Chain Lightning Review

07/13/2005 5:33 AM, AMG


These 12 tracks were cut in 1978 and finally released three years later, scoring a Top 30 listing on the album charts and two hit singles, covers of Roy Orbison's "Crying" and the Skyliners' "Since I Don't Have You." Utilizing top Nashville pickers all the way through and Elvis's backup group, the Jordanaires, on several tracks, McLean's versions of Buddy Holly's "It Doesn't Matter Anymore," Gene Vincent's "Lotta Lovin," Hank Williams' "Your Cheatin' Heart," and Gordon Lightfoot's "If You Could Read My Mind" (included here as a bonus track) show that he's a fine interpreter of other writers' material as well. McLean's originals on this album include "Words and Music," "It's Just the Sun," "It's a Beautiful Life," "Genesis (In the Beginning)," "Wonderful Night" and the title track, all of which blend quite well with the chosen covers. If "American Pie" is mostly all you've ever heard by this artist, here's another side of the coin well worth investigating. ~ Cub Koda, All Music Guide