press sheets advertised Song Cycle as "the most important, creative and advanced pop recording since Sgt. Pepper." Although it received good reviews upon release, Song Cycle sold slowly, and took at least three years to pay for the original studio sessions. AllMusic's Jason Ankeny has described the album as In response to the poor sales of the record after its release, Warner Bros. Records ran full page newspaper and magazine advertisements written by staff publicist Stan Cornyn that said they "lost $35,509 on 'the album of the year' (dammit)." The ad said that those who actually purchased the album had likely worn their copies out by playing it over and over, and suggested that listeners send in worn out copies to Warner Bros. in return for two new copies, including one "to educate a friend with." Incensed by the tactic, Parks accused Cornyn of trying to kill his career. Excerpts from positive reviews were reprinted in these ads, which included statements written by the Los Angeles Free Press ("The most important art rock project"), Rolling Stone ("Van Dyke Parks may come to be considered the Gertrude Stein of the new pop music"), and The Hollywood Reporter ("Very esoteric"). Many musicians cite the album as an influence, including producer and songwriter Jim O'Rourke. O'Rourke worked with Parks and harpist Joanna Newsom on Newsom's record Ys. Joanna Newsom sought out the partnership with Van Dyke Parks after listening to Song Cycle. Track listing Notes "Van Dyke Parks" (credited as 'public domain') is actually an interpretation of "Nearer, My God, to Thee", "accompanied by the sound of rushing water". Personnel Van Dyke Parks – main performer, vocals Additional musicians and production staff Lenny Waronker – producer Ron Elliott, Dick Rosmini – guitar Misha Goodatieff – violin Virginia Majewski – viola Carl Fortina – accordion Nicolai Bolin, Vasil Crlenica, William Nadel, Allan Reuss, Leon Stewart, Tommy Tedesco – balalaika Don Bagley, Gregory Bemko, Chuck Berghofer, Harry Bluestone, Samuel Boghossian, Dennis Budimir, Joseph Ditullio, Jesse Ehrlich, Nathan Gershman, Philip Goldberg, Armand Kaproff, William Kurasch, Leonard Malarsky, Jerome Reisler, Red Rhodes, Trefoni Rizzi, Lyle Ritz, Joseph Saxon, Ralph Schaffer, Leonard Selic, Frederick Seykora, Darrel Terwilliger, Bob West – strings Gayle Levant – harp Norman Benno, Arthur Briegleb, Vincent DeRosa, George Fields, William Green, Jim Horn, Dick Hyde, Jay Migliori, Tommy Morgan, Ted Nash, Richard Perissi, Thomas Scott, Thomas Shepard – woodwind Billie J. Barnum, Gerri Engeman,