Tag Archives: BBC documentary

Country, David Crosby, Film, Neil Young, Rock

Video of the day: Hotel California LA from the Byrds to the Eagles BBC documentary


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First broadcast on 27 May 2007
Produced and Directed by Chris Wilson

The music and mythology of a golden era in the culture of California is explored in this feature-length documentary.

At the start of the 1960s Los Angeles was a kooky backwater, barely visible on the musical map. By the end of the 1970s it was the artistic and industrial hub of the American music industry. This film explores how the socially-conscious folk rock of young hippies with acoustic guitars was transformed into the coked-out stadium excesses of the late 70s, and the biggest-selling album of all time.

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Alongside never before seen archive footage, the programme features first-hand accounts of the key figures including musicians, David Crosby, Graham Nash, JD Souther, Bernie Leadon, Bonnie Raitt, Andrew Gold, Mark Volman and Van Dyke Parks, and music industry bosses, David Geffen, Jac Holzman, Ron Stone and Peter Asher, and legendary LA scenesters including Henry Diltz, Pamela Des Barres and Ned Doheny.

Set amongst the sun-dappled porches of Laurel Canyon and perched above LA’s iconic Sunset Strip, this is an epic tale of drugs, genius and greed – all set to a terrific soundtrack.

This fascinating documentary from BBC4, Hotel California: LA from The Byrds to The Eagles charts the evolution of the Southern California/Laurel Canyon rock scene of the sixties thru the seventies. … but it is also the sad story of the transformation into a corporate and money-driven scene in a relatively brief period of time.The film is very blunt in presenting criticisms of the Eagles from a number of different musicians for their approach to music.

David Crosby: “They’re boring, they take no chances, ever!”

It is based on Barney Hoskin’s book of the same name.

Hotel California L.A. from the Byrds to the Eagles BBC documentary:

– Hallgeir

Film, Live

Jeff Buckley – Everybody Here Wants You full length documentary and full concert

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“He quite clearly had his feet on the ground and his head and his imagination was flying way, way out there, beyond, beyond.”
– Jimmy Page

I remember when I first heard Jeff Buckley at a record store, I bought Grace that day. After that I’ve gotten everything that was released by him.

This 2002 documentary, revisits the short life and times of the young artist. The movie has stories and testimonies from Jimmy Page, Patti Smith, Chrissie Hynde and many more of the people who were close to Jeff Buckley. It tells the story of  his early work as a guitarist in Los Angeles and his emergence as a singer and songwriter in New York.  There are 4 or 5 Jeff Buckley docus out there, but this is my favorite.

Everybody Here Wants You (documentary):

I’ve included a full set from Frankfurt in 1992, great quality, intense concert (as expected):

Setlist Jeff Buckley live in Sudbahnhof the 24/02/1995

01 – 00:03 – Chocolate
02 – 05:20 – Mojo Pin
03 – 12:15 – Band introduction
04 – 12:56 – So real
05 – 19:10 – Last Goodbye
06 – 24:00 – Jeff speaking
07 – 24:37 – What will you say (first time ever sung)
08 – 32:30 – Jeff speaking
09 – 33:47 – Lilac Wine (incredible version)
10 – 40:35 – Jeff speaking
11 – 42:05 – Grace

Enjoy!

– Hallgeir