	—	—	60 [D]	—
1980	"Crying"	5	2	6	27	7	—	1	1	1	BPI: Silver [17]	Chain Lightning
1981	"Since I Don't Have You"	23	6	68	—	45	2	—	—	—
	"It's Just the Sun"	83	20	—	92	—	12	—	—	—
	"Castles in the Air" [C]	36	7	—	11	—	2	—	47	—		Believers
1987	"He's Got You"	—	—	73	—	—	—	—	—	—		Greatest Hits Then & Now
	"You Can't Blame the Train"	—	—	49	—	—	—	—	—	—		Love Tracks
1988	"Love in My Heart"	—	—	65	—	—	—	—	—	—
1991	"American Pie" (reissue)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	12	9		The Best of Don McLean
2012	"American Pie" (2nd reissue)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	78	—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Rarities

Year	Title	Additional information
1982	"The Flight of Dragons"	This song was recorded for the film The Flight of Dragons in the early 1980s.
1994	"Vincent" (live version)	Grammy's Greatest Moments Volume III [18]

Notes

1. Tapestry did not chart in Australia or the UK until 1972 after the success of American Pie.
2. Chain Lightning also peaked at #3 on the RPM Country Albums chart in Canada.
3. The original version of "Castles in the Air" was included on the Tapestry album. In February 1971, it was released as the first single from the album and reached No. 40 on the Billboard Easy Listening / Adult Contemporary chart. After the success of the "American Pie" single, "Castles in the Air" was included as the B-side to its follow-up, "Vincent", and received enough radio airplay to reach the Hot 100 chart as a "flip". McLean's 1981 version of the song, a slower ballad version of the more mid- to up-tempo original, first appeared on his album Believers, and later replaced the original version on some copies of Tapestry.
4. Chart position is from the official UK "Breakers List".
5. "La La Love You" reached No. 111 on the Cashbox singles chart. ^[16]

References

1. "Don McLean US chart info". AllMusic. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved June 22, 2009.
2. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 187. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
3. "Don McLean UK chart history". OfficialCharts.com. Retrieved June 22, 2009.
4. "American album certifications – Don Mc Lean – American Pie". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved November 15, 2023.
5. "Canadian certifications – Don McLean". Music Canada . Retrieved November 15, 2023.
6. "Don Mclean - American Pie (album)". bpi.co.uk. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
7. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 183.
8. "Kent Music Report No 453 – 28 February 1983 > Platinum Albums 1982 (Continued)" . Retrieved December 26, 2022– via Imgur.com.
9. "The Very Best of Don Mclean". bpi.co.uk. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
10. "American certifications – Don Mclean – Classics". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved August 28, 2024.
11. "British certifications – Don Mclean – American Pie - The Greatest Hits". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved March 12, 2023.
12. "Search for 'Don Mc Lean'". Irish Charts.
13. "American certifications – Don Mclean". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved November 15, 2023.
14. "British single certifications – Don Mclean – American Pie". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved March 4, 2023.
15. "British certifications – Don Mclean – Vincent". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved October 30, 2022.
16. Whitburn, Joel (2015). The Comparison Book Billboard/Cash Box/Record World 1954–1982. Sheridan Books. ISBN   978-0-89820-213-7.
17. "Don Mclean - Crying". bpi.co.uk. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
18. "Grammy's Greatest Moments, Volume III: Various Artists". Amazon.com. Retrieved November 23, 2011.