Waiting for the Sun: A Rock 'n' Roll History of Los Angeles

Waiting for the Sun chronicles the evolution of Los Angeles music from the 1950s through the 1980s. Author Barney Hoskyns traces the interconnected web of musicians, producers, and industry figures who shaped the city's rock and roll legacy. The book maps LA's musical geography through its key locations - from the Sunset Strip clubs to Laurel Canyon homes to Hollywood recording studios. Hoskyns includes first-hand accounts and interviews with influential figures like The Doors, The Beach Boys, Joni Mitchell, and The Eagles, documenting both their creative processes and personal experiences in the city. Through detailed historical research and cultural analysis, Hoskyns examines how Los Angeles' unique characteristics - its sprawl, glamour, darkness, and dreams - influenced multiple generations of musicians. The narrative reveals the complex relationship between art and commerce in LA's music industry, while exploring themes of authenticity, excess, and the pursuit of success in a city built on illusion.

Readers appreciate the detailed research and comprehensive coverage of LA's music scene from the 1950s through 1980s. Many note the book provides context about how the music industry operated and evolved during this period. Likes: - Deep coverage of lesser-known bands and venues - Strong focus on business/industry dynamics - Clear connections between different music movements - Personal accounts from musicians and industry figures Dislikes: - Writing style can be dense and academic - Some sections move too quickly through important events - Limited coverage of punk and metal scenes - Several readers mention factual errors Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (40+ reviews) Sample review: "Hoskyns digs deep into the business machinations behind the music, though sometimes at the expense of the music itself. Still, it's a thorough examination of how LA became a music industry power center." - Goodreads reviewer

Hotel California by Barney Hoskyns Chronicles the 1970s Los Angeles music scene through the rise of The Eagles, Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne and the Laurel Canyon culture.

Under the Big Black Sun by John Doe and Tom DeSavia Documents the Los Angeles punk movement through first-hand accounts from musicians who shaped the scene from 1977-1982.

Riot on Sunset Strip by Domenic Priore Maps the evolution of rock music in Los Angeles from 1965-1966, focusing on the Sunset Strip club scene and the emergence of bands like The Byrds and Buffalo Springfield.

Sonic Boom: The History of Warner Bros. Records by Peter Ames Carlin Traces the development of Los Angeles music through the lens of Warner Bros. Records and its roster of California artists from the 1950s through modern times.

Canyon of Dreams by Harvey Kubernik Details the musical legacy of Laurel Canyon through interviews and stories about the musicians, producers, and clubs that defined the Los Angeles folk-rock sound.

🎸 The book's title comes from The Doors' song "Waiting for the Sun," though ironically, that song didn't appear on their album of the same name 🌟 Author Barney Hoskyns conducted over 100 interviews with musicians, producers, and industry figures while researching the book, including members of The Beach Boys and The Byrds 🎼 The book reveals how the Sunset Strip's Whisky a Go Go club helped launch the careers of The Doors, Buffalo Springfield, and many other iconic LA bands in the 1960s 🌴 The text explores how Charles Manson tried to infiltrate the LA music scene through his connection with Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson, who briefly allowed Manson and his followers to live in his home 🎵 Hoskyns traces LA's musical evolution from the early Mexican rancheras through surf music, folk rock, the Laurel Canyon scene, punk, and metal - spanning over 100 years of musical history