Tag Archives: Van Dyke Parks

Brian Wilson: Brian Wilson Presents Smile

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On September 28, 2004, “Nonesuch” label released “Brian Wilson Presents Smile”, the fifth Brian Wilson studio album. It was recorded April – July 2004, at “Sunset Sound Recorders”, “Your Place or Mine Recording” in California, and was produced by Brian Wilson.

Personnel:

  • Brian Wilson – vocals, keyboards, arrangements
  • Jeffrey Foskett – vocals, guitar, hammer
  • Probyn Gregory – vocals, guitar, brass, Tannerin, whistles
  • Scott Bennett – vocals, guitar, keyboards, mallets
  • Bob Lizik – bass guitar, guitar, beret
  • Jim Hines – drums, mallets, saw, sound effects
  • Nelson Bragg – vocals, percussion, whistles, celery
  • Nick Walusko – vocals, guitar
  • Darian Sahanaja – vocals, keyboards, mallets, drill
  • Paul Mertens – woodwinds, saxophone, harmonica, semi-conductor
  • Taylor Mills – vocals, power drill, leg-slap

Stockholm Strings ‘n’ Horns

  • Victor Sand – saxophone, flute, clarinet
  • Björn Samuelsson – trombone
  • Staffan Findin – bass trombone
  • Andreas Forsman – violin
  • Malin-My Nilsson – violin
  • Erik Holm – viola
  • Anna Landberg – cello
  • Markus Sandlund – cello
  • Mark Linett – recording, mixing
  • Kevin Deane – engineer assistant
  • Pete Magdaleno – engineer assistant
  • Daniel S. McCoy – engineer assistant
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering
  • Mark London – package design and art
  • Dennis Loren – graphic layouts

Track listing:

All tracks by Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks, except where noted.

Movement One

  1. Our Prayer / Gee – Brian Wilson, William Davis, Morris Levy
  2. Heroes and Villains
  3. Roll Plymouth Rocks
  4. Barnyard
  5. Old Master Painter / You Are My Sunshine – Haven Gillespie, Beasley Smith
  6. Cabin Essence

Movement Two

  • Wonderful
  • Song for Children
  • Child Is Father of the Man
  • Surf’s Up

Movement Three

  1. I’m in Great Shape / I Wanna Be Around / Workshop – Brian Wilson, Van Dyke Parks, Johnny Mercer, Sade Vimmerstedt
  2. Vega Tables
  3. On a Holiday
  4. Wind Chimes
  5. Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow – Brian Wilson
  6. In Blue Hawaii
  7. Good Vibrations – Brian Wilson, Tony Asher, Michael Love

Instrumental bonus tracks (side four of the vinyl release)

  1. Heroes and Villains
  2. Cabin Essence
  3. On a Holiday
  4. Wind Chimes

The Beach Boys: Summer In Paradise

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On August 3, 1992, “Brother Records” label released “Summer in Paradise”, the twenty-seventh Beach Boys (The) studio album. It was recorded July 1991 – May 1992, and was produced by Terry Melcher, Gary Griffin and Lanny Cardola.

Personnel:

  •  Al Jardine – vocals
  • Carl Wilson – vocals
  • Mike Love – vocals, executive producer
  • Bruce Johnston – vocals; keyboards
  • Adrian Baker – vocals
  • Roger McGuinn – vocals
  • Craig Fall – guitars, mandolin, keyboard bass
  • Danny Kortchmar – guitars
  • John Weston – pedal steel guitar
  • Terry Melcher – vocals, keyboards
  • Keith Wechsler – keyboards, drums, keyboard programming, engineer, mixing
  • Gary Griffin – accordion
  • Van Dyke Parks – accordion, keyboards
  • Rod Clark – bass guitar
  • Ken Mary – drums 
  • Sammy Merendino – drums
  • John Stamos – vocals, drums
  • Sal Marullo – congas 
  • Joel Peskin – saxophones
  • Richard Titus – keyboard programming, second engineer
  • Adam Jardine – harmony and backing vocals
  • Kevin Elson – engineer
  • Mike Mierua – engineer

Track listing:

  1. Hot Fun in the Summertime – Sylvester Stewart
  2. Surfin’ – Brian Wilson, Mike Love
  3. Summer of Love – Mike Love, Terry Melcher
  4. Island Fever – Mike Love, Terry Melcher
  5. Still Surfin’ – Mike Love, Terry Melcher
  6. Slow Summer Dancin’ (One Summer Night) – Bruce Johnston, Danny Webb
  7. Strange Things Happen – Mike Love, Terry Melcher
  8. Remember (Walking in the Sand) – George Morton
  9. Lahaina Aloha – Mike Love, Terry Melcher
  10. Under the Boardwalk – Artie Resnick, Kenny Young
  11. Summer in Paradise – Mike Love, Terry Melcher, Craig Fall
  12. Forever – Dennis Wilson, Gregg Jakobson

Rufus Wainwright: Folkocracy

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On June 2, 2023, “BMG” label released “Folkocracy”, the eleventh Rufus Wainwright album. It was recorded 2022 – 2023, and was produced by Mitchell Froom.

Personnel:

  • Rufus Wainwright – vocals, guitar, piano
  • Val McCallum – guitar
  • Madison Cunningham – guitar
  • Blake Mills – guitar
  • Greg Leisz – lap steel guitar, guitar, mandolin
  • Patrick Sauber – banjo
  • Chaim Tannenbaum – banjo
  • Richard Parks – mandolin
  • Steve Amedée – tambourine
  • Patrick Warren – organ
  • Van Dyke Parks – piano, accordion
  • Jacob Mann – piano
  • Mitchell Froom – harpsichord, Mellotron, piano, electric piano 
  • Anna McGarrigle – accordion
  • David Piltch – bass
  • Pete Thomas – drums
  • Ted Poor – percussion
  • Andrew Bird – violin
  • Madison Cunningham
  • John Legend
  • Susanna Hoffs
  • Nicole Scherzinger
  • Van Dyke Parks
  • Chris Stills
  • Brandi Carlile
  • Anna McGarrigle 
  • Chaim Tannenbaum
  • Lily Lanken
  • Martha Wainwright
  • Lucy Wainwright Roche
  • Anohni
  • David Byrne
  • Chaka Khan
  • Andrew Bird
  • Chris Stills
  • Sheryl Crow
  • Rob Moose – strings, arrangement
  • David Boucher – engineer, mixing
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering

Track listing:

  1. Alone – Edwan MacColl
  2. Heading for Home – Peggy Seeger
  3. Twelve-Thirty (Young Girls Are Coming to the Canyon) – John E. A Phillips
  4. Down in the Willow Garden – Charlie Monroe
  5. Shenandoah – traditional
  6. Nacht und Träume – Franz Schubert, Matthäus von Collin
  7. Harvest – Neil Young
  8. Going to a Town – Rufus Wainwright
  9. High on a Rocky Ledge – Louis Hardin
  10. Kaulana Nā Pua – Ellen Keho’ohiwaokalani Wright Prendergast
  11. Hush Little Baby – traditional
  12. Black Gold – Van Dyke Parks
  13. Cotton Eyed Joe – traditional
  14. Arthur McBride – traditional
  15. Wild Mountain Thyme – traditional

Victoria Williams: Loose

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On October 18, 1994, “Atlantic” label released “Loose”, the third Victoria Williams studio album. It was recorded in 1994, at “American Recording Studios” in Woodland Hills, California, and was produced by Paul Fox.

Personnel:

  • Victoria Williams – vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, piano, dulcimer
  • Peter Buck – electric guitar, sitar
  • Greg Leisz – acoustic and electric guitar, pedal steel guitar, mandolin, dulcimer
  • Mark Olson – vocals, acoustic guitar
  • Andrew Williams – acoustic guitar, piano, organ, backing vocals
  • Tim Ray – piano, electric piano
  • Rami Jaffee – organ
  • Greg Cohen – acoustic bass, electric guitar
  • Don Heffington – drums, percussion
  • Scott Babcock – timpani, shaker
  • Paul Fox – chimes, shaker
  • Van Dyke Parks – accordion, arrangements
  • Tower of Power Horn Section – horns
  • Doug Weisselman – clarinet, bass harmonica, clay flute
  • Tammy Rogers – violin, viola, backing vocals
  • Lili Haydn – viola
  • Geri Stuyak – cello
  • The Richard Greene Fourteen – strings
  • Dave Pirner – vocals
  • Rose Stone – backing vocals
  • Gary Louris – backing vocals
  • Jean McClain – backing vocals
  • Mike Mills – backing vocals
  • David Williams – backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Victoria Williams, except where noted.

  1. Century Plant
  2. You R Loved
  3. Harry Went to Heaven
  4. Crazy Mary
  5. When We Sing Together
  6. Polish Those Shoes
  7. Love
  8. What a Wonderful Life – Bob Thiele, George David Wess
  9. Waterfall
  10. Nature’s Way – Randy California
  11. Sunshine Country
  12. Happy to Have Known Pappy
  13. My Ally – Victoria Williams, Dave Pirner
  14. Hitchhiker’s Smile
  15. Get Away
  16. Psalms – Don Heffington

Harper Bizarre: Feelin’ Groovy

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In April 1967, “Warner Bros” label released “Feelin’ Groovy”, the debut Harpers Bizarre album. It was recorded in 1967, and was produced by Lenny Waronker.

Personnel:

  • Dickie Scoppettone – vocals, guitar
  • Ted Templeman – vocals, guitar
  • Eddie James – guitar
  • Dick Yount – vocals, bass
  • John Petersen – drums 
  • Randy Newman – piano
  • Van Dyke Parks – piano
  • Leon Russell – arrangements
  • Randy Newman – arrangements
  • Perry Botkin Jr. – arrangements
  • Ron Elliott – arrangements
  • Lee Herschberg – engineer
  • Ed Thrasher – art direction
  • Jim Marshall – photography
  • Stan Cornyn – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Come to the Sunshine – Van Dyke Parks
  2. Happy Talk – Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II
  3. Come Love – Alan Bergman, Larry Marks, Marilyn Keith
  4. Raspberry Rug – Leon Russell
  5. 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy) – Paul Simon
  6. The Debutante’s Ball – Randy Newman
  7. Happy Land – Randy Newman
  8. Peter and the Wolf – Sergei Prokofieff, Robert Durand
  9. I Can Hear the Darkness – Donna Washburn, Leon Russell
  10. Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear – Randy Newman

The Thrills: Let’s Bottle Bohemia

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On September 13, 2004, “Virgin” label released “Let’s Bottle Bohemia”, the second Thrills (The) album. It was recorded 2003 – 2004, and was produced by Dave Sardy.  

Personnel:

  • Conor Deasy – vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica
  • Daniel Ryan – guitar, banjo, bass, backing vocals
  • Padraic McMaon – guitar, bass, backing vocals
  • Kevin Horan – piano, organ, backing vocals
  • Ben Carrigan – drums, percussion
  • Peter Buck – guitar, mandolin
  • Van Dyke Parks – accordion, strings arrangements, conductor
  • Greg Gordon – engineer
  • Warren Huart – editing
  • Dave Sardy – mixing
  • Stephen Marcussen – mastering
  • Ross Garfield – technician

Track listing:

  1. Tell Me Something I Don’t Know
  2. Whatever Happened to Corey Haim?
  3. Faded Beauty Queens
  4. Saturday Night
  5. Not for All the Love in the World
  6. Our Wasted Lives
  7. You Can’t Fool Old Friends with Limousines
  8. Found My Rosebud
  9. The Curse of Comfort
  10. The Irish Keep Gate-crashing / A City of Long Nights (hidden track) 

Ringo Starr: Ringo 2012

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On January 30, 2012, “Hip-O” and “UM” labels released “Ringo 2012”, the 17th Ringo Starr studio album. It was recorded in 2011, at “Roccabella West” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Bruce Sugar and Ringo Starr.

Personnel:

  • Ringo Starr (Richard Starkey) – lead and backing vocals, drums, percussion,  keyboards, guitar, mixing
  • Steve Dudas – guitar, bass
  • Joe Walsh – guitar
  • Kenny Wayne Shepherd – guitar
  • David A. Stewart – guitar, keyboards
  • Matt Cartsonis – mandolin
  • Bruce Sugar – keyboards, piano, horn, arrangement, organ, synth horns, mixing
  • Van Dyke Parks – keyboards, accordion, string arrangement
  • Benmont Tench – organ
  • Charlie Haden – bass
  • Don Was – bass
  • Michael Bradford – bass
  • Edgar Winter – sax, organ
  • Ann Marie Calhoun – violin
  • Amy Keys – backing vocals
  • Kelly Moneymaker – backing vocals
  • Richard Page – backing vocals
  • Ned Douglas – recording assistant
  • Chris Bellman – mastering
  • Vartan – art direction
  • Mike Fink, Philip Manning, Meire Murakami – design
  • Rob Shanahan – photography
  • Christine Telleck – production manager
  • Adam Starr – product manager

Track listing:

  1. Anthem – Richard Starkey, Glen Ballard
  2. Wings – Rickard Starkey, Vini Poncia
  3. Think It Over – Buddy Holly, Norman Petty
  4. Samba – Richard Starkey, Van Dyke Parks
  5. Rock Island Line – traditional, arranged by Richard Starkey
  6. Step Lightly – Richard Starkey
  7. Wonderful – Richard Starkey, Gary Nicholson
  8. In Liverpool – Richard Starkey, Dave Stewart
  9. Slow Down – Richard Starkey, Joe Walsh

Harpers Bizarre: Anything Goes

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In December 1967, “Warner Bros” label released “Anything Goes”, the second Harpers Bizarre album. It was recorded in 1967, and was produced by Lenny Waronker.

Personnel:

  • Eddie James – guitar
  • Dick Scoppettone – vocals, guitar, bass, vocal arrangements
  • Dick Yount – vocals, bass
  • Ted Templeman – vocals, guitar, drums, vocal arrangements
  • John Petersen – vocals, drums, percussion
  • Jack Glaser – sound effects
  • Ami Hadini, Eddie Brackett, Joe Sidore, Lee Herschberg, Mike Sheilds – engineer
  • Lee Herschberg – editing
  • Ed Thrasher – art direction
  • Stan Cornyn – sleeve notes

Track listing:

  1. (Intro) This Is Only the Beginning – Ted Koehler, Harold Arlen
  2. Anything Goes – Cole Porter
  3. Two Little Babes in the Wood – Cole Porter
  4. The Biggest Night of Her Life – Randy Newman
  5. Pocketful of Miracles – Sammy Cahn, Jimmy Van Heusen
  6. Snow – Randy Newman
  7. Chattanooga Choo Choo – Mack Gordon, Harry Warren
  8. Hey You in the Crowd – Dick Scoppettone, Ted Templeman
  9. Louisiana Man – Doug Kershaw
  10. Milord – Georges Moustaki, Marguerite Monnot
  11. Virginia City – Dick Scoppettone, Ted Templeman
  12. Jessie – Mike Gordon, Jimmy Griffin
  13. You Need a Change – David Blue
  14. High Coin – Van Dyke Parks

Ry Cooder: Get Rhythm

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In November 1987, “Warner Bros” label released “Get Rhythm”, the eleventh Ry Cooder album. It was recorded in 1987, at “Ocean Way Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Ry Cooder.

Personnel:

  • Ry Cooder – vocals, guitar, arrangements
  • Van Dyke Parks – keyboards
  • Flaco Jiménez – accordion
  • Steve Douglas – saxophone
  • Jorge Calderón – bass guitar
  • Buell Neidlinger – acoustic bass
  • Jim Keltner – drums
  • Miguel Cruz – percussion
  • Bobby King, Terry Evans, Arnold McCuller, Willie Greene, Jr. – backing vocals
  • Larry Blackmon – backing vocals
  • Harry Dean Stanton – backing vocals
  • Ed Cherney – recording
  • Steven M. Martin – art direction
  • Kalan Brunink – black velvet painting

Track listing:

  1. Get Rhythm – Johnny Cash
  2. Low Commotion – Ry Cooder, Jim Keltner
  3. Going Back to Okinawa – Ry Cooder
  4. Thirteen Question Method – Chuck Berry
  5. Women Will Rule the World – Raymond Quevedo
  6. All Shook Up – Elvis Presley, Otis Blackwell
  7. I Can Tell by the Way You Smell – Walter Davis
  8. Across the Borderline – Ry Cooder, Jim Dickinson, John Hiatt
  9. Let’s Have a Ball – Allen Bunn

Natalie Merchant: Motherland

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On November 13, 2001, “Elektra” label released “Motherland”, the third Natalie Merchant album. It was recorded July – September 2001, at “Allaire Studios”, “Sunset Sound” and “Clinton Studios”, and was produced by T-Bone Burnett and Natalie Merchant.

Personnel:

  • Natalie Merchant – vocal, piano, Rhodes piano
  • Erik Della Penna – electric guitar, classical guitar, acoustic guitar, oud, banjo, lap steel guitar, bouzouki
  • Greg Leisz – acoustic and electric guitar, 12 string guitar, banjo, mandolin
  • Elizabeth Steen – Hammond organ, mellotron, Wurlitzer piano, piano
  • Gabriel Gordon – vocal, acoustic and electric guitar
  • Keefus Ciancia – piano, Hammond organ, keyboard
  • Patrick Warren – Chamberlin, pump organ
  • Guy Klucevsek – accordion
  • Van Dyke Parks – accordion
  • Mike Elizondo – acoustic bass
  • Bob Glaub – bass guitar
  • Jeremy McCoy – bass guitar
  • Graham Maby – bass guitar
  • Matt Chamberlain – drums, percussion
  • Carla Azar – drums 
  • Katie Goldberg – vocal
  • Mavis Staples – vocals
  • Kate Daley – Vivian girl’s voice
  • Kelly Daley – Vivian girl’s voice
  • Stephen Barber – arranger, conductor
  • David Ralicke – tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, trombone
  • Philip Myers – French horn
  • Sandra Church – alto flute
  • David Krakauer – clarinet
  • Mitchell Estrin – bass clarinet
  • Tony Kadleck – trumpet
  • Chris Tedesco – trumpet
  • Sandra Park – violin, string contractor
  • Krystof Kuznik – violin
  • Bruno Eicher – violin
  • Ann S. Kim – violin
  • Lisa E. Kim – violin
  • Karen Marx – violin
  • Robert T. Shaw – violin
  • Fiona Simon – violin
  • Soo Hyun Kwon – violin
  • Jung Sun Yoo – violin
  • Sharon Yamada – violin
  • Laura Seaton – violin
  • Nick Cords – viola
  • Vivek Kamath – viola
  • Karen Dreyfus – viola
  • Elizabeth Dyson – cello
  • Sarah Seiver – cello
  • Alan Stepansky – cello

Track listing:

All tracks by Natalie Merchant.

  1. This House Is on Fire
  2. Motherland
  3. Saint Judas
  4. Put the Law on You
  5. Build a Levee
  6. Golden Boy
  7. Henry Darger
  8. The Worst Thing – Spanish lyrics by Daniel de la Calle 
  9. Tell Yourself
  10. Just Can’t Last
  11. Not in This Life
  12. I’m Not Gonna Beg