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THE NEAREST FARAWAY PLACE

“add Some Music To Your Day”, “here Comes The Night”, “i Know There's An Answer”



Anxious to begin writing songs for his latest project, Brian remembered a witty young folksinger named Van Dyke Parks he had met through a mutual friend. Brian was impressed by Van Dyke's intelligence and way with words, so he hired the young Pennsylvanian as his lyricist. Brian explained that the album, originally titled Dumb Angel (reportedly his nickname for Dennis), would be his “teenage symphony to God.”



When Van Dyke first showed up at the house on Laurel Way to begin work, he was shocked by Brian's extravagance. “It wasn't funny,” he commented years later, “a grand piano in a sandbox. I found it offensive.” Nevertheless, when Brian saw that his collaborator had nothing to get around on except a motorbike, he gave Van Dyke $5,000 so he could buy a car.

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Musician BiographiesThe Beach Boys