Don McLean: American Pie: The Greatest Hits (EMI)

Whatever one thinks about Madonna, her recording of American Pie sure kicked life back into the career of Don McLean, a man who must have thought "the music died" for him a long time ago. Sadly, because he really was one of the most articulate singer/songwriters of the early 1970s; and it still shows, in the roller-coaster run of lyrics in a song such as Dreidel. Or Winterwood, a truly self-less love song. And Empty Chairs, which captures to a mercilessly accurate degree, the loneliness which follows the loss of love. As for Wonderful Baby and The Mountains of Mourne, well, cute - but hardly McLean at his best. Hopefully, now, all his early albums will be re-released. Welcome back, Don.

- Joe Jackson