Van Dyke Parks - Berlin 1963-2012

[rn57]

http://bananastan.com/letters_1.html

From VDP's site, an essay written while he was in Berlin doing a show in June. It's in his customary kaleidoscopic style - JFK, the Cold War, the Seal Beach & Hermosa Beach folkie communities, family history, all tumbling around in that quintessentially Van Dyke-ish way. He does touch upon the BBs, specifically "Surfer Girl" - and also says epoxy surfboards came in in '63. I thought it was a year earlier. Anyway, quite worth reading.

[Jay]

At first glance, I saw the years separated with a hyphen, and my stomach turned upside down.

[runnersdialzero]

At first glance, I saw the years separated with a hyphen, and my stomach turned upside down.

Same, especially with the 2012 at the end. I shat myself, but upon realizing he wasn't born in '63, I unshat myself with a vacuum-like action.

[Dunderhead]

At first glance, I saw the years separated with a hyphen, and my stomach turned upside down.

Jesus, glad I wasn't alone.

[stack-o-tracks]

I think a lot of people are going to think that at first. I know I did.

[Micha]

I think a lot of people are going to think that at first. I know I did.

I didn't.

[Al Jardine: Pick Up Artist]

Jesus Christ man, pick a better title!

[Andrew G. Doe]

For once, my infuriatingly retentive memory came up trumps.

1/3/43, Hattiesburg Mississippi. 

[rn57]

After reading I make a conclusion that Mr. Van Dyke has great talent at writing essays & so on. Mostly enjoyed his memories about his brother Carson (btw, I didn't know he has a brother) & their coffee house, about jazz, "Beatnik" stuff &, of course, about short BBs honorable mention, among other artists. Thanks for sharing these writings, rn57! That was like travelling in time machine to old times.

If you put "van dyke parks" and "interview" in Google you'll find probably a hundred conversations with him, a good many as wide-ranging and entertaining as this essay.  What makes the Berlin one unusual, coming from VDP, is that it does refer to the BBs before Smile.  In most of his chats he gives the impression he'd hardly paid much attention to the band before David Crosby introduced him to Brian in '65.  I think once he talked about doing a folk set in some coffee house in '64, walking outside between sets, and hearing muffled teenage screams for the BBs at a nearby theater. 

And the title of the thread should be changed but I don't see how I can do that...if TRBB or one of the moderators has the wherewithal to turn it into "New Van Dyke Parks Essay" or some such, be my guest.

Van Dyke and Carson Parks' group the Greenwood County Singers have a Scopitone video on YouTube that would probably make you laugh, RRA1.  Van Dyke looks like he's twelve in it...he was actually 21. His brother (who wrote "Somethin' Stupid" and "Cab Driver") doesn't look much older.

[Aegir]

At first glance, I saw the years separated with a hyphen, and my stomach turned upside down.

Same, especially with the 2012 at the end. I shat myself, but upon realizing he wasn't born in '63, I unshat myself with a vacuum-like action.

See, I thought the 1963 - 2012 signified death, so then I assumed that VDP's construction of what Berlin "should be" had died. You know, like when people say "punk is dead"? That sort of thing.

[KittyKat]

After reading I make a conclusion that Mr. Van Dyke has great talent at writing essays & so on. Mostly enjoyed his memories about his brother Carson (btw, I didn't know he has a brother) & their coffee house, about jazz, "Beatnik" stuff &, of course, about short BBs honorable mention, among other artists. Thanks for sharing these writings, rn57! That was like travelling in time machine to old times.

His brother Carson Parks wrote "Something Stupid," the Frank Sinatra/Nancy Sinatra duet.  So, both brothers had Top 40 hits in 1967 (Carson with "Stupid" and Van Dyke with Harper's Bizarre's "Come to the Sunshine").

[willy]

There are several of these essays hidden on the site... click on the tiny bus icons bottom of page...