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Title: Has Brian ever commented on Van Dyke Parks' Song Cycle? Post by: willy on August 31, 2010, 01:00:45 AM Just curious... I wonder what he thought if anything.
Title: Re: Has Brian ever commented on Van Dyke Parks' Song Cycle? Post by: The Heartical Don on August 31, 2010, 01:10:56 AM Not that I know of. I'd be very surprised if Brian ever said something about VDP's solo work.
Title: Re: Has Brian ever commented on Van Dyke Parks' Song Cycle? Post by: punkinhead on August 31, 2010, 01:54:16 AM Not that I know of. I'd be very surprised if Brian ever said something about VDP's solo work. Even OCA? Title: Re: Has Brian ever commented on Van Dyke Parks' Song Cycle? Post by: The Heartical Don on August 31, 2010, 01:57:09 AM Not that I know of. I'd be very surprised if Brian ever said something about VDP's solo work. Even OCA? That is not a piece of VDP's solo work. See: it was done by Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks. Title: Re: Has Brian ever commented on Van Dyke Parks' Song Cycle? Post by: Peadar 'Big Dinner' O'Driscoll on August 31, 2010, 05:39:14 AM I seem to remember reading somewhere that he was a big fan of Discover America
Title: Re: Has Brian ever commented on Van Dyke Parks' Song Cycle? Post by: The Heartical Don on August 31, 2010, 05:50:14 AM I seem to remember reading somewhere that he was a big fan of Discover America Interesting... for me, Discover America is the best VDP album, production-wise. Crisp, open sound, lots of detail, wonderful female backing vocals, a big touch of exotica, great rhythms (calypso, reggae-like, but also old fashioned dance stuff), and I could write volumes about the arranging. No one can arrange a song like VDP can. You're constantly put on the wrong foot, and just when you seem to lose balace, he offers a nice way out. Little Feat played on that album (well, on a number of tracks). So it sounds natural that Brian loves it. Title: Re: Has Brian ever commented on Van Dyke Parks' Song Cycle? Post by: GoogaMooga on August 31, 2010, 07:23:26 AM Now I want to get both Song Cycle and Discover America. I've already got Orange Crate Art and think it's wonderful.
Title: Re: Has Brian ever commented on Van Dyke Parks' Song Cycle? Post by: willy on August 31, 2010, 08:56:51 AM Now I want to get both Song Cycle and Discover America. I've already got Orange Crate Art and think it's wonderful. Just go get 'em and pick up Clang of The Yankee Reaper too. Wonderful stuff. Van Dyke's voice may be an acquired taste to some, me I love it. Title: Re: Has Brian ever commented on Van Dyke Parks' Song Cycle? Post by: shelter on August 31, 2010, 10:32:05 AM From Peter Ames Carlin's book, about the OCA sessions:
Quote Brain dragged his feet into Van Dyke's first session, interrupting the start of his first take to ask an excruciatingly simple question: "Wait a minute. What am I even doing here?" Van Dyke hit the talk button without missing a beat. "You're here because I can't stand the sound of my own voice!" Brain thought about that for a second, nodded his head, and stepped up to the microphone. "Well, that makes sense. Okay, take one!" ;D Title: Re: Has Brian ever commented on Van Dyke Parks' Song Cycle? Post by: buddhahat on August 31, 2010, 01:18:23 PM I seem to remember reading somewhere that he was a big fan of Discover America Interesting... for me, Discover America is the best VDP album, production-wise. Crisp, open sound, lots of detail, wonderful female backing vocals, a big touch of exotica, great rhythms (calypso, reggae-like, but also old fashioned dance stuff), and I could write volumes about the arranging. No one can arrange a song like VDP can. You're constantly put on the wrong foot, and just when you seem to lose balace, he offers a nice way out. Little Feat played on that album (well, on a number of tracks). So it sounds natural that Brian loves it. Have to admit I rather swiftly wrote VDP's solo stuff off after not getting on with Song Cycle, but on reading your review above I am checking this album out. Sounds great - love the calypso. Thanks for the heads up! Title: Re: Has Brian ever commented on Van Dyke Parks' Song Cycle? Post by: ? on August 31, 2010, 01:34:13 PM Now I want to get both Song Cycle and Discover America. I've already got Orange Crate Art and think it's wonderful. Just go get 'em and pick up Clang of The Yankee Reaper too. Wonderful stuff. Van Dyke's voice may be an acquired taste to some, me I love it. Acquired taste is putting it mildly. Van Dyke sounds like an elf prancing through the forest. But I love it too. :) Title: Re: Has Brian ever commented on Van Dyke Parks' Song Cycle? Post by: GoogaMooga on September 01, 2010, 09:57:29 AM Now I want to get both Song Cycle and Discover America. I've already got Orange Crate Art and think it's wonderful. Just go get 'em and pick up Clang of The Yankee Reaper too. Wonderful stuff. Van Dyke's voice may be an acquired taste to some, me I love it. I'll get that one, too, thanks for the tip! :) Title: Re: Has Brian ever commented on Van Dyke Parks' Song Cycle? Post by: The Heartical Don on September 01, 2010, 10:08:44 AM The title song of Clang Of The Yankee Reaper may be the best song that Ray Davies never wrote.
Title: Re: Has Brian ever commented on Van Dyke Parks' Song Cycle? Post by: wallabie on September 01, 2010, 11:14:08 AM "Clang of The Yankee Reaper" is the only album of VDP which is "easy to follow"... all the other one´s are more or less avantguard. I totally LOVE Song Cycle. But the VDP Album I really love the most is "Live at the Ash grove". Wow, he is playing and singing so wonderful and the setlist is brilliant.
Title: Re: Has Brian ever commented on Van Dyke Parks' Song Cycle? Post by: The Heartical Don on September 01, 2010, 11:16:54 AM "Clang of The Yankee Reaper" is the only album of VDP which is "easy to follow"... all the other one´s are more or less avantguard. I totally LOVE Song Cycle. But the VDP Album I really love the most is "Live at the Ash grove". Wow, he is playing and singing so wonderful and the setlist is brilliant. I love LATAG immensely. It's really 'An Evening With' in an intimate setting... Title: Re: Has Brian ever commented on Van Dyke Parks' Song Cycle? Post by: willy on September 01, 2010, 11:56:44 AM It certainly is... Van Dyke's between-songs patter is top notch. A true one-off!
Title: Re: Has Brian ever commented on Van Dyke Parks' Song Cycle? Post by: GoogaMooga on September 01, 2010, 01:41:28 PM I bought Song Cycle on CD about 20 years ago, but traded it in, too quirky, I thought. But now I'm more open-minded. :)
Title: Re: Has Brian ever commented on Van Dyke Parks' Song Cycle? Post by: rogerlancelot on September 01, 2010, 02:35:57 PM I bought Song Cycle on CD about 20 years ago, but traded it in, too quirky, I thought. But now I'm more open-minded. :) I originally downloaded an mp3 version 6 or 7 years ago minus the bonus track ("Eagle & Me"). I sat on it for months until one day I decided to check it out. During the first song ("Vine Street") I kept recognizing melodies all over the place such as "The Entertainer" and "Ode To Joy" woven in the musical fabric. It kept me interested. The next song "Palm Desert" had me HOOKED first listen! I wound up playing that damn thing over and over and showing it to anybody who would let me (family & friends). Reactions were very mixed. The musician and poet friends were very positive about it whereas I think everybody else listened just to be polite. I quickly bought it soon after and then slowly collected the rest. I think the only one I don't have is the live one. Title: Re: Has Brian ever commented on Van Dyke Parks' Song Cycle? Post by: SG7 on September 01, 2010, 03:44:02 PM I love Song Cycle, but Jump is a big favorite of mine :)
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