Turn Up the Radio!: Rock, Pop, and Roll in Los Angeles 1956 1972

"The story of the Los Angeles music scene is a tale of celebrities and unknowns, creative artists and ambitious businessmen, fast-talking DJs and patient engineers, money and love, death and immortality." Harvey Kubernik."Harvey has done a great job on L.A. and its musical jar of lightning." Tom Petty.This is a very fine, in depth look (from the 50's into the 70's) at the music scene in and around the So. California/L.A./Laurel Canyon area during that region's (arguably) hey-day of music-making, radio, and the DJs who played this music to millions of fans. Besides the oral history style presentation used to weave this narrative together, in this coffee table-sized book there's many great period photographs (Sonny Bono playing a bass guitar for the "A Christmas Gift For You" from Phil Spector album from 1963, Tim Buckley on the set of The Monkees in 1967, Love on stage in 1968, Barry McGuire at Griffith Park 1967, and many other cool photos) and a lot of memorabilia included, which is fully half of this book's appeal. Even the endpapers are filled with great photos. Plus there's an eight page Glossary with an alphabetical listing of some of the major people from that period. The book is dedicated to Ray Manzarek--a nice and fitting touch."What do you mean the Doors have to go onstage now? There's a UCLA Bruins game on the TV, and our team is on a big run." Ray Manzarek.The author, Harvey Kubernik (who co-wrote "A Perfect Haze: The Illustrated History of the Monterey International Pop Festival" and other books), was there when it was all happening, and a Prologue by Kubernik sets the stage for the story. And his love of the music, the musicians, the happenings, and the people during those exciting years covered in the book is evident. There's 200 or so interviews that Kubernik has collected and collated over the past 38 years, and he uses them to tell the story of L.A. rock. There's a real "behind the scenes" feel to the book, which takes in many well known musicians/DJs/characters, along with lesser known but relatively important people who also help fill in the story."From Watts to West Hollywood, Los Angeles was thrumming with the good vibrations of a music industry about to burst at its seams."Plus there are several sidebars that cover a range of topics like "Chris Darrow on Ritchie Valens", "Spector on Spector", "Marshall Berle Discovers The Beach Boys", "Brian Wilson and Harvey Kubernik: A Conversation", "Donovan: The Infinite Mind", "The Real Don Steele", etc.. Many of the photographs and memorabilia will be new to fans of this era/region. And reading the many, many observations and opinions by so many of the people who were there is informative, interesting, and (if you're a fan of this period) just plain fun to read. Kubernik has woven together all the myriad observations and all the major and minor events into a virtually seamless story of that era. The result is one of the better books on that era/region and the music that made such an impact on people at the time--and that still has an impact today."I heard and felt the Wall of Sound like a smack to the face, and I'm still shaking."This great book can sit next to other similar books like "Canyon Of Dreams: The Magic and the Music of Laurel Canyon" (written by Kubernik), "Laurel Canyon", "Waiting For The Sun", and other books about that golden period in So. Ca./L.A.. Kubernik tells the story of rock, radio, DJs, musicians, happenings, and the characters and hangers-on who were there. If you were around in that region when it was all happening (like I was lucky enough to be), or want to get closer to that era, this book will go a long way in transporting you there.

I didn't realize this would be a big coffee-table book. It's huge, and jammed full of photographs and memories. It's not just some big book with lots of big pictures and little information. It's extremely informative. Can't wait to read all the way through it.

Just finished this and absolutely loved it. Born and raised in LA and remember nearly all of the DJ's and "Boss Jocks". This oral history is a must have for not only those who grew up in the '56 - '72 period in LA, but for any classic rock music fan. A bonus was the great coverage the book gives to all of the local afternoon music shows: Lloyd Thaxton, 9th Street West, Groovy, etc. One aside not recounted in the book: Bob Eubanks was a DJ at KRLA and either the owner or co-owner of the Cinnamon Cinder Club in Studio City. Bob mortgaged his house to bring the Beatles to the Hollywood Bowl in 1964. Once he had a signed contract, he sold the sponsorship rights to KRLA, technically his employer. One stipulation of the contract was that the Beatles give a press conference at the Cinnamon Cinder, which they did. Bob promoted shows by the Stones (he called Mick Jagger the greatest blues harmonica player he had ever heard), the Who (Keith Moon, a minor, snuck a girl backstage at the Long Beach Arena by putting her in the case of his kick drum), and countless others between 1964 and 1966. Later in his career he went on to manage Merle Haggard. So, how do I know all of this? I interviewed Bob for a magazine article on the 25th anniversary of the Beatles first Hollywood Bowl show.That time in LA was so magical. Sitting a table away from Joni Mitchell at the Troubador. Sitting next to Lee Michaels at a screening of Gimme Shelter at the Bruin theater in Westwood.I could go on and on ith memories but instead I highly recommend that you get this book and remember when radiowas the constant soundtrack to our lives.

I checked this book out via my regional library system from the Glendale CA library. What a gem! I am a serious music lover, all genres, with special focus on Southern CA...where I grew up.It only took a few pages to realize that I HAD to have a copy for myself. I also sent one to my Mom, who grew up in SoCal as well.A must read and great reference for anyone familiar with or who wants to learn more about music of this era in So. Cal!

This wonderful book is a must-have for anyone who is a fan of rock n' roll and in particular, anyone who grew up in Los Angeles during the 1950's through 1972.First let me describe the book - on every turn-of-the-page there are WONDERFUL photos and illustrations that will bring back such memories for those of us who grew up in Los Angeles. There are posters and stories describing such events as the fabulous 3-day rock concert at Devonshire Downs that was weeks before Woodstock. In my opinion, the lineup was even better!The book not only covers all the great DJ's of their day, but also there is so much (new to me) information about so many of the bands of those eras, like the Beach Boys or Love. Not only will this book bring back great memories, there is also so much fascinating information that you may not have known of before.Seriously, you grew up in L.A? You like the L.A. bands from those times? Then I promise you, you'll love this book.Highly recommended.

An excellent overview of a fast changing music scene