I See You Live On Love Street - Music From The Laurel Canyon 1967-1975: Clamshell Box

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 Loves 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 Streets 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 Macs certified silver single "Say You Love Me" alongside tracks from mystical folk legend Judee Sill and 1971 easy listening chart-topper "Dannys Song" by Loggins & Messina a few spots away from the moody baroque pop of obscure cult band Rosebuds "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. ~ Fred Thomas