There's supposedly a tape where Van Dyke Parks gets Brian to improvise a song on the spot and he comes up with what would later be called Sail on Sailor. Probably lost forever but I'd love to hear it.
Actually I believe it is...Alan Boyd and Mark Linett who have worked on the archival projects for the Boys and along side Brian for his first album and Solo stuff, confirmed that they don't have that cassette or on a Master. Stephen Desper has stated that he has heard the tape though.
In fact, Dennis Wilson would play a similar cello and viola part on Tug of Love some 10 years later ruclips.net/video/aaqgKEUwaiM/видео.html. Besides, he is credited on Pacific Ocean Blue with piano, Hammond organ, ARP synthesizer, Moog bass, Minimoog, Clavinet, Fender Rhodes, drums, percussion, bass harmonica, tuba, violin and lap steel guitar.
well none of us were there for Mike's comment but my guess is that Mike was thinking how would they recreate the song onstage. I think that was really always Mike's concern
The song was actually written by Van Dyke Parks, Brian Wilson with Ray Kennedy, Tandyn Almer & Jack Rieley. The lead singer on the Beach Boys version was Blondie Chaplin. But the song was also recorded on a solo 1980 ARC/Columbia LP by Ray Kennedy (not the country artist). He also wrote John Waite & The Baby's hits "Every Time I Think of You" & "Isn't It Time" which also appear on Ray's album. He's written many songs for artists such as (Willie Nelson, and Fleetwood Mac) until he died in 2014.
VDP -- Your Southern California cultural influence cast its long shadow nearly to the Southern border, where I basked in it and the California sun in San Diego for 40 years. Gotta head back again and explore yours and Brian's two duet albums again, with this fresh context of time, place and commitment.
thank you Mr. Parks. You're collaboration with Brian Wilson is the most honest music that came from that "Beach Boys" era. Mike love wanted to stay to the old tunes and to the old formula. And the next 25 ears after Smile they did that and went absolutely mediocre. Brian wanted to create a whole new musical sphere and realm with "smile". And he did. And Van Dyke contributed what no other of the Beach Boys could at that time. More than that, Van Dke reall could sense in text what Brian was playin. What came out is a timeless masterpiece. Still new to my ears. Ahead it's time
Mike Love prided himself on being The Beach Boys lyricist and keeping The Beach business 'in house' under the watchful eye of Murry Wilson. It must have galled Love to find that Brian found his best tunes to lyrics that were not written by Mike Love. Still, revenge is a powerful motive in the music business. Until recently it was surely revenge that made Love want to keep The Beach Boys name for his own use only.
Thank you Van Dykes. Im guessing your time with the B B's was very chaotic to say the least. You probably now understand that Murry caused most of Brian's dysfunction, not to mention dealing with angry, frustrated, Mike Love. Nevertheless you did some Great Work with Brian. I always loved " Sail on Sailor ", and the other songs you helped Brian with...
Van Dyke Parks strikes me as someone who would have been a much more supportive partner for Brian rather than Mike. Parks sees himself as, and is happy to be, the person who puts Brian's music into the words Brian couldn't quite articulate but always knew all along. Mike Love seems to be the kind of person who wanted to put his own words over Brian's music, and then also tell Brian that he shouldn't even be doing his own thing to begin with.
On the surface it might seem forgivable for Mike to raise his ire at certain "off the beaten path" types of creativity. At the time, the Beach Boys (read: Brian Wilson) were SO far ahead of their time. It's almost as if Brian took one for the team, just so rock music could progress and the floodgates could open for the masses to start dabbling in new frontiers. However, the fact that ML still can't see the forest for the trees, and continues to write off that legacy, says much more about him being a constant dead-weight in the face of real musical progress.
Mike Love is completely talentless is what's infuriating. He scarred off all other collaborators, all of whom were far better than he was. Even in the 60s Loves lyrics suck.
@@toastyplatters70 I just saw the Beach Boy's Christmas concert. They did two songs from Pet Sounds, Wouldn't It Be Nice and God Only Knows. So that's not really writing it off.
Orange Crate Art & SMiLE are both great albums, funny how their roles reversed. It's nice that they got together again with That Lucky Old Sun, not a full collaboration but good touches to a good album..
Oh my god. You should release something like that All-President backup band. No wonder I’m so cool, man. You and Julia. Damn, mum, if you can here us. Let’s jam!
Just an awful thing to happen to BW. I don't have a thing in the world against VDP, but his esoteric, hyper-poetic - often meaningless - symbolism is exactly what Brian did NOT need in 1967. I'll always believe the lack of grounding and practicality in the lyrical expression of Smile negatively affected Brian. The ONE threme you'll hear Brian discuss countless times is LOVE. Asher helped him express Love. VDP was too ethereal and therefore the lyrics were just words added to the top of the music. As cool as they sound, they communicated nothing.
@@tj03297 Um...please don't take offense, because I intend NONE. But that's a pretty crazy statement, lol. "Just because you can't understand the words, doesn't mean they don't hold meaning." Actually, that's PRECISELY what it means. The ONLY way to ascertain "meaning" is to be able to interpret. You may talk to me in Russian, and when speaking Russian you may intend all sorts of meaning. But if I can't make sense of it, then it's literally all for nothing. The intent of any art - which is a language - is to COMMUNICATE. If the artist provides no way to make sense of his/her artistic expressions then it's left 100% up to the listener, viewer, etc. VDP's lyrics are so abstract that the listener is left guessing what he means.VERY, VERY little REAL communication is happening in a situation like that. I don't think that's good art.
@@jakemitchell1671No offense taken. I believe that's one of the many great things about art, the subjectivity, AND the ambiguity. Everyone interprets a piece of art differently. I would disagree with you that art has "intent". Art does not have an inherent purpose. VDP could've written those lyrics as a joke for all I care. Art can be a form of communication to an audience, or it can be expression, or it can be cathartic to just create something, there is no fixed purpose. So who is anyone to say that lyrics do or don't hold meaning, or have purpose? I find ambiguity in art beautiful, I like it when I don't fully understand, and can make my own meaning of the words, maybe you don't , that's fine too.
@@tj03297 Hmm...you may have a point there Tyler F. I'd not really thought of it that way. But I can see where ambiguity can be valuable in art. It allows us to interpret according to our own experience and in our own context. One of my absolute favorite lyricists of all time is a little-known Scottish songwriter named Justin Currie, of Del Amitri. His lyrics are poetic and beautiful, but he doesn't make his meaning so obvious that everyone comes away with the same interpretation. Perhaps check out his work. It's REALLY good. He as a song, "Driving With the Brakes On" that leaves many things to question. Maybe it's a matter of balance? If an artist is TOO abstract we can't feel what he/she is saying. If the artist is TOO literal, then we can't interpret according to our own experience. In the end, I guess it comes down to personal taste??
Brian and Van Dyke's "Orange Crate Art" may not have made the charts, but to me, it's a pop music masterwork.
It is my favorite album by any artist for the whole decade (the 90s)
There's supposedly a tape where Van Dyke Parks gets Brian to improvise a song on the spot and he comes up with what would later be called Sail on Sailor. Probably lost forever but I'd love to hear it.
Actually I believe it is...Alan Boyd and Mark Linett who have worked on the archival projects for the Boys and along side Brian for his first album and Solo stuff, confirmed that they don't have that cassette or on a Master. Stephen Desper has stated that he has heard the tape though.
@@danerd8978 That's a damn tragedy.
@@stuckinthepastproductions4329 The album, Holland, has the song Sail on Sailor on it. The whole album is on RUclips.
It was recently released in the sail on sailor boxset. Well.. an early version of Brian at the piano so it must be it
"I followed that obligation with the devotion of a dog and that's what it takes to do good work." love that quote.
Mike Love: "Duh! Nobody in da group plays a cello!" What a musical innovator he was then, as he is now.
Ah, a typical hipster put down of Mike Love lol. Innovative no, a good session musician? Yes.
@@victorlabouche6471 "Session musician?" Mike wasn't and isn't an instrumentalist. He played saxophone on "Shut Down" and not much else.
Mike Love: “Nobody in the group plays cello”
Brian Wilson: “Nobody in the group is a surfer except Dennis.”
In fact, Dennis Wilson would play a similar cello and viola part on Tug of Love some 10 years later ruclips.net/video/aaqgKEUwaiM/видео.html. Besides, he is credited on Pacific Ocean Blue with piano, Hammond organ, ARP synthesizer, Moog bass, Minimoog, Clavinet, Fender Rhodes, drums, percussion, bass harmonica, tuba, violin and lap steel guitar.
well none of us were there for Mike's comment but my guess is that Mike was thinking how would they recreate the song onstage. I think that was really always Mike's concern
I think this man proves that you can combine an academic approach with a love for music, and it can work very well
One of the great ones. Van Dyke Parks thank you for being a great songwriter all these times.
He wrote some great lyrics. I enjoy Orange Crate Art. It has some wonderful moments. Thank you, Van Dyke Parks for your creativity and sensitivity.
And music too. Van dyke wrote all the music on the orange crate art album
“Insinuated myself into the music...”. Love it.
What a great storyteller and speaker
Van, you're one of the best (all time) and we know it!
The song was actually written by Van Dyke Parks, Brian Wilson with Ray Kennedy, Tandyn Almer & Jack Rieley. The lead singer on the Beach Boys version was Blondie Chaplin.
But the song was also recorded on a solo 1980 ARC/Columbia LP by Ray Kennedy (not the country artist). He also wrote John Waite & The Baby's hits "Every Time I Think of You" & "Isn't It Time" which also appear on Ray's album. He's written many songs for artists such as (Willie Nelson, and Fleetwood Mac) until he died in 2014.
Thanks vandyke for the autograph in the mail!!
Dove nested towers the hour was strike the street, quicksilver moon.
can anyone tell me what does this mean?
I'm a Brazilian, so translate the poetry of VDP, and all his linguistic play is a bit hard for me.
Dove Nested Towers is the name of my blog.
@@lucianacristinaandradedeli374 It's a bit hard for English speaker too lol
Surf's Up has some of the best set of lyrics I've ever heard
@@abelsanchez2070 I can't think of a song that surpasses Surf's Up lyrically. It's a masterpiece in every way.
such a talent
VDP -- Your Southern California cultural influence cast its long shadow nearly to the Southern border, where I basked in it and the California sun in San Diego for 40 years. Gotta head back again and explore yours and Brian's two duet albums again, with this fresh context of time, place and commitment.
You are a great lyricist! Great music! THANKS!
Thank you Mr. Parks
thank you Mr. Parks. You're collaboration with Brian Wilson is the most honest music that came from that "Beach Boys" era.
Mike love wanted to stay to the old tunes and to the old formula. And the next 25 ears after Smile they did that and went absolutely mediocre.
Brian wanted to create a whole new musical sphere and realm with "smile". And he did. And Van Dyke contributed what no other of the Beach Boys could at that time. More than that, Van Dke reall could sense in text what Brian was playin. What came out is a timeless masterpiece. Still new to my ears. Ahead it's time
Mike Love prided himself on being The Beach Boys lyricist and keeping The Beach business 'in house' under the watchful eye of Murry Wilson. It must have galled Love to find that Brian found his best tunes to lyrics that were not written by Mike Love. Still, revenge is a powerful motive in the music business. Until recently it was surely revenge that made Love want to keep The Beach Boys name for his own use only.
Thank you Van Dykes. Im guessing your time with the B B's was very chaotic to say the least. You probably now understand that Murry caused most of Brian's dysfunction, not to mention dealing with angry, frustrated, Mike Love. Nevertheless you did some Great Work with Brian. I always loved " Sail on Sailor ", and the other songs you helped Brian with...
Van does good work.
Van Dyke Parks strikes me as someone who would have been a much more supportive partner for Brian rather than Mike. Parks sees himself as, and is happy to be, the person who puts Brian's music into the words Brian couldn't quite articulate but always knew all along. Mike Love seems to be the kind of person who wanted to put his own words over Brian's music, and then also tell Brian that he shouldn't even be doing his own thing to begin with.
On the surface it might seem forgivable for Mike to raise his ire at certain "off the beaten path" types of creativity. At the time, the Beach Boys (read: Brian Wilson) were SO far ahead of their time. It's almost as if Brian took one for the team, just so rock music could progress and the floodgates could open for the masses to start dabbling in new frontiers. However, the fact that ML still can't see the forest for the trees, and continues to write off that legacy, says much more about him being a constant dead-weight in the face of real musical progress.
Mike Love is completely talentless is what's infuriating. He scarred off all other collaborators, all of whom were far better than he was. Even in the 60s Loves lyrics suck.
@@toastyplatters70 I just saw the Beach Boy's Christmas concert. They did two songs from Pet Sounds, Wouldn't It Be Nice and God Only Knows. So that's not really writing it off.
Bravo🎉
Orange Crate Art & SMiLE are both great albums, funny how their roles reversed. It's nice that they got together again with That Lucky Old Sun, not a full collaboration but good touches to a good album..
Smile. Song Cycle. Diorama. Twin Peaks. VDP is flawless. And responds to emails.
Oh my god. You should release something like that All-President backup band. No wonder I’m so cool, man. You and Julia. Damn, mum, if you can here us. Let’s jam!
An interesting and articulate cat…
MIKE COMB LOVE-R
Articulate and interesting man.
Was this interview filmed in an abandoned nuclear power plant ? Please be careful
"I just don't think that much of myself."
Sarcastic humility from the biggest bullshitter in the business.
I'm seeing Van Dyke Parks, but I'm hearing Tennessee Williams. It's kind of weird.
Ha, nobody in the Beatles played cello either, but listen to "Yesterday". Mike Love saw the Beach Boys as a garage/cover band, and it came to pass.
i would say hes as mad as an hatter
Just an awful thing to happen to BW. I don't have a thing in the world against VDP, but his esoteric, hyper-poetic - often meaningless - symbolism is exactly what Brian did NOT need in 1967. I'll always believe the lack of grounding and practicality in the lyrical expression of Smile negatively affected Brian. The ONE threme you'll hear Brian discuss countless times is LOVE. Asher helped him express Love. VDP was too ethereal and therefore the lyrics were just words added to the top of the music. As cool as they sound, they communicated nothing.
Mike love would LOVE this comment
he just has an abstract way of writing, just because you can't understand the words, doesn't mean they don't hold meaning
@@tj03297 Um...please don't take offense, because I intend NONE. But that's a pretty crazy statement, lol. "Just because you can't understand the words, doesn't mean they don't hold meaning." Actually, that's PRECISELY what it means. The ONLY way to ascertain "meaning" is to be able to interpret. You may talk to me in Russian, and when speaking Russian you may intend all sorts of meaning. But if I can't make sense of it, then it's literally all for nothing. The intent of any art - which is a language - is to COMMUNICATE. If the artist provides no way to make sense of his/her artistic expressions then it's left 100% up to the listener, viewer, etc. VDP's lyrics are so abstract that the listener is left guessing what he means.VERY, VERY little REAL communication is happening in a situation like that. I don't think that's good art.
@@jakemitchell1671No offense taken. I believe that's one of the many great things about art, the subjectivity, AND the ambiguity. Everyone interprets a piece of art differently. I would disagree with you that art has "intent". Art does not have an inherent purpose. VDP could've written those lyrics as a joke for all I care. Art can be a form of communication to an audience, or it can be expression, or it can be cathartic to just create something, there is no fixed purpose. So who is anyone to say that lyrics do or don't hold meaning, or have purpose? I find ambiguity in art beautiful, I like it when I don't fully understand, and can make my own meaning of the words, maybe you don't , that's fine too.
@@tj03297 Hmm...you may have a point there Tyler F. I'd not really thought of it that way. But I can see where ambiguity can be valuable in art. It allows us to interpret according to our own experience and in our own context. One of my absolute favorite lyricists of all time is a little-known Scottish songwriter named Justin Currie, of Del Amitri. His lyrics are poetic and beautiful, but he doesn't make his meaning so obvious that everyone comes away with the same interpretation. Perhaps check out his work. It's REALLY good. He as a song, "Driving With the Brakes On" that leaves many things to question. Maybe it's a matter of balance? If an artist is TOO abstract we can't feel what he/she is saying. If the artist is TOO literal, then we can't interpret according to our own experience. In the end, I guess it comes down to personal taste??