Don McLean: a 'music masterclass' at Liverpool Phil

McLean introduced his daughter Jackie Lee

Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
Don McLean in Concert

Singer songwriter Don McLean delivered a flawless music masterclass that culminated in a rousing performance of his signature tune "American Pie - a fizzing finale that had his fans dancing in the aisles.

McLean, who started as the Hudson River Troubadour 42 years ago, has more than 30 albums to his credit. He is also a first-rate guitarist and has honed this show to perfection.

But if he brought the house down with his anthem to 'the day the music died' that was not before he had thrilled the audience with a surprise contribution from his musically-talented daughter.

Two songs from Jackie Lee McLean were a delightful bonus that offered real hope that the music of "the McLean clan" will be very much alive for a long time to come.

It seems that college student Jackie, 21, is accompanying her father on a leg of his European tour that could also see her perform at Glastonbury where she is bound to go down a storm.

She certainly enthralled the Liverpool audience with a haunting rendition of "You Belong to Me" followed by "Are you Lonesome Tonight?" as a duet with her dad.

Jackie Lee received richly deserved acclaim and the audience was left buzzing at the experience of hearing a new McLean who is clearly a real chip off the old block.

The evening had begun with McLean’s serving-up a medley of Buddy Holly hits: "Well, All Right," "Every Day" and "Peggy Sue Got Married" cleverly merged into a single, seamless entity.

Acknowledging his pleasure at being back in Liverpool, McLean commented: "Without Buddy Holly and perhaps the Everly Brothers, who knows, there may never have been a Beatles?"

It was one of a number of references that he made to the city, again praising the Philharmonic's perfect acoustics and admonishing the audience to ensure that the hall is preserved for posterity.

The poetry of his songs are his great gifts to posterity, but there is no doubt that McLean has also cherished his voice. Despite his advancing years, in live performance it retains the curious playful spirit that makes it unique and such compelling entertainment.

Nowadays some of the high notes lack a little of the vibrant timbre of his youth, but it is remarkable and impressive that he effortlessly conjures-up more than 20 numbers, including those in which he still pulls-off a convincing falsetto with real charm and grace.

His repertoire also included "Homeless Brother", a Country and Western segway, his No 1 hit "Vincent", along with a spine-tingling version of Roy Orbison's "Crying" and the haunting Irish ballad "Mountains of Mourne".

In the second half of the show McLean again proclaimed his affinity for The Beatles and praised their fusion of folk, rock and traditional music, into timeless pop classics.

He also praised their courage for being "brave enough to split-up" when lesser bands might have stuck together in the interest of making safe money.

He also harked-back to his own folk roots with a Miners Union song, patiently teaching the audience how to sing-along to the chorus.

Some of his more recent compositions were also introduced, including the self-deprecating and brutal honesty of "I Have Grown Old Missing You".

Though he rejects a label that he once acquired, for being "difficult" when it comes to interpreting his music, there is no doubt that McLean is something of a perfectionist.

This was a carefully planned and flawlessly executed performance that saw him on stage for nearly two-and-a-half hours.

He over-ran by 10 minutes, yet still had the audience begging for more, although a second encore was never really on the cards.

McLean is in Nottingham on 24th June and Glastonbury on 26th June.

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