Title: Laurel
Canyon--The Inside Story of Rock and Roll’s Legendary Neighborhood
Author: Michael
Walker
Hardcover: 304
pages
Publisher: Faber
& Faber (May 16, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN: 0571211496
So you think you know
about the history of rock and roll? I would consider myself very knowledgeable
with the exception of an entire block of time in the 60s that was essential in
the development of music.
Laurel Canyon-The
Inside Story of Rock and Roll’s Legendary Neighborhood fills in the gaps
for those of us that think San Francisco and the Haight-Ashbury scene got
things started. Granted the SF element was a key factor that was very
important, but 396 miles down the coast there was a parallel universe taking
shape that was of equal importance.
My interest in this book and the subject matter happened because
of my fascination with the story of Crosby, Stills
and Nash, Jackson Browne, and The Eagles. All three were a big part of this
bubbling counterculture stuck in a canyon just outside one of the world centers
for entertainment, Los Angeles.
Author Michael Walker does a nice job of taking you back to
when it all began with an in depth look at the stars that made this place so
unique and legendary. There was a lot more to Laurel Canyon
than Joni Mitchell, Mama Cass Elliot, and CSN; there were the first groupies, producers,
moviemakers, and many others that had their own stories to tell. The one all
time rock great that was probably the most important piece of this puzzle
besides Cass was Frank Zappa. Zappa and his wife hosted one of the first ever
rock communes. In this day, a SWAT team would be there burning it down to
ashes.
I consumed this book like a child hungry for knowledge. It
provided me with an education and enlightenment into the music business, as I
never had before. I find it amazing that some of the people that were part of
that whole period are still around today to tell the tale. I felt as if I was
right there front row and center watching it all unfold before me. Even though
there were strange happenings and drugs involved there was innocence about the entire
thing. Of course, that all changed once cocaine made its introduction then
people started getting too weird and everything got scary, hence Laurel Canyon
was never the same. The rock ‘n’ roll nirvana did not last, alas, it never
does. There is so much more in between all of that, it all comes together just as
a storybook should. The fact that this book is all based on true events and
accounts from the people that were there making it happen and witnessing it,
makes that much more enthralling of read.
I highly recommend this book for anyone that has an attraction
to what goes on behind the music. Michael Walker has written the bible of LA
music. From cover to cover, it is an absorbing and fascinating read,
unforgettable.
© Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck
May 8, 2006
