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Echo In the Canyon

Posted on May 10, 2020May 25, 2020 by Village Vidiot

  “Echo in the Canyon,” documentary, May 10, 2020 (2018), Netflix. B liked this one more than I did.  This film chronicles Jakob Dylan of the Wallflower’s exploration of one portion of the music scene from Laurel Canyon/LA in the mid-1960s, focusing on particular aspects of the evolution of both folk and rock in that period.  It is really his preferred groups and performers: Roger McGuinn, David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Neil Young, The Byrds, Beach Boys (and especially with Pet Sounds, Buffalo Springfield, and the Mama’s and the Papas.  To say the least, all are bands I loved.  Links to London/Clapton/the Beatles came through well.  It also includes a Gen-Y and Millennial’s concert by J. Dylan and his peeps reprising some of their wonderful music. While I liked the Beck, Fiona Apple, and Norah Jones contributions, I wasn’t as moved by the others.  I wanted much more original documentary footage and performances rather than his. I also wish the richness of the scene had been mined more fully; one brief Zappa mention was like a huge tease!  There was so much more to that scene.  Was it truly so male except for Michele and Mama Cass from the Mamas and Papas?  I’m not sure, but if it was, it demanded remark.  And how to do this without commenting on the lack of racial diversity surprised me.  Also, were there no connection to the other musical, visual arts, performing arts of LA?  You wouldn’t know it from this look, a piece of the puzzle better noted in Tarrantino’s alternate history, Once Upon a Time in …. Hollywood. And were these folks really so removed from San Francisco, NY, etc. If so, this merited discussion. The idea that they were an island unto themselves just didn’t feel very right to me.  Still, and for what it’s worth (pun intended), I really enjoyed the original music and interviews with these artists today as a loving, informative and interesting trip down memory lane even though Bronwen told me to shut up and stop singing so that she could hear the songs.

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