I've heard some people refer to this as "The Laurel Canyon Sound", but I'm getting really into it lately. I've got all the Eagles, Warren Zevon, Fleetwood Mac, Jackson Browne, and a little bit of Neil Young. Are there any other essential artists from this scene I'm missing?
What do you guys think of this kind of music? I know everyone loves to rag of the Eagles but you gotta admit they have some great songs, and Warren Zevon is as talented as you can get.
I'm pretty sure /mu/ (generally speaking) hates that kind of stuff - but I'll bite, I like it.
As far as Jackson Browne goes, I assume you've listened to The Pretender, Running on Empty, Late for the Sky, Lawyers in Love is also pretty good
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NR9cH8TD5M
I dunno how you feel about Joe Jackson and Steely Dan but I'd say they're in the same vein as what you listed and pretty essential. If you're into super soft, easy listening stuff (i.e. yacht rock) there's Christopher Cross:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyYhZ9HH8cI
and of course Hall & Oates, Doobie Brothers, and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t18Y2s2T4Fc
>>53440518
Good pics, where do I start with Steely Dan?
>>53440563
Countdown to Ecstasy is a great early album but Aja is probably the most essential. Those two would be my picks and what I'd start with if I were you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNB5TOatMfM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gPFZlw1dw0
>>53440695
Right on, thanks man!
isnt this also known as yacht rock? didnt they make a show about it?
>>53441366
What show? Yacht rock? I dunno but I guess it could be, that doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me though.
>>53440563
Can't Buy A Thrill is also really really good.
>>53440284
>and Warren Zevon is as talented as you can get.
He also didn't have all that much in common with the other names on the list, outside of shared musicians in the studio. His stuff is superb, though.
>>53440284
The eagles started in echo park.
listen to crosby stills and nash. first album. it will change your world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYjYgQX-Q0w
>>53443183
Zevon had "that sound", and many songs with similar themes (sappy love and LA). We was best friends with all of those guys and they all guested on each other's albums.
>>53444714
*He was best friends
I wish warren zevon and I were best friends.
>>53444714
Thematically--and often melodically--he had little in common, though. He had a satiric and cynical edge that made him distinct (and significantly less marketable, as it would turn out). Even his "sappy love" songs were often distinct in tone if not theme.
"That sound" you're referring to is really only present on his self-titled album and to a lesser extent Excitable Boy.
>>53444849
Agree to disagree. He certainly was more distinct, but he had has his roots in that sound and themes and it shows. For every one cynical, satirical song he made he put out another easier listening romance number. And I would argue that that sound carries through his albums from his self titled all the way through the envoy when he fell off then came back with under the radar late 80's crap like most other singer-songwriters of the 70's. But "Warren Zevon" and "Excitable Boy" are his best anyhow. In case you can't tell, I love Zevon, but between his session players, songwriting collaborations, guest appearances, lyrical and melodical themes, he has alot more in common with LA soft rock than anyone else. He was/is an indisputable product of that scene, as unique and timeless as many aspects of his music are.
>>53444849
The Eagles had satrical, cynical songs too yano.
>>53445300
To be honest, outside of the obvious shared studio help, I really don't hear many similarities between Zevon and Jackson Browne or any of the other purported members of the "L.A. scene." Then again, neither did Zevon. He was influenced by Dylan and Americana as they were. That's where the similarities begin and end.
>>53445578
Not in the same way or to the same extent.
