Joe,

You're right about Don McLean and American Pie. I saw him a couple months ago and he did do it. He also said that because of that song he wouldn't have had to go on the road and sing again if he didn't want to. But he does travel and he does sing because he enjoys it. Peiople usually like to hear at least one song they recognize in a concert, what better way to cover that than with the song everybody knows. If you have never have had a hit, then you have the luxury of doing something new and different each time (I have personally not done a song because I know a couple people in the collective audience of 5 or more have heard me do it a couple years ago. But then I have no recording contracts and I have no hits so I cannot even do a medley of my hit)

Bobby Shane always sings "Scotch & Soda"; Gordon Lightfoot sings "If You Could Read My Mind" and that shipwreck song; John Denver sang "Annies Song" & "Rocky Mountain High"; Ian Tyson does "Summer Wages" (even put it on at least 4 albums); Judy Collins does "Amazing Grace"; Bill Staines does "Place In The Choir" & etc. As Dick said, paying customers expect to be catered to or they will stop paying.

rich r