Image from Simplicity sewing pattern 5273, c. 1980
As a fan of '60s pop, I've been casually curious about Van Dyke Parks for a while. A former child star and successful session musician in Los Angeles, Parks gained some prominence when producer Terry Melcher introduced him to Brian Wilson and the two became collaborators on the famous SMiLE project. By 1968, Parks was putting out solo records, in addition to having his songs recorded by a variety of artists (Jackie DeShannon's version of his "High Coin" is a favorite of mine). I'd heard that his first solo record, Song Cycle, can be a difficult entry point, so I started with his second album, 1972's Discover America. It's a very fun record, but it's a puzzling one as well.
Discover America is, more or less, a calypso record. It was described by Parks as "a completely collaborative project", and that is true to the point that it is almost impossible to sort out who is doing what and what is coming from where. I can't even figure out the songs' writing credits - the album's own liner notes contradict themselves on the subject. They say, "All songs recorded herein have been recorded before," but they also say, "All songs written by Van Dyke Parks except where indicated." Most of the lyrics are identifiable as Parks' work, so I'm guessing that he took traditional calypso tunes and turned them into quirky, lyrical pop songs (except for a couple songs in the album's second half that are clearly cover versions).
The music on Discover America is an interesting cross between classic calypso and baroque pop, with the Esso Trinidad Steelband working together with a variety of LA musicians, including blues-rockers (and sexy cake enthusiasts) Little Feat. The lyrics are also a fascinating hybrid, mixing Parks' fascination with old-timey music, the culture of Trinidad, and US history. Song titles like "G-Man Hoover", "Bing Crosby", and "FDR in Trinidad" give a good idea of the themes he's working with, and many of the songs find Parks rattling off lists of musicians and historical figures from bygone eras. The songs are brief - if not for the five-minute "Ode to Tobago", the album would barely hit the 30-minute mark. Discover America is like a set of intricate miniatures depicting (with only partial accuracy) scenes of a far-off land.
Parks' cover of Allen Toussaint's "Occapella" may be the most fun song on Discover America, but "FDR in Trinidad" is probably the song that best portrays the album's goofy charms. With lyrical references to "Mr. Cordell Hull" and Port of Spain, a blues-calypso backing by Little Feat, and Parks' unusual singing cadences, the song is unlike anything else you're likely to hear.
"FDR in Trinidad" by Van Dyke Parks
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