“American Pie” has always been one of radio’s best songs, (It always gave jocks time to hit the bathroom and a vending machine on the way back to the studio.) I think “Vincent” is by far Don McLean’s best work. Too bad it doesn’t get the airplay it deserves.
I did not know about this song until coming across it this year in a YT video. Have to agree.
I also "discovered" a bunch of Gilbert O'Sullivan songs that should have been more widely known. "We Will", "Nothing Rhymed", "Claire"...
Vincent, in my opinion is one of the great songs in my lifetime and I basically span from 1950 to now. (I was born in 1940)
There was a DJ in Detroit who did a show he called Pillow Talk. Eventually it became 3 hours of slow tunes and love songs every night. He was very good at finding the unique and introducing the audience to some memorable music.
Vincent was in the rotation.
He played some real soul music too. Ray, Goodman and Brown, Larry Graham, Lou Rawls etc.
Detroit radio had a strong history of playing good music regardless of the skin tone of the artists. They cared about the music not the race and went far toward bringing the races together.
I had great seats to Earth Wind and Fire in 1983 with a great mixed race crowd.
I’ve always thought of long songs on the radio (e.g. Stairway to Heaven) as being “DJ gotta take a dump” songs.
I am in agreement with you about Vincent.