codyfrizbeejr got me thinking back to those days–almost before I was born–when I loved Southern California rock, a very incestuous group of writers, singers, and musicians that included all the people in and out of the Byrds, the Eagles, and CSN&Y, Warren Zevon, Buckingham Nicks, Andrew Gold, Karla Bonoff, Nicolette Larson, Jennifer Warnes, Linda Ronstadt, Poco, Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris, Jackson Browne, Lowell George–and one songwriter who worked with almost all of them and usually shunned the limelight for himself. I don’t know if many people born after 1980 know who J.D. Souther is, but I like this quote by him:
“…any artist is always going to tell you that they think the next piece of work they’re going to do is the best. So there’s no point not doing it.”
I needed to read that.
And I love this old photo of Souther with Jackson Browne. So young…
There are two good books about these bands and that era,
“Laurel Canyon” and “Hotel California.” Of course, I read
them mainly for the gossip about who was sleeping with
who (everybody with everyone!).
Oh, for sure, those were crazy days, and probably a lot more interesting because we didn’t know all the details and could only guess at them. In today’s world, we’d not only know, we’d be able to see video of it on the Internet. Too much information = not as much fun.
It was much better when you got the info from the SONGS.
“Oh, Joni Mitchell is having trouble with James Taylor
on THIS album!”
I’m a very impressionable young girl. Now I have “You’re Only Lonely” stuck in my head. On the bright side, I think you just gave me an idea for a new iTunes playlist.
I love that song. You ever need any suggestions for California rock, I’m your girl.