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Van Dyke Parks' Song Cycle
Series: 33 1/3
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Check link for latest rating. ( 122 ratings, 15 reviews)
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Van Dyke Parks' Song Cycle
$2199
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
Ideal for enthusiasts of 1960s music history, psychedelic pop, and those interested in the artistic and cultural context of experimental albums. Also suited to readers who appreciate detailed music biographies and the exploration of overlooked artistic works.
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See moreDespite Warner Brothers Records' conviction that it had mid-wifed the American equivalent of Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, "Song Cycle" wasn't rock music, and it didn't sell like rock music. This title offers an intelligent take on a classic left-field album.
An intelligent take on a classic left-field album from the late 1960s, including original interviews with all the key players including Van Dyke Parks.
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Description
Posing more riddles than the average sphinx, with its decipherable answers pointing somewhere dark, Song Cycle was anything but passive. I had already witnessed hippie bands playing with their backs to the hall, so the thought of late ‘60s musicians being interested in their audience struck me as a concept bordering on revolutionary.
The debut album from songwriter and pianist Van Dyke Parks, Song Cycle first appeared in 1968 on Warner Brothers Records. Its twelve songs led listeners through Joycean wordplay and sound collages to reveal messages of dissent and personal loss, at odds with Parks' buoyant, riotously eclectic music.
Monumentally ambitious and equally expensive, Song Cycle resembled a film - possibly Citizen Kane - more than the pop music of its day; like Kane, Parks' masterwork was adored by critics yet all but ignored by paying customers.
In his efforts to plumb the mysteries of this quixotic record and its subsequent fate, Richard Henderson interviews several of the key figures involved with Song Cycle, notably Parks himself and producer Lenny Waronker.
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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Praised as a fascinating and quality work, critics highlight Henderson's skill in making complex musical topics accessible. Song Cycle is described as a challenging but persuasive exploration of an overlooked psychedelic era masterpiece, blending diverse musical styles into a uniquely ambitious record. Reviews from The New York Examiner, The Wire, Crawdaddy!, and Pitchfork commend the book's detailed and animated narrative.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780826429179
Publisher: Continuum Publishing Corporation
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 03 June 2010
Country: United States
Imprint: Continuum Publishing Corporation
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Weight: 136g
Pages: 144
Collections
About the Author
Richard Henderson is a writer, music editor and occasional music supervisor for feature films. Born in Detroit, he leads a nomadic existence in California. His film credits include Brüno, Borat, Into The Wild and The Life Aquatic; his writing has appeared in The Wire, Billboard, The Beat and Murder Dog.
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