Description Parks's first solo album, recorded in 1967 and issued late that year (or early 1968 as some sources say). This is a scarce original stereo copy on the gold Warner Brothers label. All Music review by Jason Ankeny (4 1/2 stars out of 5): Van Dyke Parks moved on from the Beach Boys' abortive SMiLE sessions to record his own solo debut, Song Cycle, an audacious and occasionally brilliant attempt to mount a fully orchestrated, classically minded work within the context of contemporary pop. As indicated by its title, Song Cycle is a thematically coherent work, one which attempts to embrace the breadth of American popular music; bluegrass, ragtime, show tunes -- nothing escapes Parks' radar, and the sheer eclecticism and individualism of his work is remarkable. Opening with "Vine Street," authored by Randy Newman (another pop composer with serious classical aspirations), the album is both forward-thinking and backward-minded, a collision of bygone musical styles with the progressive sensibilities of the late '60s; while occasionally overambitious and at times insufferably coy, it's nevertheless a one-of-a-kind record, the product of true inspiration. Record has a number of light marks on it but plays VG++ to near-mint. It's in its original vintage Warner Bros. inner sleeve. Cover is VG+ with some ring and edge wear. Please see our other listings for more unusual and collectible records. Combine orders and save on shipping.