Echo in the Canyon: The Mid-60’s California Sound “Reverberates!”

If you enjoyed the rock and folk-rock music of the mid-60's, you will appreciate this documentary about the music groups living in Laurel Canyon at this time and how they influenced and enriched each others' music. Jakob Dylan decided to give a concert commemorating the California music scene from the mid-60's, primarily 1965-1967, and then turned it into an interesting documentary.  The film mostly focuses on great bands like "The Byrds," "The Beach Boys," "Buffalo Springfield," and "The Mamas and Papas."  In addition to seeing some concert footage of the above groups, Jakob and his band also do some of their songs, with some cover versions working much better than others. What I enjoyed most about the film was the interviews Jakob had with Tom Petty, Roger McGuinn, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, David Crosby, Brian Wilson, Michelle Phillips, Lou Adler, Jackson Browne, and John Sebastian about the L.A. music scene back then.  For example, we learn about Michelle Phillips' affair with Denny Doherty, which broke up "The Mamas and Papas" and inspired John Phillips to write "Go Where You Wanna Go."  We also learn how Stephen Stills jumped out a window to avoid getting arrested in a drug-bust while all of his famous friends were taken to jail - an impulsive act that he still regrets and can't live down. One glaring omission of the film is the absence of "The Doors."  Perhaps none of them lived in Laurel Canyon, but they were a huge influence on rock and the L.A. sound.  I think "The Doors" were a better group than any of the above bands, except for "The Beach Boys."  Jim Morrison being deceased, his would have been a rather difficult interview to arrange, but there are still other surviving members of the group. "The Byrds" were given credit by everyone for inventing folk-rock.  "Rubber Soul" was apparently the inspiration for "Pet Sounds," which in turn was, according to Ringo, the inspiration for "Sgt. Pepper's."  Tom Petty was in total awe of Brian Wilson, even comparing him favorably to Mozart! Not to brag, but those of you who knew me back then and in the early 70's may recall that I was a huge "Beach Boys" fan and considered Brian Wilson to be a musical genius of the highest order and as great a song writer as McCartney or Lennon, but just about everyone -  except for my high school friend, Mike Freed - thought I was crazy!