VDP on Brian Wilson

I bought the one copy of the September Brian Wilson issue of Mojo in the rack at Barnes & Noble. (There no copies last month.) Here is Van Dyke Parks speaking to music journalist Sylvie Simmons:

I knew that Orange Crate Art was my last studio album at Warner Brothers. The thing is, I wanted to know how Californians would say the word “orange” so l could write the song. So I went to see Brian to see how he’d say it. He was in a place on a sliver of earth between the cliffs and the roar of the sea. I was directed to his room in the small place — his psychologist was in the big place — and there was Brian, looking at a television that wasn’t on. And I said to myself, I owe this man something. So I got him in the studio. Cut to the chase, he’s standing in front of the microphone and then he stopped everything. He asked me, “Why aren’t you singing?” I said, I’m sorry, Brian, I just don’t like the sound of my own voice. And he said, “I don’t blame you.” (Laughs ) In the studio, he had the ability to bring out the best in everyone. That made him a person of great personal appeal. His death was merciful. He is now liberated from all that dark and dismal tragedy.

If you’re wondering: Van Dyke sings /ˈär-inj/. Brian sings /ˈȯr-inj/. Both sound right.

Venn reading
All OCA Van Dyke Parks posts: Van Dyke Parks and Brian Wilson posts : Brian Wilson posts (Pinboard)