CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- It is the curse of sudden, explosive success. Once you've achieved so much, so fast, it's hard to repeat. In 1971, McLean released "American Pie," a tune that looked back over the pop musical landscape America had traveled over the past twenty years. The song was a phenomenon and became McLean's signature song.

As he joked at the Clay Center Sunday night, "I need never have released another album."

But he did, and as dazzling as "American Pie" has been, still played regularly on oldies stations and some adult contemporary stations, McLean had to learn to live in the shadow of that one song. He's never stopped touring, never stopped writing songs and still releases albums.

Sunday night, while acknowledging the great affection many have for what some consider one of the greatest pop songs of the 20th century, he showed off both some of his other material and songs by artists who've inspired him.

The audience who greeted him was warm and encouraging, if not entirely enthusiastic about hearing a little Buddy Holly and a little early Hank Williams mixed in with the anticipated hit, but McLean took it in stride. This is the same musical battle he's fought for over 35 years. He never gave up, and by and by as the night's show went on, he brought most everyone around.

Besides, everyone knew he hadn't come all of this way to disappoint. There was little chance he wouldn't play "American Pie" or his other well-remembered songs. As McLean mentioned, he'd never been this way before and might not be back. He was going to have to get as much in as he could.

When the moment came, when McLean finally brought out "American Pie," it almost fell off the plate. The E string on his guitar snapped in the middle of the song. While the band turned the time into a crowd-pleasing showcase, McLean calmly replaced the errant string, tuned it quickly, then rejoined the song at the chorus. It felt a little like watching someone change a tire on a moving car, then get back in to drive.

The audience loved it.

It was an expected, though still accidental, high point of the show. McLean acknowledged for the dramatic sake of the show, he could and should end it right there, with "American Pie," with the crowd happy, but he stayed around anyway. He finished up with a little flat-picking and a couple of acoustic songs, including the melancholy "Vincent." There wasn't an encore, but there was nowhere else to go except to the lobby, where he'd be to sign autographs.

Reach Bill Lynch at ly...@wvgazette.com or 348-5195.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- It is the curse of sudden, explosive success. Once you've achieved so much, so fast, it's hard to repeat. In 1971, McLean released "American Pie," a tune that looked back over the pop musical landscape America had traveled over the past twenty years. The song was a phenomenon and became McLean's signature song.

As he joked at the Clay Center Sunday night, "I need never have released another album."

But he did, and as dazzling as "American Pie" has been, still played regularly on oldies stations and some adult contemporary stations, McLean had to learn to live in the shadow of that one song. He's never stopped touring, never stopped writing songs and still releases albums.

Sunday night, while acknowledging the great affection many have for what some consider one of the greatest pop songs of the 20th century, he showed off both some of his other material and songs by artists who've inspired him.

The audience who greeted him was warm and encouraging, if not entirely enthusiastic about hearing a little Buddy Holly and a little early Hank Williams mixed in with the anticipated hit, but McLean took it in stride. This is the same musical battle he's fought for over 35 years. He never gave up, and by and by as the night's show went on, he brought most everyone around.

Besides, everyone knew he hadn't come all of this way to disappoint. There was little chance he wouldn't play "American Pie" or his other well-remembered songs. As McLean mentioned, he'd never been this way before and might not be back. He was going to have to get as much in as he could.

When the moment came, when McLean finally brought out "American Pie," it almost fell off the plate. The E string on his guitar snapped in the middle of the song. While the band turned the time into a crowd-pleasing showcase, McLean calmly replaced the errant string, tuned it quickly, then rejoined the song at the chorus. It felt a little like watching someone change a tire on a moving car, then get back in to drive.

The audience loved it.

It was an expected, though still accidental, high point of the show. McLean acknowledged for the dramatic sake of the show, he could and should end it right there, with "American Pie," with the crowd happy, but he stayed around anyway. He finished up with a little flat-picking and a couple of acoustic songs, including the melancholy "Vincent." There wasn't an encore, but there was nowhere else to go except to the lobby, where he'd be to sign autographs.

Reach Bill Lynch at ly...@wvgazette.com or 348-5195.