Van Dyke Parks performs "Heroes & Villians"

[PS]

Wonderful.

With a nod to Bach's Cello Suite #1, one can now easily imagine this in the same era as Song Cycle...

[willy]

Yeah, a VDP Presents SMiLE would be a corker. His own arrangements......... how would he have done it bearing in mind the masterpiece Song Cycle which followed...... 

[Andrew G. Doe]

It's a nice clip, but the woman's vocal is dispensable and, to my ears, unnecessary.

[Mr. Cohen]

I don't know, I think it was good for Van Dyke's vocals to be doubled. BTW, I sent an e-mail to Van Dyke awhile ago that expressed my deep admiration for "Donovan's Colours". I'm convinced that's why he revisited this Song Cycle style here. 

[Myk Luhv]

Can I email VDP too? Would he be any more likely (or less) to respond these days? I have nothing in particular to say, I guess, but I like the albums of his that I've heard very much and I think he should know this! (Plus, that's like two degree of separation from Brian Wilson, dig?)

[Musketeer]

Yeah, a VDP Presents SMiLE would be a corker. His own arrangements......... how would he have done it bearing in mind the masterpiece Song Cycle which followed...... 

Judging from this arrangement it would be about twice as long.

[A Million Units In Jan!]

Can I email VDP too? Would he be any more likely (or less) to respond these days? I have nothing in particular to say, I guess, but I like the albums of his that I've heard very much and I think he should know this! (Plus, that's like two degree of separation from Brian Wilson, dig?)

Even if he didn't respond, I'm sure he'd appreciate your appreciation for his work. And I do think he'd respond to you, eventually.

[A Million Units In Jan!]

I kinda dig it. Sort of an 'unplugged' version. Although I agree with AGD, it would have been better without the woman's voice (no offense to her).

[Chris Brown]

I was honestly expecting to dislike it, for no other reason than the fact that I couldn't imagine the song working without all the harmonies.  I did enjoy his reimagining though, even if it sounds almost nothing like the original.  Van Dyke's arranging talent is such that he makes it work quite well.

[Mr. Cohen]

Can I email VDP too?

Yes, his e-mail address is on his web site.  Google it. He did respond to me but his answer wasn't that encouraging. I asked him to share any information he could about the making of "Donovan's Colours" and here's what he said, to paraphrase:

"It was just an idea I had, a mood I was feeling, and I was very satisfied with the results."

A kind of Brian Wilsonesque answer. Then he plugged a book. But hey, at least he responded! I'm not complaining.

[willy]

Which book did he plug?

[filledeplage]

It's a nice clip, but the woman's vocal is dispensable and, to my ears, unnecessary.

It was interesting to see him at the piano...I loved his Popeye work...one of my favorite scores...but don't understand the notion of the woman's voice being "dispensable" - Are women not part of the Americana journey, often caught in the romanticized "crossfire?"  Think Redford and Newman in Butch Cassidy?

Taylor sings on Heroes and Villains...Am I missing something? I thought she filled in the vocals very nicely. 

It certainly gives a new meaning to the operatic dynamic...and the "interpretation" for performance possibilities... 

[willy]

Since Song Cycle, Van Dyke has employed female vocals on much of his stuff to astonishingly good effect.

Must give a nod here to Jennifer Warnes and Kathy Dalton's amazing contributions to Jump!

[Mr. Cohen]

Which book did he plug?

A 33 and 1/2 book on Song Cycle.

[The Shift]

Which book did he plug?

A 33 and 1/2 book on Song Cycle.

Which I've just read -  very enlightening too.

[Mr. Cohen]

Now I'll have to actually read it. Thanks.

[The Shift]

Which book did he plug?

A 33 and 1/2 book on Song Cycle.

'Ang on, 33 and 1/2? Mine's 33 and 1/3!

[The Heartical Don]

Since Song Cycle, Van Dyke has employed female vocals on much of his stuff to astonishingly good effect.

Must give a nod here to Jennifer Warnes and Kathy Dalton's amazing contributions to Jump!

Good call, willy. I am totally in love with 'An Invitation To Sin', awesome stuff. It is sexy, attractive - but the ominous melody line reflects all the dangers that sexual sin may bring with it.

[Jonas]

I love how dramatic his performance is on the radio...Id love to catch him in Tallahassee, but its quite a drive 

[bgas]

I love how dramatic his performance is on the radio...Id love to catch him in Tallahassee, but its quite a drive 

Well sure, but just think about all the lassies you might meet while you're there.

[cwalter]

VDP answered one of my emails back in 2004; I'd send him a note.

Loved that Heroes and Villains video...

[Christian]

The whole concert from WNYC is now online:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130569463

[The Heartical Don]

The whole concert from WNYC is now online:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130569463

Much obliged! How long will it be on there? How can I make a transfer to CDR? Pray tell...

[hypehat]

Thanks for that link! God bless Van Dyke Parks!

[pancakerecords]

The whole concert from WNYC is now online:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130569463

Much obliged! How long will it be on there? How can I make a transfer to CDR? Pray tell...

Look for a program called "Sound Tap".  Inexpensive and effective for capturing streaming audio.