Song Cycle by Van Dyke Parks

Song Cycle is the debut album by American recording artist Van Dyke Parks, released in late 1967 by Warner Bros. Records. With the exception of three cover songs, Song Cycle was written and composed by Parks, while its production was credited to future Warner Bros. Records president Lenny Waronker. The album draws from a number of American popular music genres, including bluegrass, ragtime, and show tunes, and frames classical styles in the context of 1960s pop music. The album's material explores unconventional song structures, and lyrically focuses on American history and culture, reflecting Parks' history working in both the film and music industries of Southern California. Upon its release, Song Cycle was largely acclaimed by critics despite lukewarm sales, and later gained status as a cult album. In 2017, Song Cycle was ranked the 93rd greatest album of the 1960s by Pitchfork.