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Laurel Canyon - Episode 1

Micky Dolenz tells the story of Laurel Canyon, the LA neighbourhood which became home to a diverse mix of jazz, folk rock and pop stars - including himself. First broadcast in 2010

Micky Dolenz tells the story of a Los Angeles neighbourhood which became home to a diverse mix of musical stars - including himself. Laurel Canyon was just a bunch of heavily wooded, rocky outcrops - situated a few minutes from West Hollywood and Sunset Boulevard - but it became the garden where the stars of jazz, folk rock and pop played.

From the jazzers like Barney Kessel and the bohemians who settled there in the 40s and 50s to the folkies; the Byrds who sought the laid-back alternative to the hurly-burly of LA, Frank Zappa who took over the log cabin of cowboy star Tom Mix; the Doors, whose Jim Morrison brooded in the hills; The Mamas and the Papas; Cass Elliot's home always open to all-comers; David Crosby, Graham Nash, Neil Young, and the new and powerful women of rock; Joni Mitchell and Carole King.

Programme one, The Garden of Allah, sows the seeds of hedonism for the Canyon as jazz and folk form its rock. The Byrds, The Doors and the Monkees settle in, and so do the groupies. It's a story of great music, stellar collaborations, overflowing with youthful idealism; but it is tempered with the exploitation of young women, reckless drug use, and the day when they all locked their doors as a result of the murder of Sharon Tate.

This documentary was first broadcast on Radio 2 in August 2010.

1 hour

Last on

Wed 12 Jul 2023 01:00
BBC Radio 6 Music

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Music Played

  • Joni Mitchell

    Ladies of the Canyon

    • REPRISE.
    • 7599-27450 2.

  • The Byrds

    Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There is a Season)

    • COLUMBIA.
    • 487-9952.

  • The Doors

    L.A. Woman

    • Elektra.
    • 7559-610851.

  • The Dillards

    Reuben's Train

    • RHINO.
    • 8122-735622.

  • The Monkees

    Last Train To Clarksville

    • TELSTAR.
    • 9548-35218 -2.

  • Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra & The Sentimentalists

    On The Sunny Side Of The Street

    • LIVING ERA.
    • CD AJA-5169.

  • Joni Mitchell

    Big Yellow Taxi

    • REPRISE.
    • K-44085.

  • Gerry Mulligan Quartet

    Makin' Whoopee (feat. Chet Baker)

    • RESTLESS.
    • 74321-525962.

  • Barney Kessel

    Be Deedle Dee Do

    Performer: Barney Kessel.
    • Lonehill.
    • 103-54.

  • The Kingston Trio

    A WORRIED MAN

    • PRIMO.
    • PRMCD 6103.

  • The Dillards

    Reuben's Train

    • RHINO.
    • 8122-735622.

  • The Byrds

    Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There is a Season)

    • COLUMBIA.
    • 487-9952.

  • Bob Dylan

    MR TAMBOURINE MAN

    Performer: The Byrds.
    • COLUMBIA.
    • 82876-855142.

  • Joni Mitchell

    Ladies of the Canyon

    • REPRISE.
    • 7599-27450 2.

  • Frank Zappa

    Don't Eat The Yellow Snow

    Performer: Frank Zappa.
    • RYKO DISC.
    • RCD = 10561/62.

  • Frank Zappa

    PEACHES EN REGALIA

    Music Arranger: N/A. Performer: Frank Zappa.
    • Rykodisc.
    • RCD-10588.

  • Alice Cooper

    Elected

    • Warner Brothers.
    • WSMCD-158.

  • MORRISON/MANZAREK/DENSMORE/KRIEGER

    RIDERS ON THE STORM

    Music Arranger: N/A. Performer: The Doors.
    • ELEKTRA.
    • 242-090.

  • The Doors

    Light My Fire

    • ELEKTRA.
    • K-242012.

  • The Doors

    L.A. Woman

    • Elektra.
    • 7559-610851.

  • TOWNSHEND

    SUBSTITUTE

    Music Arranger: N/A. Performer: The Who.
    • POLYDOR.
    • PROMOCD-1.

  • The Rolling Stones

    No Expectations

    • LONDON.
    • 800-084-2.

  • The Monkees

    Last Train To Clarksville

    • TELSTAR.
    • 9548-35218 -2.

  • The Byrds

    So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star

    • COLUMBIA/LEGACY.
    • C4K-46773.

  • Michael Nesmith

    Circle Sky

    Performer: The Monkees.

  • Sly & the Family Stone

    Stand!

    • Universal.

Broadcasts

  • Mon 2 Aug 2010 22:00
    BBC Radio 2
  • Mon 31 Oct 2011 03:00
    BBC Radio 6 Music
  • Wed 31 Oct 2012 04:00
    BBC Radio 6 Music
  • Thu 30 May 2013 04:00
    BBC Radio 6 Music
  • Thu 20 Mar 2014 01:00
    BBC Radio 6 Music
  • Mon 15 Sep 2014 04:00
    BBC Radio 6 Music
  • Mon 4 Apr 2016 04:00
    BBC Radio 6 Music
  • Wed 12 Jul 2023 01:00
    BBC Radio 6 Music