Parents back in the day had a lot of negative things to say about rock music -- but when my parents heard this tune from someone who worked with The Beach Boys -- they thought it was absolutely marvelous. But then, they also thought it was an old song from the 1930s. Van Dyke could do those sorts of things. We had our great composers, didn't we? The famous ones, and the not so known ones. But we had them.
That awesome piano sound VDP also plays on the Nilsson track Turn Out The Light from 1975, this was rec 1976 - and it's the only track he wrote on the album. It's a great sound, can't fault him for rocking it twice.
For those who don't know: Van Dyke Parks is the lyricist / musician to the classic Beach Boys songs: big part of the classic album "Smile" which originally included "Heroes & Villains," "Surf's Up," "Cabin Essence," "Child Is Father To the Man," "Vegetables," "I'm In Great Shape," & a few others. If you read Van Dyke Parks' biography you will surprised just how many famous artists, songs & albums he's been involved with or influenced. Quirky guy? Sure is. But a genius in a Randy Newman type of way. Mike Love didn't care for him when he was writing with Brian Wilson because Love didn't understand many of the lyrics. But, "Heroes and Villains," has to be one of the best set of lyrics/poetry I ever read.
Hadnt listen to the guy before but off to see him tomorrow at the End of the Road festival in Dorset, UK. Really excited, love what I have listened to so far!!