Various Artists - I See You Live On Love Street : Music from Laurel Canyon 1967-1975 [@320]

Review by Fred Thomas

Tuning in to the vibrant and tumultuous Los Angeles rock scene of the late '60s through the mid-'70s, I See You Live on Love Street tracks the quick changes that emerged as psychedelic pop got darker, lighter, and found unexpected new ground. Laid out chronologically over three volumes, this 72-song compilation begins with the sweet sunshine pop and experimental rock happening in 1967 and 1968, with innocent acts like the Monkees and the Association contrasted by Love's groundbreaking orchestral/existential rock from their Forever Changes era and swatches of country- and folk-influenced rock from the Byrds, Dillard & Clark, Judy Collins, and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. These ruralized rock sounds start coming clearer into view as the collection goes along, with tracks by Poco, Ricky Nelson, and Gene Clark all cut from a country cloth. Love Street's reporting is thorough, however, with these mellow, honky tunes juxtaposed by freaky jazz from Frank Zappa, unabashed sentimental pop from Carly Simon, and spiritual acid folk from David Crosby. Material taken from the dawn of the '70s into the middle of the decade shows how soft rock and singer/songwriter tunes started gaining prominence. As with all of the Cherry Red comps, Love Street offers a mix of well-loved hits and songs from lesser-known artists. In this case, we have Fleetwood Mac's certified silver single "Say You Love Me" alongside tracks from mystical folk legend Judee Sill and 1971 easy listening chart-topper "Danny's Song" by Loggins & Messina a few spots away from the moody baroque pop of obscure cult band Rosebud's "Flying to Morning." The selections flow nicely and offer a comprehensive scope of how much was going on in Los Angeles music circles in a particularly volatile and productive window of time.

Tracklist:

CD1:

1 Come on in - the Association

2 Tighter - Paul Revere & the Raiders

3 The Good Humor Man, He Sees Everything Like This - Love

4 As We Go Along - the Monkees

5 Holding - the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

6 Smile, Let Your Life Begin -The Factory

7 Our National Anthem - the Gentle Soul

8 I've Got to Know -The Stone Poneys

9 Love Street - the Doors

10 How Many Nights Have

11 Passed - Clear Light

12 Floating Dream - the Peanut Butter Conspiracy

13 Montage Mirror - Smokey

14 Roberds with Roger Nichols Trio

15 Halfway There - Ruthann Friedman

16 Wildflowers - the Holy Mackerel

17 Secret Saucer Man - Barry McGuire

18 Mansions - the Mamas & the Papas

19 I Need You - the Sunshine Company

20 Thelve Thirty - Scott McKenzie

21 A Child's Claim to Fame - Buffalo Springfield

22 Train Leaves Here This Mornin' - Dillard & Clark

23 Blight - the Millennium

24 Call on Me - Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band

25 Twilight Sanctuary - the Leaves

26 You Don't Miss Your Water -The Byrds

27 I Had a Dream Last Night -The M.F.Q. (Modern Folk Quartet) Shadow Dream Song - Steve Noonan

28 Hello, Hooray - Judy Collins

CD2:

1 Love the One You're with -Stephen Stills

2 Pickin' Up the Pieces - Poco

3 Buzzin' Fly - Tim Buckley

4 Kingswood Hills - Hoyt Axton

5 Christine's Tune - the Flying Burrito Brothers

6 Mama Told Me (Not to Come)

7 Three Dog Night

8 Lady-O - the Turtles

9 California - Rick Nelson & the Stone Canyon Band

10 P. F. Sloan - Jimmy Webb

11 Where's the Playground

12 Susie - Glen Campbell

13 Bluebird - Susan Carter

14 I Still Wonder - Love

15 Let's Work Together -Canned Heat

16 It's Never Too Late - Steppenwolf

17 Peaches en Regalia - Frank Zappa

18 Wanted Dead or Alive - Warren Zevon

19 Born to Make You Cry - Kim Fowley

20 I Am the Breeze - Essra Mohawk

21 White Light - Gene Clark

22 Traction in the Rain - David Crosby

23 Brother Speed - Russ Giguere

24 Outlaw - Grin

25 Too Much Truth, Too Much

26 Love - Dave Mason & Cass Elliot

CD3:

1 Some People Call It Music - J.D. Souther

2 Easy to Slip - Little Feat

3 Birds - Linda Ronstadt

4 Crayon Angels - Judee Sill

5 Driving Along - Nilsson

6 We Have No Secret - Carly Simon

7 I Don't Want to Talk About It - Crazy Horse

8 Back on the Street Again - Jo Mama

9 Danny's Song - Kenny Loggins with Jim Messina

10 How Much I've Lied - Gram Parsons

11 Flying to Morning - Rosebud

12 Journey Thru the Past - Rita Coolidge

13 I Think He's Hiding - Cyrus Faryar

14 Paper to Write on - Crabby Appleton

15 Tight Rope - Leon Russell

16 Anyway I Love You - Dan Fogelberg

17 Postcards from Hollywood-Ned Doheny

18 Outlaw Man - David Blue

19 For Free - Morning

20 Fallin' in Love - Souther Hillman Furay Band

21 Cook with Honey - Howdy Moon

22 Say You Love Me - Fleetwood Mac

Thanks to Cor 

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