Ep 2. Episode 2

In Laurel Canyon season 1 episode 2, we continue to explore the vibrant music scene in the titular Los Angeles neighborhood during the 1960s and 1970s. The episode opens with a discussion of the Mamas and the Papas, a hugely successful folk rock band that helped put Laurel Canyon on the map. We learn about the band's formation, their creative process, and the tensions that eventually led to their breakup. Through interviews with surviving band members and archival footage, we get a sense of the Mamas and the Papas' unique sound and charismatic stage presence.

From there, we delve into the world of Joni Mitchell, one of the most celebrated and influential singer-songwriters of her generation. Mitchell was a fixture of the Laurel Canyon scene, and her music is closely associated with the era's counterculture and bohemian values. The episode features interviews with Mitchell herself, as well as with other musicians who knew her, such as Graham Nash of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

We learn about Mitchell's early life and musical influences, as well as her decision to leave Canada and move to the United States in pursuit of her dreams. We hear about her struggles as a young artist, her experiences with drug use and mental health challenges, and the way these personal struggles informed her music. Through recordings of some of her most iconic songs, like "Both Sides Now" and "The Circle Game," we get a sense of Mitchell's distinctive voice and poetic songwriting.

In addition to exploring the lives of individual musicians, the episode also sheds light on the broader social and political context of the Laurel Canyon scene. We learn, for example, about the role that the Vietnam War played in shaping the music of the era, and we see how artists like Mitchell and the Mamas and the Papas used their platform to comment on the issues of the day.

Throughout the episode, we are treated to a range of archival footage and photographs that help bring the era to life. We see shots of musicians performing at legendary venues like the Troubadour and the Whiskey a Go Go, as well as candid moments of artists hanging out and collaborating in the hills of Laurel Canyon. The episode also features a number of classic songs from the era, helping to create a rich and immersive sonic landscape for viewers.

Ultimately, episode 2 of Laurel Canyon offers a fascinating glimpse into the lives and work of some of the most iconic musicians of the 1960s and 1970s. Through a combination of interviews, archival footage, and music, the episode brings to life both the vibrancy and the complexity of the Laurel Canyon scene, showing how it helped shape the cultural landscape of the time and beyond.