Laurel Canyon and its nearby venue The Troubadour are synonymous with highly creative, inventive period in rock music history. The many facets of  a new wave of music is highlighted here as well as  the fact that many names became icons of the time while some disappeared into obscurity.

Release Date:  22nd March 2024

Label: Grapefruit Records (division of Cherry Red Records)

Format: 3CD box set

Anyone wanting to make their way in the Sxities Country music scene, went to Nashville while their contemporary Rock musicians headed for the hills around LA to mix it with those who became household names and made Laurel Canyon an iconic location in the history of rock music.

I See You Live On Love Street contains 3 CDs in a compilation split into 3 separate periods.

1967 -68  was a time when American music  influenced by the ‘British invasion’. The harmonies of bands like The Beach Boys sought   to  establish their own sound.  Whilst many struggled to gain notoriety other than just being part of the scene  some gained cult status  The Byrds, The Mamas And The Papas , The Doors and Buffalo Springfield amongst them.  Even 50 years on, most of the musicians on CD 1    will be unfamiliar yet their talent shines through. The fact that many of them sound just a touch too much like those who successfully found household name fame. Nevertheless they blend wonderfully to this period in Laurel Canyon history.

The 1969-1971 period saw artists emerging from groups appearing on the first CD finding individual fame such as  Crosby, Stills, Cass , Gene Clark and Zappa . Each one was so different from the other,  highlighting the eclectic nature of musical  melting pot. Folk, country and rock often fused together with elements from each.  The rise of the singer songwriter also grew in these Laurel Canyon years with the like of Jimmy Webb  and Tim Buckley.

It could be argued that 1967 -1971 were the golden years in Laurel Canyon folk lore. The final CD represents the 1971-1975 era and still includes some outstanding talent. with those of the calibre of Linda Ronstadt, Harry Nilsson, Carly Simon, Gram Parsons  with groups like Little Feat, Crazy Horse and Fleetwood Mac thrown into the mix.

Throughout the set. many infamous names are  there to hear even though some of the content might be rather obscure to the non – avid follower of Laurel Canyon history but there are more familiar tracks like the Good Humour Man from from Love’s Forever Changes, Love The One You’re With from Stills’ first solo album,  Peaches En Regalia from Zappa’s Hot Rats  there to whet the appetite.

There are also some artists who one might not readily associate with Laurel Canyon  like Judy Collins, Glen Campbell, Ricky Nelson and The Monkees but each have their moment in this compilation spreading over 8 years of Laurel Canyon history.

The CD’s are accompanied by a detailed booklet illustrating each artists place in the Peace, Love and a bit of whatever took your fancy of Laurel Canyon  story.

Here’s one of those gateway Laurel Canyon tracks:

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