Editing Van Dyke Parks (section)

===Studio session work and ''Smile''===
{{Main|Smile (The Beach Boys album)}}
Parks established himself as a versatile keyboardist at studio session dates, playing alongside artists ranging from folk singers [[Judy Collins]] and [[Tim Buckley]] to the Melcher-produced Byrds and [[Paul Revere and the Raiders]].{{sfn|Henderson|2010|p=42}} [[Ry Cooder]] joined Parks on these studio dates.{{sfn|Henderson|2010|p=43}}{{sfn|Hoskyns|1996|p=88}} On the Byrds' single "[[5D (Fifth Dimension)]]", the title song of [[Fifth Dimension (album)|their 1966 album]], Parks contributed [[Hammond organ]].{{sfn|Henderson|2010|pp=43–44}}{{sfn|Hoskyns|1996|p=114}} He also appeared on [[Gene Clark]]'s solo debut, ''[[Gene Clark with the Gosdin Brothers]]'' (1967).{{sfn|Hoskyns|2006|p=63}}
[[File:Heroes and Villains Cashbox Ad - July 1967.jpg|thumb|upright|left|1967 advertisement for the Beach Boys' single "[[Heroes and Villains]]", written by Parks and Brian Wilson]]

Through Melcher, Parks reconnected with Brian Wilson several months after their first meeting.{{sfn|Henderson|2010|p=44}}{{sfn|Carter|2021|p=23}}{{refn|group=nb| Biographer [[Peter Ames Carlin]] states that Parks had previously encountered Wilson on several more occasions through mutual acquaintance [[Loren Schwartz]].{{sfn|Carlin|2006|p=91}} Parks recalled, "Brian sought me out because he had heard about me from some mutual friends, a neighborly couple who later fell into disrepute with the Wilson clan because they were experimenting with psychedelics. People who experimented with psychedelics—no matter who they were—were viewed as ‘enlightened people,’ and Brian sought out the enlightened people."{{sfn|White|1996|p=267}}}} Impressed by his articulate manner, Wilson, seeking a new lyricist, later offered him a collaboration on the Beach Boys' next album, soon titled ''[[Smile (The Beach Boys album)|Smile]]''.{{sfn|Hoskyns|1996|pp=126–127}} Parks had attended some "[[Good Vibrations]]" recording sessions, and believed that his suggestions regarding the song's [[cello]], initially recorded in June 1966,{{sfn|Badman|2004|p=137}} convinced Wilson of their shared creative sensibilities.{{sfn|Priore|2005|pp=10, 42}} He declined Wilson’s proposal to complete unfinished lyrics for "Good Vibrations", preferring a joint creative effort.{{sfn|Carlin|2006|p=92}} Writing together at Wilson's home, their collaboration terms included Wilson purchasing Parks a $5,000 [[Volvo]] to address his transportation needs (equivalent to ${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|5000|1966|r=-3}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}}).{{sfn|Carlin|2006|p=93}}{{refn|group=nb|Financial constraints at the time had left Parks and his wife residing in a garage apartment lacking private bathroom facilities.{{sfn|Carlin|2006|p=92}} }}

Parks was granted significant creative autonomy on the project's thematic direction, drawing inspiration from the [[Beat Generation]] and contemporary folk revival, while his role extended beyond lyricism to active participation in studio arrangements.{{sfn|Carter|2021|p=28}} Aiming to provide further support, he introduced Wilson to Anderle, who helped develop the band's [[Brother Records]] imprint, and [[Derek Taylor]] who became the band's publicist.{{sfn|Priore|2005|p=52}} [[Frank J. Holmes|Frank Holmes]], who illustrated the album's planned cover artwork and sleeve booklet, was additionally recruited through Parks, who later identified Holmes as "a third part of the equation", describing Holmes' contributions as integral to realizing the album's "musical cartoon" aesthetic.{{sfn|Priore|2005|pp=100–102}}{{refn|group=nb|Parks also introduced Wilson to Robbins and magazine reporter [[Michael Vosse]], the latter briefly serving as Wilson's professional assistant.{{sfn|Carter|2021|pp=22–24}}}} Parks additionally contributed piano to many of the recording sessions, as well as [[marimba]] (on "[[Wind Chimes (song)|Wind Chimes]]").<ref>{{cite AV media notes| title = The Smile Sessions | others= [[The Beach Boys]]| year = 2011|publisher=[[Capitol Records]]|type=deluxe box set booklet}}</ref>

''Smile'' was never finished by the Beach Boys. Parks withdrew from the project, in his words, "as soon as I realized [the situation] was causing friction between Brian and the group".{{sfn|Hoskyns|1996|p=88}} The band substituted its release with ''[[Smiley Smile]]'' in September 1967, an album that had no involvement from Parks beyond his preliminary work on the original ''Smile'' material.{{sfn|Priore|2005|p=148}} Two ''Smiley Smile'' tracks—"[[Wonderful (The Beach Boys song)|Wonderful]]" and "Wind Chimes"—were not officially recognized as his co-written songs{{sfn|Priore|2005|pp=148, 170}} until 2004.{{sfn|Carlin|2006|p=303}}{{refn|group=nb|Parks had reported no publishing royalties received from his co-written songs for the Beach Boys by the early 1980s.<ref name="Ruhlmann2014">{{cite web|last=Ruhlmann|first=William|title=Van Dyke Parks biography|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/van-dyke-parks-mn0000838241/biography|work=Allmusic|access-date=July 17, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140720152053/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/van-dyke-parks-mn0000838241/biography|archive-date=July 20, 2014|df=mdy-all}}</ref>}}