Song Cycle (album)
Encyclopedia : S : SO : SON : Song Cycle (album)
Song Cycle is an 1968 album by Van Dyke Parks, known for its high ambition, gigantic budget (it is still reputedly the most expensive album ever made allowing for inflation), and subsequent low sales. The title is a reference to the genre of the Song Cycle. The album's material is sprawling (with few real traditional 'songs'), and musically reflects a diverse range of Americana. The album was backed by producer Lenny Waronker, who placed Parks musical freedom over budgetry constraints. The album made early use of Eight track recording.
In response to the poor sales of the record after its release (despite some rave critical reviews), Warner Brothers ran full page advertisments suggesting that they "lost $35,509 on 'the album of the year' (damnit)", suggesting listeners send in their copies of Song Cycle to Warner Brothers in return for a brand new copy, and a second; "one to educate a friend with".
The album is a personal favourite of Sonic Youth member Jim O'Rourke.
Track listing
- "Vine Street" (Randy Newman) 3:40
- "Palm Desert" (Van Dyke Parks) 3:07
- "Widow's Walk" (Van Dyke Parks) 3:13
- "Laurel Canyon Blvd" (Van Dyke Parks) 0:28
- "The All Golden" (Van Dyke Parks) 3:46
- "Van Dyke Parks" (Public Domain) 0:57
- "Public Domain" (Van Dyke Parks) 2:34
- "Donovan's Colours" (Donovan Leitch) 3:38
- "The Attic" (Van Dyke Parks) 2:56
- "Laurel Canyon" Blvd (Van Dyke Parks) 1:19
- "By the People" (Van Dyke Parks) 5:53
- "Pot Pourri" (Van Dyke Parks) 1:08
note: the song "Van Dyke Parks" above (credited as 'Public Domain') is actually an interpretation of Nearer, my God, to Thee - a Christian Hymn.
External links
From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.