The singer-songwriter who will forever be known for “American Pie,” Don McLean, will release a new album, Botanical Gardens, on March 23 via BMG. He’s also booked concert dates in the U.S., U.K. and Ireland into 2019 (see below).
His 19th studio album and first in eight years, Botanical Gardens, according to a press release, “is arguably one of Don’s most reflective to date.” McLean says, in the release, “The inspiration for the project started years ago when I would walk in the beautiful gardens in Sydney, Australia, near the Opera House. I would dream young dreams and it was a comfort and an inspiration. I was always young inside, like we all are, and I felt it again there. The whole album really revolves around the title song. Later on I realized that the gardens are really a metaphorical heaven, and there’s a kind of death and rebirth.”
Recording at Watershed Studios in Nashville, it says, “allowed a different kind of intimacy for Don and his band, as they were made to ‘play close and feel the music,’ resulting in a raw, yet tight sound throughout.”
Listen to the title cut from Botanical Gardens
Related: The true story behind “American Pie”
McLean’s music has been performed by Elvis Presley, Madonna, Fred Astaire, Drake, James Blake, Chet Atkins, Garth Brooks, Weird Al Yankovic, George Michael, Josh Groban, Coolio and Ed Sheeran, among others.
Listen to “The Lucky Guy,” a song from Botanical Gardens
“American Pie” was recently recognized with by BMI for achieving five Million-Air certified airplay awards, along with “Vincent (Starry, Starry Night)” achieving three Million-Air certified airplay awards. “American Pie” also has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and is also included in the archive at the Library of Congress. McLean was inducted in the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004.
Botanical Gardens Track Listing
1. Botanical Gardens
2. The Lucky Guy
3. A Total Eclipse Of The Sun
4. The Waving Man
5. When July Comes
6. You’re All I Ever Had
7. Rock and Roll Your Baby
8. I’ve Cried All The Tears That I Have
9. Ain’t She A Honey
10. The King of Fools
11. Grief And Hope
12. You’ve Got Such Beautiful Eyes
13. Last Night When We Were Young
Don McLean 2018-19 Tour Dates (Tickets are available here and here)
Mar 02 – Mesa Arts Center Ikeda Theater – Mesa, AZ
Mar 03 – Saban Theatre – Beverly Hills, CA
Mar 10 – Cascade Theatre – Redding, CA
Mar 23- City Winery – New York, NY
Apr 13 – Greenwich Odeum – East Greenwich, RI
Apr 14 – The Birchmere – Alexandria, VA
Apr 29 – Westcliff-On-Sea, U.K. – Southend Cliffs Pavilion
Apr 30 – York, U.K. – York Barbican Centre
May 01 – Halifax, U.K. – Victoria Theatre
May 02 – Gateshead, U.K. – Sage Gateshead
May 04 – Bexhill on Sea, U.K. – De La Warr Pavilion
May 06 – Cardiff, U.K. – Wales Millennium Centre
May 07 – Manchester, U.K – The Bridgewater Hall
May 09 – London, U.K. – London Palladium
May 10 – Birmingham, U.K. – Symphony Hall
May 11 – Bristol, U.K. – Colston Hall
May 13 – Liverpool, U.K. – Philharmonic Hall
May 15 – Glasgow, U.K. – Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
May 16 – Edinburgh, U.K. – Usher Hall
May 20 – Dublin, Ireland – Vicar Street
May 21 – Dublin, Ireland – Vicar Street
May 22 – Dublin, Ireland – Vicar Street
May 23 – Dublin, Ireland – Vicar Street
May 25 – Co. Mayo, Ireland – Royal Theatre and Event Centre
May 27 – Co. Donegal, Ireland – Aura Arena Letterkenny
May 29 – Wexford, Ireland – Wexford Opera House
May 30 – Kilkenny, Ireland – Lyrath Estate Hotel
Jun 01 – Limerick City, Ireland – Univ. Concert Hall
Jun 02 – Limerick City, Ireland – Univ. Concert Hall
Jun 03 – Sligo, Ireland – Knocknarea Arena
Jun 05 – Co. Westmeath, Ireland – Mullingar Park Hotel
Jun 07 – Belfast, Ireland – Waterfront Hall Auditorium
Jun 08 – Galway, Ireland – Leisureland
Jun 09 – Galway, Ireland – Leisureland
Jun 11 – Dublin, Ireland – Vicar Street
Jun 12 – Dublin, Ireland – Vicar Street
Jun 14 – Cork, Ireland – Live at the Marquee
Jul 21 – Ridgefield, CT – Ridgefield Playhouse
Jul 27 – Ponte Vedra Beach, FL – Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
Jul 28 – Clearwater, FL – Capital theater
Aug 11 – Berkeley, CA – Freight & Salvage
Aug 19 – Chicago, IL – City Winery
Aug 24 – Steamboat Springs, CO – Strings Music Pavilion
Sep 08 – Westbury, NY – NYCB Theatre
Sep 22 – Derry, NH – Tupelo Music Hall
Nov 17 – Tarrytown, NY – Tarrytown Music Hall
Jan 15, 2019 – Oakland, CA – Yoshi’s Oakland
Feb 09, 2019 – Hartford, CT – Infinity Hall
Listen to “Total Eclipse of the Sun,” a song from the new album
[easy_sign_up title=”Sign up for the Best Classic Bands Newsletter”]
