On January 15, 1972, a song unlike any other in popular music history soared to the top of the American charts — “American Pie” by singer-songwriter Don McLean reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, beginning a remarkable four-week run at the summit of the pop charts. Recorded in May 1971 and released later that year, “American Pie” was more than just another folk-rock single; it was an epic musical poem that captured the imagination of listeners across generations. At over eight minutes long, the complete version of the song was unusually extended for a single, yet its...