My guest this week is the incredibly enigmatic composer, arranger, and record producer Van Dyke Parks. I've had the good fortune of working with Van Dyke on a few projects over the years and his creativity, musicality and sense of humour are absolutely unlike any other human I've ever encountered. Van Dyke has been involved in so many legendary projects, it boggles a mind like mine. He has worked with Ry Cooder on his great early albums, Little Feat (Lowell George was one of his closest friends), not to mention classic recordings by such performers as Phil Ochs, Donovan, Haruomi Hosono, the Byrds, Tim Buckley, Arlo Guthrie, Loudon Wainwright III, Rufus Wainwright, U2, Joe Henry, Harry Nilsson, not to mention his famously shelved (until 40 years later) collaboration with Brian Wilson on the Beach Boys ill-fated "Smile" album. Oh, and I didn't even mention that he arranged "The Bear Necessities" for The Jungle Book movie - this could go on and on, but I'll stop here so you can get on with it and have a listen for yourself! Enjoy my conversation with Van Dyke Parks, and please subscribe to the podcast for free on iTunes... Spread the word. Thank you!