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Format

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  BELLAV344Long Player  £13.00

Label

Bella Union

Van Dyke Parks

Discover America

60s 70s remastered cd reissue on bella union van dyke parks' second album released four years after his celebrated 'song cycle' is an exploration of trinidadian calypso music infused with parks' ingeniously offbeat treatment like its predecessor the record is clever intriguing and musically brilliant 'discover america' adds an unexpected ingredient fun the album opener echoes that of 'song cycle's an intentionally degraded song clip 'jack palance' performed by the mighty sparrow himself those interested in exploring more calypso through this angle might investigate mighty sparrow's 'hot and sweet' an album produced by van dyke parks in 1974 wooden marimbas steel drums island rhythms and other calypso staples supplied by the esso trinidad steel band grace many of the tracks but parks maintains style thru vast string arrangements orchestration gratuitous experimental bits and the vintage americana themes examined in the lyrics parks reimagines and rearranges traditional material on discover america as well as borrowing two killer tunes from allen touissaint 'occapella' and 'riverboat' and lowell george's 'sailin' shoes' little feat actually play on park's 'fdr in trinidad' the adapted material is brilliantly produced and addictingly melodic couple of standouts include the lilting 'john jones' and mind boggling 'gman hoover' a tune as weird as it is captivating though the entire album is consistently 5star a masterpiece from a master rough trade east instore van dyke parks sunday 24th june 12pm

Tracklist

• 1. Jack Palance
  2. Introduction (to Discover America)
  3. Bing Crosby
  4. Steelband Music
  5. The Four Mills Brothers
  6. Be Careful
  7. John Jones
  8. Fdr In Trinidad
  9. Sweet Trinidad
  10. Occapella
  11. Sailin' Shoes
  12. Riverboat
  13. Ode To Tobago
  14. Your Own Comes First
  15. G-man Hoover
  16. Stars & Stripes Forever