Country a capella group Home Free have teamed up with iconic singer-songwriter Don McLean for a fresh spin of the classic, “American Pie.”
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the tune’s release, the brand new remake flawlessly blends Home Free’s signature harmonies with McLean’s unmistakable vocals. It also marks the very first time the music legend has recorded “American Pie” since 1971.
“Home Free’s harmonies are absolutely wonderful,” McLean tells Sounds Like Nashville exclusively. “We recorded the song back in October in Nashville, and only a few of the guys were in the studio. I recorded the song about four times all the way through, and what they turned it into is just amazing.
“I had never recorded the song as a collaboration like this before,” he continues. “And for the 50th anniversary of ‘American Pie,’ it was timely and fitting. I hope everyone likes it as much as I did when I wrote it.”
Accompanying the cover is a vibrant music video that features all five vocalists and McLean passionately belting the classic American tune. Released today (February 3), the clip also commemorates the 62nd anniversary of “The Day the Music Died,” a term that was affectionately coined after the lyric in McLean’s signature anthem.
“Being in the studio with Don McLean was a really special moment for us,” shares Home Free’s tenor Austin Brown. “Just hearing him talk about what the song means to him and give details on the moment he wrote it – that’s a memory I’ll hold onto for the rest of my life. To team up with such a legend on one of the biggest songs of the century was such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!”
The group’s Rob Lundquist adds, “‘American Pie’ is truly a song of my childhood. Every time I hear it, it takes me back to road trips with my family, all singing along at the top of our lungs. So, you can imagine how excited I was when I found out that we were collaborating with Don McLean, himself, on a special rendition of ‘American Pie.’”
“Then you add on the fact that this is the first time he’s recorded the song since its original recording in 1971 – and he chose to do it with us,” he says, humbly. “To say that this is a surreal collaboration would be an understatement, and it’s definitely among my career highlights.”
Check out the music video for the stunning remake of “American Pie” above, and listen to all things Home Free below.