Canyon of Dreams: The Magic and the Music of Laurel Canyon Paperback – March 6, 2012

This is a beautiful photographic and historical account of what life was like in the music scene of Laurel Canyon of the late 60s. A fascinating read as well as a gorgeous photographic journey.

It was described as being in "Good" condition, but it was virtually new with only slight bending on the base of the spine. I'm very happy with the seller, as it was exactly what I wanted and a very fair price, but the contents of the book are disappointing. It's okay, but nothing I will likely hold on to. The book is not available from a library or other source, so I decided to simply purchase it for $40. I will likely put it up for sale this spring.

I have idealized Laurel Canyon over the years. It seemed wonderful. It did, however, take a turn for the worse when hard drugs moved in. It was the same for Haight Ashbury. This book really gives an insider view of what it was like.

I have been wanting this book for a long time, but the price kept on going up until the hardback version was way out of my reach. I bought the paperback as a last resort. I have been a Joni Mitchell fan since I was 13 (many years ago) and she actually inspired me to learn open tuning on my guitar. Anyway--the book--it is thoughtfully written and obviously well researched. Not a single important jazz/blues/folk/rock singer is missed and the book flows ever so easily--just like most of the musicians of that time period. The photos are amazing; they capture these wonderful people as they really are, not some posed photo taken for a magazine or an album cover. Kudos to Harvey Kubernik for giving us the gift of this book; this is how I want to remember the 60's.

this is a beautiful book for the price, nicely bound, GREAT pictures; (some never before seen!) etc. reviews i have read were crying that the book hops around a bit...there is a bit of truth to that, but i didn't have any problem with it. i truly enjoyed reading about the metamorphosis of the canyon from the very beginning until the 70's, where the magic of the canyon began to crumble, AND; it had gotten 'discovered'. naturally, all the real estate people got a "whiff of money" and prices zoomed to the moon, making living there out of sight for the ordinary struggling hobgoblin! -this is the point where the book gets a bit depressing...i, however; had heard of this legendary place for years and always longed for more 'dope' on it. the book doesn't disappoint, mr kubernik has done his research, quite staggeringly thorough!! i LOVE 'fly on the wall' accounts, and that is very much what one gets here, and the information is fascinating! -for one who has spent his life in the east, this apparently was one of the 'happening' places' in California. California always had hold of me as some kind of wonderland (i know better now!) nevertheless, i've been a 'scholar' of the san francisco 'school' of culture and music for years and always wondered how they operated in L.A., -Now i know!! -thanks to all the people who gave lengthy interviews, told stories, etc. i read the book inside of 18 hours, i couldn't put it down! it is a big book but goes fast! many pages are only half a page or so, because of pictures! -get this book!! you won't be sorry!! its' a 'coffee table' special!!

This is described as a coffee table book but it's not that large.

First of all, I really like the design of this book. It looks nice, and I've enjoyed the content so far. I was surprised a book that looks this nice would have such a low price. I'd love to give it five stars. The problem is, I've found out why the price is low. By the time I hit page 60 of the paperback, the cover came loose. Examining the binding, it looks like the pages could break loose as well, and so I expect that before I get to the end. It's a pity that such a well-designed book is so shabbily produced. I am not rough on my books, so it surprised me when the cover separated from the book.By all means, buy the book if you're interested in Laurel Canyon. Just handle it with extreme care. Maybe I just got a bad copy.

I highly recommend this book.The quality of this book is absolutelyamazing for the price! I honestly did a double take, this book couldhave easily been sold for far more than this, but luckily for all ofus it's not. ;)It's so packed full with photos & info I know it's goingto take me several months to fully absorb & digest it all.If you are afan of the Los Angeles music scene of the 1950s-80s you are really goingto love this book.Like another reviewer said, put this book along sideRiot On Sunset Strip and Laurel Canyon. Don't hesitate to purchase thisbook, especially as the holiday season is approaching, make it a presentto yourself! ;)

Great book ... makes you want to a place that doesn't exist anymore

Very nice book about a wonderfull place that became the origin of the great music from the sixties

Geniales Buch. Sowohl textlich als auch graphisch absolut hochwertig. Kubernick hat selbst lange im Laurel Canyon gelebt und als u.a. Mojo-Schreiber und weis wie man Musikjournalismus macht. Wer auf Neil Young, CSN (und Young), Joni Mitchell, die Byrds, die Eagles, James Taylor, Carole King, Frank Zappa und die Doors steht, ist mit diesem Buch sicher bestens beraten. Wie Barney Hoskyns' meisterliches " Hotel California:Singer Songwriters and Cocaine Cowboys in the LA Canyons, 1967-1976" gibt es mit vielen Photos Einblick in die hellen und dunkelen Seiten der Gegenkultur aus und um Los Angeles in den 1960er und 70er Jahren.

Anyone with a real interest in the music and social history of this area of Los Angeles, particularly in its heyday between 1964 and 1974 must read this book - and look at the pictures. Harvey Kubernik has researched his subject in depth, interviewed those who have something to offer and gleaned the best photographs from the great photographers of the time (Henry Diltz - wow!- see also 'Crosby, Stills and Nash by Dave Zimmer).One criticism: a good map on a double page spread near the beginning of the book would set the scene for those of us who will probably never visit southern California.This book stands beside (above) Michael Walker's 'Laurel Canyon. The Inside Story of Rock and Roll's Legendary Neighbourhood' and Barney Hoskyns' 'Hotel California' - both of which are excellent.My interest started with Joni and CSNY but now my CD collection includes JD Souther, Poco, Mamas and Papas, Canned Heat, Eagles, Flying Burrito Brothers, Jackson Browne and Carol King.What a place Laurel Canyon must have been . . . a perhaps still is!

Il y a à l'ouest de Los Angeles un endroit montagneux et forestier dans lequel se trouvent plusieurs "canyons". L'un de ces canyons, celui de Laurel, allait devenir célèbre partout dans le monde de par la concentration de musiciens de premier plan et de jolies filles peu farouches qui s'y sont abrités. Par exemple, les Beach Boys (en partie), Jackson Browne, Buffalo Springfield, Eric Burdon et les Byrds. Ceci pour les stars plus en vue dont le nom commence par la lettre "B". D'abord célèbre pour avoir accueilli Houdini puis divers jazzmen de renom, Laurel Canyon devient au milieu des années 1960 "the place to be" pour faire de la musique tout en fumant des tarpés ou en droppant de l'acide dans un été de l'amour sans fin. En tout cas jusqu'à 1969, Charles Manson et Altamont. Après, l'héroïne et la cocaïne sont arrivées et nous ne sommes plus très nombreux à nous intéresser aux sommités du hair metal et autres poodle rockers des années 1980 qui ont acheté une bicoque dans ce canyon. Par petites touches chronologico-thématiques, mais dans un style un peu tournoyant, l'auteur utilise le matériel d'années d'interviews pour faire revivre quelques grands événements : les premiers hits de Kim Foley, la fondation des Byrds, la création des Mothers de Frank Zappa, celles de Love, de Buffalo Springfield, des Doors, le succès de Joni Mitchell, de CSN&Y etc. jusqu'aux Guns'N Roses (versant Slash). Beaucoup de photographies pas-vues-avant sont proposées mais j'aurais aimé que le plan du Laurel Canyon soit fourni en plus gros dès le début de l'ouvrage (et non pas dans un coin à la toute fin) et que quelques photographies nous montrent la nature et les maisons où les légendes et mythes évoqués se sont déroulés.