Everybody Had an Ocean

Music and Mayhem in 1960s Los Angeles

De: William McKeen - editor

Narrado por: Johnny Heller

Los Angeles in the 1960s gave the world some of the greatest music in rock 'n' roll history: "California Dreamin'" by the Mamas and the Papas, "Mr. Tambourine Man" by the Byrds, and "Good Vibrations" by the Beach Boys, a song that magnificently summarized the joy and beauty of the era.

But there was a dark flip side to the fun fun fun of the music, a nexus between naïve young musicians and the hangers-on who exploited the decade's peace, love, and flowers ethos, all fueled by sex, drugs, and overnight success. One surf music superstar unwittingly subsidized the kidnapping of Frank Sinatra Jr. The transplanted Texas singer Bobby Fuller might have been murdered by the Mob in what is still an unsolved case. And after hearing Charlie Manson sing, Neil Young recommended him to the president of Warner Bros. Records.

Everybody Had an Ocean chronicles the migration of the rock 'n' roll business to Southern California and how the artists flourished there. The cast of characters is astonishing - Brian and Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, eccentric producer Phil Spector, Cass Elliot, Sam Cooke, Ike and Tina Turner, Joni Mitchell, and scores of others - and their stories form a modern epic of the battles between innocence and cynicism, joy and terror. You'll never hear that beautiful music in quite the same way.

©2017 William McKeen (P)2022 Tantor

Great book

By far one of the best 1960’s music books I’ve listened to. Everyone from Jan & Dean to the Beatles to The Doors is covered.

Lively recent history.

This is a masterful extended inside view and survey of the Los Angeles, Pop and Rock music scene of the 1960s with all the key musicians of the era, from Sinatra to Morrison. Mama Cass to David Crosby and Joni Mitchell with a heavy dose of Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys.

More than pop stars these new composers, songwriters, producers, kooks and visionaries transformed popular music of the era making brilliant technical and expressive breakthroughs.

The Charlie Manson subplot is a discordant but accurate element of the “mayhem “ of the time.

The superb reader sustains interest and clarity of the narrative throughout, and is one of the most talented in any genre.

Extremely entertaining

The writing is perversely hilarious while still telling serious stories - all woven together masterfully. The narrator has the perfect comic, yet serious style for this material. He really sinks his teeth into it (I bet he enjoyed this one). The book is a bit over the top and occasionally extreme in its assumptions, but it's definitely a new twist on these time worn tales.

Very informative

Really hits on the many amazing performers of that era. I love the music from that generation and this book gave a very close look at the life and times of the talented song writers, singers, and producers, too many to name in this review! Anyone that loves music given to us in the 60’s and early 70’s will appreciate this book.

If you love The Beach Boys this is for you

I found this book to be,for the most part, an excellent read. The narrator is excellent, the historical text almost exhaustive in its dive into LA music history, and overall it is an entertaining experience. What prevents my giving it a full five star rating is the author’s dismissal of bands not to his liking as juvenile or not worthy of further consideration (The Doors, Love etc). Recommended if you love The Beach Boys