Coming Out of Quarantine for Some American Pie
As we slowly emerge from lockdown, we could all use a little "American Pie" for a nice break from the latest news. Another anthem from my childhood soundtrack, I remember being obsessed with its iconic album cover that now sits framed in the man cave. Don McLean's American Pie topped the LP chart in 1972, with the title track that I practically wore out on my parents' turntable staying at #1 for four weeks. "Vincent," "Winterwood" and "Everybody Loves Me, Baby" are some of the other beauties on this album that McLean dedicated to the memory of Buddy Holly and his tragic airplane crash with Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper. (Fun fact: legend has it that the background singers on "American Pie" include Pete Seeger, James Taylor and Carly Simon.)
Simon & Garfunkel's Finale Gets Us Over Troubled Water
Simon and Garfunkel always help to get us feelin' groovy, and this legendary duo is another memory bridge to days with Dad's sailboat cassette deck. Their final album, Bridge Over Troubled Water was the best-selling LP in 1970, 1971 and 1972 and was at the time the best-selling album of all time fueled by Paul Simon's powerhouse writing on greats like the title track, "Cecilia," "El Condor Pass," "The Boxer," "Baby Driver," and "The Only Living Boy in New York."
Never Been To Spain, But We Still Have Harmony
It's a wonder the grooves on this 1971 treasure from Mom & Dad's collection still work, though skips and pops abound on this copy of Three Dog Night's Harmony album from filling the house with these guys every chance I could. Written by other artists like Paul Williams, Hoyt Axton and Joni Mitchell, some of their most iconic songs are on this album with "Never Been To Spain," "Old Fashioned Love Song," "Family Of Man," "My Impersonal Life," "Night in the City" and "You."