Favorites

AMG Review of Favorites

William Ruhlmann
All Music Guide

This budget-priced ten-song compilation, one of many in the Don McLean discography, includes the six chart singles McLean scored between late 1971 and early 1981, notably the mega-hit "American Pie," the broadly popular "Vincent," and the hit cover of Roy Orbison's "Crying." Filling out the collection are four tracks from the Tapestry and American Pie LPs, among them McLean's version of his song "And I Love You So," which was not a hit for McLean himself, but was covered by many artists, among them Perry Como, for whom it was a hit. To be comprehensive, the album would have to have included such key tracks as "Castles in the Air" and "Since I Don't Have You," but they are missing. Still, the album does contain the major hits from McLean's popular heyday.