IIRC, “American Pie” recently overtook Righteous Bros “Unchained Melody” as the #1 hit in some polls.
The thing I remember liking about McLean from back then was that when the song was at its peak, he chose that New Year’s Eve, which used to be an ENORMOUS entertainment night, to perform at a small Upstate NY club where he’d been playing for years, in appreciation for their hiring him when no one else would.
I assume that would be the Caffè Lena in Saratoga Springs.
Ogawd and they say "American Pie" is obnoxious.