This 1978 release for the independent StarVista label found McLean exploring a more country-tinged sound, moving away from the introspective folk of his earlier work. It features a mix of originals and covers.
- Chain Lightning was produced by Don McLean and his longtime bassist, David Sanborn. The album was recorded at the Record Plant in Sausalito, California. It features a cover of the Buddy Holly song "Oh Boy!" and the traditional "Every Night to Sing."
- The album did not chart on the Billboard 200. It was reissued on CD in 2007. The StarVista label was a subsidiary of United Artists Records.
- McLean was touring extensively in support of the album around its release. He had recently completed a series of shows in Europe. Other artists on StarVista at the time included Hoyt Axton and Kris Kristofferson.
Don McLean is an American singer-songwriter best known for his 1971 hit "American Pie." He emerged in the folk-rock scene of the early 1970s. Chain Lightning was released late in McLean's career, after his run of major label albums in the 1970s had concluded. He was on the independent StarVista label at this time.
Tracklist
