Legends of Laurel Canyon

Didn't Zappa, members of The Mamas and The Papas and The Monkees, Brian Wilson, and Jim Morrison have some connection to the Canyon (or at least a shopping store on Laurel Avenue) as well?

BrufordFreak wrote: Didn't Zappa, members of The Mamas and The Papas and The Monkees, Brian Wilson, and Jim Morrison have some connection to the Canyon (or at least a shopping store on Laurel Avenue) as well?

Edited by Psychedelic Paul - May 25 2023 at 07:07

Just ordered from the library: Canyon of Dreams - The Magic and the Music of Laurel Canyon by Harvey Kubernik.

Edited by Psychedelic Paul - May 25 2023 at 11:28

I'm amazed Brian Wilson is still with us.

An acquaintance has a Laurel Canyon internet radio station and I asked if he had played MIDLAKE's album "Tales of Van Occupanther" and indeed he had.  My other favorites from this grouping would be John Stewart, America and Joni Mitchell.  I also consider Bread to be from that vintage.  Maybe Poco too?  Certain incarnations of Fleetwood Mac?

Edited by kenethlevine - June 10 2023 at 13:49

Brian Wilson was certainly living in a different world during the time period when he was writing and recording SMILE. He certainly aimed to capture Americana however it adds an outsider music approach which wasn't totally like Psychedelic to me and in certain cases crossed into insanity not unlike the L.A. freak scene in the late 60s.

Songs like "WONDERFUL" and "WIND CHIMES" were sort of ballads but very odd as Van Dyke Parks lyrics were dreamy and captivating . In "WONDERFUL " the story of the girl being in love with her liberty and perhaps walking through the forest alone and loved by her mother and father is fascinating and luring. In a way she was a misfit and the whimsical aspect of the song crosses into dark depression.

"WIND CHIMES " is drifty, flowing, and fairly unusual in its overall expression. "Though it's hard I try not to look at my wind chimes" This song projects a kind of airy sadness and hope .

"CABIN ESSENCE" is quite different from any style of writing I heard in the late 60s. The song "SURF'S UP" is a masterpiece and it differs from the other tracks on the album.

"THE ELEMENTS FIRE ( Mrs. O' Leary's Cow) is rather insane for its time. Brian Wilson handed out LSD to the band and they wore fireman hats riding around in a fire truck tripping their minds out. This comes across sounding much like The Residents.

The problem is that SMILE wasn't released in 1967..although people did in fact buy bootleg copies of it. Brian Wilson re-recorded the album in the 90s ( I believe?)..but it didn't do anything for me. The original Beach Boys SMILE was interesting and worthy of a listen. Some people in the past have commented the following: "I don't understand what anyone would see in this" You obviously have to like The Beach Boys...but as soon as you've said that you begin to encounter Beach Boys fans who loathe it because they find it all weirded out and disturbing in sections and long for songs about surfing and hot rods.

Brian Wilson was in a strange mindset when he wrote it and some fans cringe when they hear it. I think it's odd for the times. You can obviously tell that it's them singing but they sometimes use phase shifters and echo on their voices which creates a different affect on the album. They employ some J.S. Bach and quirky 2 minute instrumentals that are reminiscent of The Residents Tales Of Two Cities. I've played this album for people under the influence and they become thrown off and can't conclude why they recorded this kind of album. I wonder how it would have affected people in 1967 if it had been released. Danny Hutton claimed that Brian Wilson had short pieces or bits and pieces he recorded. ..but Wilson edited those bits to form a concept album. The bits fall between the songs clocking in between 3 to 5 minutes. It's more like a Rock symphony. I like it because it's unusual.

Gone Too Soon - 120 Lost Legends of the Canyon. 

Edited by Psychedelic Paul - July 03 2023 at 13:08

A-Z of Laurel Canyon Artists  (400+ artists; 4000+ albums)

Edited by Psychedelic Paul - May 14 2024 at 07:55

A-Z of Laurel Canyon Artists 

Edited by Psychedelic Paul - July 04 2023 at 10:46

LAUREL CANYON    A nine-episode mini-series presented in fifteen parts (well, it is psychedelic). Laurel Canyon takes you on a journey thru' history and song 1965-1974, exploring the inner workings of the burgeoning music scene that exploded out of this area north of Hollywood in the mid-1960's. Featured legendary musicians and groups include:- The Byrds; The Mamas and the Papas; Buffalo Springfield; CSNY; The Doors; Frank Zappa; Carole King; The Eagles; Gram Parsons; Love; Jackson Browne; the Monkees and Canadians Neil Young & Joni Mitchell, plus music industry giants such as David Geffen; Elliot Mintz; Jim Ladd; Ron Stone; & Paul Rothchild. You'll see the famous Canyon Country Store; Love Street; the Tom Mix cabin; the Houdini Estate, and all of the other places made famous by the likes of Jim Morrison, Cass Elliot, John Lennon and many others. The series also touches on some of the darker elements that were lurking within the shadows such as the murderous Manson Family and the inevitable evils of heroin and cocaine that crept into the scene, causing havoc and destruction. There's always something new to learn and discover about the music coming out of Laurel Canyon. The stories are endless and sometimes surprising and even downright shocking, but always entertaining.