Laurel Canyon, with its largely residential ways – it has only one legendary store after all – feels built for the people, not the consumers, and as a result is incredibly refreshing and peaceful.Īs it stands, Laurel Canyon as a “town” is a different kind of neighborhood. ![]() The city is at once fascinating, appalling, invigorating and frightening, all together implying a big dysfunctional family of emotions. This evil may appear to be a reflection of the city of angels itself, such an interesting and strangely balanced mixture of New Age, soul-searching spirituality in a pure hedonistic setting, countered by the down-and-dirty money-making (show)business and cut-throat values. These are part of the Canyon’s complex history, and are perhaps more shocking in such a nirvana-esque context. Such a paradise as is Laurel Canyon and its neighboring sisters Benedict, Coldwater and Nichols Canyons must accordingly attract some darkness to balance the immense, comforting light: Mother Nature sends destructive fires and earthquakes while man takes care of homicide. The beautiful people seem to always choose to live on hills and mountains, above the common ground and common folks, above the mundane and the vulgar. Who wouldn’t want to come here? Perhaps because it was never a distinct single-purposed town but a community of free-spirited individuals and dreamers passing through and staying awhile, the architecture is all over the place: whimsical cottages and mid-century bungalows lie happily next to Spanish colonial mansions and Rocky Raccoon cabins, not to mention the gated modernist manors that are all glass windows perched at the top of the most expensive peaks. It is telling that the Canyon is a former turn of the century summer retreat from the city heat the tavern roadhouse shack is still there on Lookout Mountain Avenue. Fragrant lavender and eucalyptus plants share the space with palm and lemon trees on the hills at night, mountain lions stare fearlessly at the residents while coyotes provide the soundtrack tortuous roads springing up here and there lead ever higher towards the sky, offering million-dollar views of the city of angels. The place brims over with the electricity of the city but set in bucolic green woods. As you arrive from Sunset Boulevard in the city, that famous Strip, you must drive up a winding hillside busy street, the Laurel Canyon Boulevard, that will bring you to shangri-la itself, away from the commotion and urban insanity of the metropolis. Life here is presented to you through a constant ambience of warmth, sun, blooming trees and yet, modernity. Laurel Canyon, for anyone not born and raised there, perhaps for anyone at all, feels like a throw back to a time of pure energy and creativity, partially due to its musical (and cinematographic sister) history, and also its breathtaking delivery. Laurel Canyon will never completely lose its mystery but we will never stop yearning to know more about its alluring ways. Filled with first-hand reminiscences from key players and behind-the-scenes observers, all sharing tales of a place anyone in love with popular music or the 1960’s culture is aware of and fascinated with, this major work, heavily illustrated with the stunning photographs of Henry Diltz, is needed more than ever to bring some magic back into our lives, and be a source of beauty in dire times. Formidable music historian and native Angeleno author Harvey Kubernik serves as our guide into seemingly familiar yet uncharted territory, with his gorgeous coffee table book Canyon of Dreams. For the first time a book manages to capture the entire scope of the famous canyon’s musical history and tradition, which did not start with Joni Mitchell’s recorded ode from 1970 but go back to the creation of this fascinating city itself. Mythical Laurel Canyon, the lungs of downtown Los Angeles and Hollywood, seems indeed to be a magical, surreal place, where for decades now folks from all over the world have been mysteriously drawn to. ![]() Legendary record producer and music man galore Lou Adler called it, “A slice of nature hidden behind a neon sign”, the paradise on earth of the modern age, a stone’s throw away from one of the largest megalopolis of our time. Review & Interview with author by Sophie-Françoise Faithfull Canyon of Dreams: The Magic and the Music of Laurel Canyon by Harvey Kubernik (Sterling Publishing)
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