Among the hundreds of artists he's worked with include Phil Ochs, Tim Buckley, Haruomi Hosono, The Byrds, Rufus Wainwright, Harry Nilsson, Randy Newman, Ry Cooder, U2, Joanna Newsom, Inara George, Keith Moon, Frank Zappa, Harpers Bizarre, Little Feat, Ringo Starr, Silverchair, and Skrillex.
In addition to producing, Parks has released seven studio albums of his own recordings: Song Cycle, Discover America, Clang of the Yankee Reaper, Jump!, Tokyo Rose, Songs Cycled, and with Brian Wilson, Orange Crate Art. He has also released a live album, Moonlighting: Live at the Ash Grove. His first official release was the 1966 single Number Nine, a modernized version of Beethoven's 9th backed with Do What You Wanta.
Parks has also established himself in film scores, and over the years has directed, arranged, produced, and composed soundtracks for a great number of motion pictures and television shows.
During his childhood, Parks became extremely fond of old-style American music, most notably the sounds of Tin Pan Alley. This interest in Depression-era songwriting would correlate heavily with his artistic goals and interests during the 1960s and beyond. He was also deeply affected by musicians Spike Jones and Les Paul, which led him to develop an interest with studio experimentation in the form of pop music.
Tribute to Spree
Van Dyke Parks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Steel band man, yes you beatin' pan
But my friend you won't understand
Has it ever dawned on you
Who invented pan
I ask you to join me
In offerin' tribute to this man
(oh no) Everybody wonderin'
How the steelband start
(Oh no) When you get to know
Well, it's gonna break your heart
I tell you now
It's founded by one Winston Spree
And this is how
He started his first melody
Bless the day in 1939
The genius say he recall to mind
Saw an ol' empty oil drum
Beatin' in the storm
Just before the sky darkened
You know it was the steel band was born
(oh no) Everybody wonderin'
How the steelband start
(Oh no) When you get to know
Well, it's gonna break your heart
I tell you now
It's founded by one Winston Spree
And this is how
He started his first melody
He went along beatin'blow by blow
He thought it sound like a piano
This really inspired him to a great extent
So he continued poundin'
Until he found this new instrument
(oh no) Everybody wonderin'
How the steelband start
(Oh no) When you get to know
Well, it's gonna break your heart
I tell you now
It's founded by one Winston Spree
And this is how
He started his first melody
Now the world waiting anxiously
We strike gold all because of Spree
But what are we doin' now to conserve his name
We should reimburse him
And have it placed in the hall of fame
(oh no) Everybody wonderin'
How the steelband start
(Oh no) When you get to know
Well, it's gonna break your heart
The lyrics of Van Dyke Parks's song Tribute to Spree pay homage to the man credited with inventing the steel band, Winston 'Spree' Simon. The song begins by addressing a steel band performer named Roberts, informing him that he may not fully understand the history behind the instrument he plays. Parks then invites him and the listener to pay tribute to the man who invented pan, Winston Spree Simon. The following lyrics provide a brief history of how Simon came to invent the steel band. In 1939, he heard an empty oil drum being beaten in the rain and was struck by the sound it produced. He began to beat on the drum himself in an attempt to recreate the sound, eventually discovering a new instrument that he called the steel band.
The song continues to lament the fact that, despite being the inventor of an instrument that has become beloved around the world, Spree Simon's name is not widely recognized or celebrated. Parks urges listeners to help ensure that Simon's legacy is preserved, suggesting that he be reimbursed and inducted into the Hall of Fame. Overall, the lyrics of Tribute to Spree celebrate the contributions of a visionary musician and draw attention to the often-overlooked origins of the steel band.
Line by Line Meaning
Steel band man, yes you beatin' pan / But my friend you won't understand / Has it ever dawned on you / Who invented pan / I ask you to join me / In offerin' tribute to this man
Addressing a steel band musician, the writer acknowledges their skill but points out their lack of knowledge about the origins of steel drum music, which was invented by Winston Spree. The writer invites the musician to join in giving tribute to Spree.
I tell you now / It's founded by one Winston Spree / And this is how / He started his first melody
The writer explains that the steel drum was created by Winston Spree, and describes how Spree invented the first melody for the instrument.
Bless the day in 1939 / The genius say he recall to mind / Saw an ol' empty oil drum / Beatin' in the storm / Just before the sky darkened / You know it was the steel band was born
The writer recounts the day in 1939 when Winston Spree invented the steel drum after observing an empty oil drum being beaten during a storm.
He went along beatin'blow by blow / He thought it sound like a piano / This really inspired him to a great extent / So he continued poundin' / Until he found this new instrument
The writer describes how Spree experimented with different beat patterns until he discovered the sound he was looking for, which reminded him of a piano. He continued to develop the instrument until it became what we know today as the steel drum.
Now the world waiting anxiously / We strike gold all because of Spree / But what are we doin' now to conserve his name / We should reimburse him / And have it placed in the hall of fame
The writer notes the global popularity of steel drum music and credits it to Winston Spree. However, the writer also questions what is being done to ensure that Spree's legacy is preserved, and suggests that he should be reimbursed and honored in the hall of fame.
(oh no) Everybody wonderin' / How the steelband start / (Oh no) When you get to know / Well, it's gonna break your heart
The writer laments that many people are unaware of the true origins of steel drum music, and suggests that learning the truth might be upsetting.
Contributed by Joshua P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.