Playlist 517 - Van Dyke Parks Tribute
Amid word of a new album collaboration with Gaby Moreno, I felt like digging into VDP's extensive back catalogue. He's something of a Zelig character - his fingerprints are all over some of the most progressive and extraordinary pop music of the last 50 plus years, whether as writer, singer, arranger, producer or simply player. (Music pop quiz nugget - What links The Byrds' 5D and Robert Altman's Popeye?) Here is just a taste. x Playlist The Byrds – 5D (Fifth Dimension) (1966, VDP plays organ) Tim Buckley – Song for Janie (1966, VDP plays keyboard) Van Dyke Parks – Palm desert (1967, Song cycle) Harper’s Bizarre – Come to the sunshine (1967, written by VDP, also plays keyboard on recording) Phil Harris & Bruce Reitherman – The bare necessities (1967, arranged by VDP, from soundtrack of the film The Jungle Book ) Randy Newman – I think it’s going to rain today (1968, co-produced by VDP with Len