45 RPM, First Radio Release, American Pie, Don Mclean
$
150
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Description
45 rpm records.
45 RPM Vinyl record, “American Pie”, Don McLean, First Radio Station Release, fall 1971.
When released in the fall of 1971 and received at a local AM Radio Station, this rare promotional “first” 45 rpm copy of “American Pie” was an unused extra copy, never played on the air but rather used as a Backup “spare”. This first promotional release is “two sided”, with both sides identical and the same playtime- 4 min, 21 seconds. In 1971, AM Radio stations were still more widely listened to than FM stations, which were just starting to gain in popularity. With time restraints for commercials etc., AM Radio stations would normally play only shorter releases, other wise they probably would not be played. The record companies were aware of this problem and as a result edited and shortened longer new releases given to AM commercial stations on a 45 RPM Disk. The original master recording full version of the song as recorded by Don McLean,was 8 minutes, 36 seconds in length, which of course too long to fit on smaller 45 RPM Disk and would have been much too long for use on most AM stations. FM stations at the time on the other hand did not have many commercials and generally were not operating with strict time limits and could use longer LP album cuts on-air. Interesting, as we all know the song became a tremendous hit even when first introduced and heard with the edited short version. It didn’t take long however for listeners to become aware they were listening to the edited short version. It was at that point, listeners wanted the full length song and started to buy the LP unedited version and some AM stations actually switched to airing the full version as well. This copy comes from the music collection of a former Radio Personality.
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