Discover America (album)

Infobox Album | Name = Discover America
Type = Album
Artist = Van Dyke Parks


Released = 1972
Label = Warner Bros. Records
Producer = Linda Perry, Durrie Parks
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:rauk6j5h71u0 link]
*"Rolling Stone" (Not Rated) [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/vandykeparks/albums/album/201560/review/5942800/discover_america link] | Last album = "Song Cycle"
(1968)
This album = "Discover America"
(1972)
Next album = "Clang of the Yankee Reaper"
(1976) |

"Discover America" is a 1972 album by Van Dyke Parks, featuring Parks' take on Calypso music (notably through the inclusion of performers The Esso Trinidad "Tripoli" Steelband). Lyrical themes run a wide range of American History, from John Jones, to early 20th century musicians Bing Crosby and The Mills Brothers, actor Jack Palance, and political figures Franklin Roosevelt and J. Edgar Hoover.

Track listing

All songs 'public domain; arranged & adapted by Van Dyke Parks' unless otherwise noted.

#"Jack Palance" (Mighty Sparrow) – 0:59
#"Introduction" (Samuel Alter) – 0:27
#"Bing Crosby" (The Lion) – 2:21
#"Steelband Music" – 2:11
#"The Four Mills Brothers" (The Lion) – 1:28
#"Be Careful" – 2:48
#"John Jones" – 3:08
#"FDR in Trinidad" – 2:27
#"Sweet Trinidad" – 0:56
#"Occapella" (Allen Toussaint) – 2:41
#"Sailin' Shoes" (Lowell George) – 2:09
#"Riverboat" (Allen Toussaint) – 3:02
#"Ode to Tobago" (Lord Kitchener; arranged & adapted Van Dyke Parks) – 5:13
#"Your Own Comes First" (Lord Kitchener; arranged & adapted Van Dyke Parks) – 3:24
#"G-Man Hoover" – 2:55
#"Stars and Stripes Forever" (John Philip Sousa) – 1:00

A Rykodisc edition added "Out on the Rolling Sea (Where Jesus Speaks to Me)" to the end of the album.

External links

* [http://vandykeparks.com/music/lydiscover.html "Discover America" lyrics]