''Playin' Favorites'' is the fourth studio album by
American singer-songwriter
Don McLean
Donald McLean III (born October 2, 1945) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. Known as the "American Troubadour" or "King of the Trail", he is best known for his 1971 hit "American Pie (song), American Pie", an eight-and-a-half-minut ...
, released in 1973. It was re-issued by BGO Records in 1995.
Track listing
Side A
#"
Sitting on Top of the World" (
Bo Carter
Armenter (or Armentia) Chatmon (March 21, 1893 or January 1894 – September 21, 1964), known as Bo Carter, was an early American blues musician. He was a member of the Mississippi Sheiks in concerts and on a few of their recordings. He also m ...
,
Little Walter
Marion Walter Jacobs (May 1, 1930 – February 15, 1968), known as Little Walter, was an American blues musician, singer, and songwriter, whose revolutionary approach to the harmonica had a strong impact on succeeding generations, earning him ...
) 2:00
#"Living With the Blues" (
Brownie McGhee
Walter Brown "Brownie" McGhee (November 30, 1915 – February 16, 1996) was an American folk and Piedmont blues singer and guitarist, best known for his collaboration with the harmonica player Sonny Terry.
Life and career
McGhee was bor ...
) 2:20
#"
Mountains O' Mourne" (
Percy French) 4:36
#"Fool's Paradise" (Sonny LeGlaire, Horace Linsley,
Norman Petty
Norman Petty (May 25, 1927 – August 15, 1984) was an American musician, record producer, publisher, and radio station owner. He is considered to be one of the founding fathers of early rock & roll. With Vi Ann Petty—his wife and vocalist—he ...
) 4:10
#"Love O' Love" (Traditional; adapted and arranged by Don McLean) :50
#
Medley: "Bill Cheetham/
Old Joe Clark" (Traditional; adapted and arranged by Don McLean) 3:50
Side B
#"
Everyday" (
Charles Hardin,
Norman Petty
Norman Petty (May 25, 1927 – August 15, 1984) was an American musician, record producer, publisher, and radio station owner. He is considered to be one of the founding fathers of early rock & roll. With Vi Ann Petty—his wife and vocalist—he ...
) "
Glen D. Hardin" was incorrectly listed on some labels as the songwriter. 2:30
#"Ancient History" (Irene Stanton, Wayne Walker) 3:30
#"Over the Mountains" (Irene Stanton, Wayne Walker) 3:20
#"
Lovesick Blues" (
Cliff Friend,
Irving Mills
Irving Harold Mills (born Isadore Minsky; January 18, 1894 Odessa, Ukraine – April 21, 1985) was a music publisher, musician, lyricist, and jazz promoter. He often used the pseudonyms Goody Goodwin and Joe Primrose.
Personal life
Mills ...
) 2:50
#"
New Mule Skinner Blues" (
Jimmie Rodgers
James Charles Rodgers ( – ) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician who rose to popularity in the late 1920s. Widely regarded as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Father of Country Music", he is best known for his di ...
, George Vaughn) 2:55
#"
Happy Trails" (
Dale Evans) 1:15
Chart positions
Personnel
* Steve Berg – guitar (tracks A1–A2, B4–B5)
*
Dave Bromberg – dobro (track B1)
*
Buzzy Feiten – tambourine (track A2), guitar (tracks A2, A4)
*
John Hughey – pedal steel (track B2)
*
Neil Larsen – keyboards (track A4), piano (tracks A3, B1)
*
Chuck Leavell – piano (tracks A1–A2, B2, B4–B5)
*
Tony Levin
Anthony Frederick Levin (born June 6, 1946) is an American musician and composer specializing in electric bass guitars, Chapman Stick and upright bass. He also sings and plays synthesizer. Levin is best known for his work with King Crimson (19 ...
– bass (tracks A3–A4, B1–B2)
* Danny Manselino – percussion (track A2)
*
Rick Marotta – drums (tracks A1–A2, B2, B4–B5)
* Don McLean – guitar, banjo, vocals
* Frank Orsini – fiddle (tracks A1, B5)
*
Rob Rothstein – bass (tracks A1, B4–B5), vocals (tracks A1, B3, B5)
*
Johnny Sandlin – percussion (tracks A1, B5)
*
Russ Savakus – bass violin (tracks A1–A2, B5)
*
Frank Wakefield – mandolin (tracks A1, A6, B4–B6), vocals (tracks A1, B3, B5)
*
Ronnie Zito – tambourine (track B1), banjo (track A4)
*
Mike Mainieri – marimba (track A4)
* Albertine Robinson – backing vocals (track A2)
* Maretha Stewart – backing vocals (track A2)
*
Tasha Thomas – backing vocals (track A2)
;Technical
* Ed Freeman – producer
* Frank Hubach – engineer (tracks A2–B3, B6), remixer
* Jim Reeves – engineer (tracks A1, B4–B5)
*
Mike Salisbury – art direction
* Fred Conrad – photography
References
Don McLean albums
1973 albums
1970s covers albums
United Artists Records albums
Albums recorded at Record Plant (New York City)
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