Rearview Mirror

Yet another Best Of?:
Well, no it's not just another compilation, since the songs on it are largely not the original recordings we all know so well, and of course because there's a DVD this time. The DVD first: this isn't quite as good as I expected, but it's nice enough. I doubt most will watch it more than once though. Mainly it's Don rehearsing with the Jordannaires. Then there are a couple of music videos that aren't particularly well done. The CD has some stuff even die-hard collectors might not have come across. Like the first track, a really nice version of Gordon Lightfoot's 'If You Could Read My Mind'. 'TB Blues' is another good one. But the rest are largely old ground, even if the versions aren't ones you'll have heard before, they're not that different. Some have been on other CDs. I was looking forward to hearing the newish 'Run Diana Run' but it turns out to be one of the worst on the album - it's done in the 'Headroom' style with a silly rock backing and no tune, just shouty, trite rhymes. There's a long, rambling piece in the booklet from Joel Dorn that doesn't really add much to the story. In terms of value, the DVD lifts this above the usual, but I was on the whole just a little disappointed.

A Gem for fans and new Fans:
Trying to gather a collection of songs together that can truly give an impression of such a diverse artist like Don McLean is not easy. Grammy Award winning Producer Joel Dorn has done just that with Reaview Mirror. He's captured the wonderful vocalist and interpreter of Songs , the Solo live concert artist , the concert artist with full band and strings , the folk singer and the blues singer. Don McLean is all of these - he's also a cowboy and Dorn has included to fine examples of McLean in cowboy mode. This CD is a gem - as a bonus it includes McLean's new single from his upcoming originals CD - plus a bonus DVD - this is value and well worth the price - as the album has just been released I ould doubt the reviewer who claims to have found it in a clearance bin - and doubt he even listed to it. Buy it its great

Rerview Mirror:
Was really disappointed with this album. He needs to find something new that has the zip of Vincent, Crying & American Pie. Old artists may need to just fade away if they are just a bunch of old men strumming boring new stuff. Bought this album because of the 3 songs that I mentioned. None of the rest made me want to listen more than once.