Instruct: Given a question, retrieve documents that can help answer the question.
Query: When was the song American Pie first recorded?
"American Pie" is McLean’s second album; his first, "Tapestry", having been released to only moderate commercial success and acclaim in 1970. McLean was a protégé of Pete Seeger, having played with him in the 1960s. The album "American Pie" was intended as a unified work, as McLean has said that he was influenced by the Beatles' "Sgt Pepper" album and envisioned "American Pie" to be a similar album. Believing that an artist's work should stand by itself, McLean generally did not offer explanations for his work's themes or meaning, though he did describe the title song as involving "a sense of loss". McLean dedicated the album to Buddy Holly, one of his childhood icons, and it was released in 1971. It has a melancholy feel and rather sparse arrangements. At the time of the writing McLean’s first marriage was failing and the optimism and hopefulness of the 1960s was giving way to the nihilism and hedonism of the 1970s.
This is a list of characters from the film series "American Pie" consisting of "American Pie" (1999), "American Pie 2" (2001), "American Wedding" (2003), "" (2005), "" (2006), "" (2007), "" (2009), and "American Reunion" (2012). Only one character, Noah Levenstein played by Eugene Levy, has appeared in all eight released films. Biggs, Hannigan, Scott, Nicholas, Thomas, Coolidge, Cho, Isfield, Cheek, and Owen all play their characters in four films each; other characters appear in fewer films.
Levy's career received a tremendous boost in 1999, when he was cast as the clueless but loving dad in the blockbuster "American Pie". Reprising the role in three film sequels and starring in four straight-to-video sequels made him something of a cult hero. Levy has been quoted as saying the "American Pie" series was a particular turning point in his career, affording him "a new perspective on his career at the time". Since working on the first two "American Pie" movies, Levy has worked with Steve Martin and Queen Latifah in "Bringing Down the House", and most recently appeared with Martin in "Cheaper by the Dozen 2". Levy again appeared as his famous character, Noah Levenstein, in the fourth theatrical film in the "American Pie" series, "American Reunion". He is the only actor to appear in all eight "American Pie" films
Scott's first commercial success came with the 1999 film "American Pie", as Steve Stifler, a role he reprised in three sequels, "American Pie 2" (2001), "American Wedding" (2003), and "American Reunion" (2012). For his supporting role in the first film, Scott was paid only $8,000. Scott was granted the lead role in "American Wedding", though he only received second billing, and the character propelled him into the public consciousness. Scott's fear of typecasting led him to play different types of characters post-"American Pie", such as a hapless nerd in the horror film "Final Destination" and a friendly stoner in "Dude, Where's My Car?". He also appeared in the film "Bulletproof Monk".
"Sweet Emotion" was released as a single on May 19, 1975, and peaked at #36 on the "Billboard" Hot 100, becoming the band's breakthrough single and their first Top 40 hit. The day it hit #36 on the U.S. chart, July 19, 1975, Aerosmith was booked at a gig in New York City's Central Park, called the Schaefer Music Festival. The song and consequently the album that went into the Top 10 were so successful that the band decided to ride the heels of success and re-release one of their first singles, the power ballad "Dream On", which had originally charted at #59 in 1973. The re-released version went on to hit #6, the highest chart performance in the 1970s for the band. "Sweet Emotion" remains successful in the modern day, having sold over three million digital downloads.
He reappears in "American Pie Presents: Band Camp" when Matt Stifler plays a prank on the school band. Sherman, who is now the school's guidance counselor, decides that a worthwhile punishment would be for Stifler to attend band camp.
The film title and theme song lyrics are from the ""Sweet Home Alabama"" song by Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, that first appeared in 1974 on their second album, "Second Helping".
"Sweet Emotion" is a song by the American rock band Aerosmith, released by Columbia Records in April 1975 on the album "Toys in the Attic" and was released as a single a month later on May 19. The song began a string of pop hits and large-scale mainstream success for the band that would continue for the remainder of the 1970s. The song was written by lead singer Steven Tyler and bassist Tom Hamilton, produced by Jack Douglas and recorded at the Record Plant.
Kid Rock's 2008 song "All Summer Long" interpolates "Sweet Home Alabama" on the chorus and uses the guitar solo and piano outro, as well as the "turn it up" shout before the guitar solo; Billy Powell is featured on the track. "All Summer Long" also samples Warren Zevon's "Werewolves of London", which has similar chord progression to "Sweet Home Alabama". Since Kid Rock's release, the original song has also charted at number 44 on the UK Singles Chart.
Grandma Levenstein is a fictional character from the "American Pie" series of teen comedy films. She appears in "American Wedding" and is introduced to be Jim's grandmother and Noah's mother. In the deleted scenes it is revealed that She does not have much longer to live so the wedding is moved up so She can attend. She voices her disapproval towards Michelle for not being Jewish. Jim, Kevin and Finch recruits John and Justin to keep an eye on her. However, they put Grandma Levenstein in the closet due to her constant complaining in her disapproval against Jim and Michelle's wedding. Stifler walked inside the closet and believed her to be Cadence that he has sex with her. Only when Kevin and Finch open the closet, he is horrified that he had sex with Jim's grandmother, who tells him to focus more. After this, she acts more friendly and kind, especially to Stifler who is still horrified by the whole thing.
After auditioning for "Election", Payne chose Klein and they began filming. The film was released in April 1999 to positive reviews. Soon after, Klein found a steady amount of work in the film industry while briefly attending TCU, where he studied theater and was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. He was next seen in "American Pie", acting as Christopher Russell Ostreicher, which opened on July 9, 1999, and was a box office success. The following year Klein starred in "Here on Earth" alongside LeeLee Sobieski and Josh Hartnett (2000). Klein reprised his role in "American Pie 2" (2001) and "American Reunion" (2012), but was not in "American Wedding" reportedly due to scheduling conflicts. In 2002, Klein had a role in the Mel Gibson Vietnam War film "We Were Soldiers". Klein starred in the 2002 remake of the film "Rollerball", but the film was a massive critical and financial failure. Klein has also appeared in several teen movies, including "Just Friends" (2005) and "American Dreamz" (2006).
Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd wrote their song "Sweet Home Alabama" in response to "Southern Man" and "Alabama" from Young's 1972 album "Harvest". Young has said that he is a fan of both "Sweet Home Alabama" and Ronnie Van Zant, the lead vocalist for Lynyrd Skynyrd. "They play like they mean it," Young said in 1976. "I'm proud to have my name in a song like theirs." Young has also been known to play "Sweet Home Alabama" in concert occasionally. To demonstrate this camaraderie, Van Zant frequently wore a Neil Young "Tonight's the Night" T-shirt while performing "Sweet Home Alabama". Crazy Horse bassist Billy Talbot can often be seen reciprocating by wearing a Jack Daniel's-styled Lynyrd Skynyrd T-shirt (including at the "Live Rust" concert).
After her breakthrough in early 1958 with her single "Who's Sorry Now?", a rock 'n' roll oriented version of the 1923 standard, and a subsequent album of the same title, Francis chose to take a more adult approach to her second album. For "The Exciting Connie Francis", she chose twelve American standards. Francis clearly marked the album as a concept album by dividing it into two sections with different moods: Side A is filled with songs differing between mid-tempo and up-tempo, while Side B consists solely of ballads.
"Sweet Home Alabama" is a song by Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd that first appeared in 1974 on their second album, "Second Helping".
"Belle" is a song written by composer Alan Menken and lyricist Howard Ashman for Walt Disney Pictures' 30th animated feature film "Beauty and the Beast" (1991). Originally recorded by American actress and singer Paige O'Hara and American actor Richard White, "Belle", a mid-tempo French and classical music-inspired song, incorporates both Broadway and musical theatre elements. The film's first song and opening number, "Belle" appears during "Beauty and the Beast "as a large scale operetta-style production number that introduces the film's heroine Belle, considered a book-loving nonconformist by the townspeople of the village, who has grown weary of the provincial life in which she is supposed to live, and Gaston, the film's narcissistic villain who wishes to desire her hand in marriage despite Belle's rejections.
American smooth jazz saxophonist Kenny G recorded the song for the "Heart and Soul", which was released on June 29, 2010. Unlike most of Kenny G's jazz numbers, "Fall Again" is a rhythm and blues ballad. Kenny G plays the saxophone with Thicke on vocals. Kenny G said, "His (Robin Thicke's) voice is so emotional and soulful, the combination of his voice and my saxophone really hits the perfect tones for my new album." Mark Edward Nero of About.com mentioned Kenny G "is a jazz saxophonist, not an R&B singer. But K.G. has a new, R&B-inspired album", and "Robin Thicke is featured on the first single, Fall Again".
We Five's first single, from their debut album of the same name, was a reworked version of Sylvia Tyson's song "You Were On My Mind". It became one of the first folk-rock hits, reaching number three in the "Billboard" "Hot 100" in August 1965. Tyson (then Sylvia Fricker) says that she was unaware that her song had been covered until she heard We Five's version on a car radio while driving on Highway 101 in California. One consequence of We Five's success was that Tyson's song, which, until then, had been unavailable in sheet form, was published by Witmark of New York, with a photograph of Bivens and We Five on the cover. However, with the so-called "British invasion" at its height, We Five's recording had only limited international success, having been covered reluctantly, though successfully, in Britain by Crispian St. Peters.
Question Mark & the Mysterians is a 1997 eponymous album by the garage rock band ? and the Mysterians, known for their #1 1966 hit "96 Tears". The album was recorded by the original members of the band as a result of their inability to access their masters or re-release their own earlier material, which had passed from the ownership of label Cameo to Allen Klein. It included all of the songs released on their first album, "96 Tears", as well as several other tracks. The rerecorded version of "96 Tears" was subsequently incorporated into compilations.
"Scott Pilgrim vs. The World", based on the graphic novel series by Bryan Lee O'Malley that was inspired by the Plumtree song "Scott Pilgrim", was released on August 13, 2010. In the film and comic book, the main character Scott Pilgrim can be seen wearing a Plumtree T-shirt. The song "Scott Pilgrim" appears both in the film as well as on the soundtrack to the film and the song "Go!" appears in the film itself while not the soundtrack.
Wilson, his brothers Carl and Dennis, Mike Love and Al Jardine first appeared as a music group in the summer of 1961, initially under the name the Pendletones. After being prodded by Dennis to write a song about the local water-sports craze, Wilson and Mike Love together created what became the first single for the band, "Surfin'". Over Labor Day weekend 1961, Wilson took advantage of the fact that his parents were in Mexico City for several days, and the boys used the emergency money his parents had left to rent an amplifier, a microphone, and a stand-up bass for Jardine to play. After the boys rehearsed for two days in the Wilsons' music room, his parents returned home from their trip. Eventually impressed, Murry Wilson proclaimed himself the group's manager and the band embarked on serious rehearsals for a proper studio session.
Ellis Island: The Dream of America is a work for actors and orchestra with projected images by American composer Peter Boyer, composed in 2001-02, commissioned by the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford, Connecticut. The work combines first-person narrations of seven immigrants who entered the United States through Ellis Island between 1910 and 1940, selected by Boyer from the Ellis Island Oral History Project, with Boyer’s original orchestral music. The work has received over 170 performances by more than 75 orchestras. A recording of the work released on the Naxos record label was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Classical Contemporary Composition in the 48th annual Grammy Awards. In April 2017, performances by Pacific Symphony of "Ellis Island: The Dream of America" were filmed for broadcast on PBS’ "Great Performances" series in the 2017-18 broadcast season.
In February 2015, McLean announced he would reveal the meaning of the lyrics to the song when the original manuscript went for auction in New York City, in April 2015. The lyrics and notes were auctioned on April 7, and sold for $1.2 million. In the sale catalogue notes, McLean revealed the meaning in the song's lyrics: "Basically in American Pie things are heading in the wrong direction. ... It [life] is becoming less idyllic. I don't know whether you consider that wrong or right but it is a morality song in a sense." The catalogue confirmed some of the better known references in the song's lyrics, including mentions of Elvis Presley ("the king") and Bob Dylan ("the jester"), and confirmed that the song culminates with a near-verbatim description of the death of Meredith Hunter at the Altamont Free Concert, ten years after the plane crash that killed Holly, Valens, and Richardson.
American singer Madonna released a cover version of the song in March 2000 to promote the soundtrack of her film "The Next Best Thing" (2000), with the song being serviced to radio on February 2. Her cover is much shorter than the original (it contains only the beginning of the first verse and all of the second and sixth verses) and was recorded as a dance-pop song. It was co-produced by Madonna and William Orbit and released on the singer's Maverick label, after Rupert Everett (Madonna's co-star in "The Next Best Thing") had convinced her to cover the song for the film's soundtrack. It was latter added as a bonus track to her album, "Music".
Flaming Pie is the tenth solo studio album by Paul McCartney, first released in 1997. His first studio album in over four years, it was mostly recorded after McCartney's involvement in the highly successful "Beatles Anthology" project. The album was recorded in several locations over two years, 1995 and 1997, featuring two songs dating from 1992. The album featured several of McCartney's family members and friends, most notably McCartney's son, James McCartney. In "Flaming Pie"'s liner notes, McCartney said: ""[The Beatles Anthology]" reminded me of The Beatles' standards and the standards that we reached with the songs. So in a way it was a refresher course that set the framework for this album."
In 2017, Bob Dylan was asked about how he was referenced in the song. "A jester? Sure, the jester writes songs like 'Masters of War', 'A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall', 'It's Alright, Ma' – some jester. I have to think he's talking about somebody else. Ask him."In 1999, "Weird Al" Yankovic wrote and recorded a parody of "American Pie". Titled "The Saga Begins", the song recounts the plot of "" from Obi-Wan Kenobi's point of view. While McLean gave permission for the parody, he did not make a cameo appearance in its video, despite popular rumor. McLean himself praised the parody, even admitting to almost singing Yankovic's lyrics during his own live performances because his children played the song so often.