Documentary: “LA, From The Byrds to the Eagles” …… “The Corporatization of Rock and the Death of a Dream”

 

I had a chance to see this on DVD awhile back. I can’t even remember how I got a copy of it; I don’t believe it was ever released here in the States. I’m not sure if it was ever televised here either.  Maybe BBC American ran it, I don’t know, they produced it.

The official title is Hotel California, L.A. From The Byrds to The Eagles.

If you’re a fan of the Los Angeles music scene from say…. ’66 thru about ’75, then this is a must watch for you. It looks at the careers of The Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers, Gram Parsons, Linda Ronstadt, The Buffalo Springfield, CSNY, Poco, Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, David Geffen and eventually the Eagles.

It’s not all the pretty side of the pretty music however.  The main theme is about the “Corporatization of music and the death of a dream.”  It’s about how all these songwriters landed in Laurel Canyon and made some wonderful music, and how that dream died with the “Corporate rock of the Eagles.”

Take that statement however you wish.  Some will agree, some will not, either way, you’ll be fascinated with this piece.

All of it is on YouTube. I have all of it in on a playlist below.  It’s a full length documentary. It clocks in at about 90 minutes or so. I promise you, if you watch the first five minutes, you’ll watch all 90. Maybe not in one setting, but you’ll watch all 90. It’s one of my favorite watches. 

— Larry Carta