Los Angeles 1960s overview

During the 1950s there had been no distinctive “Sound of California,” but in the decade that followed there were several. Capitol Records, after long disdaining the youth market, released a series of records by the Beach Boys celebrating cars, surfing, and girls. The group’s glee-club harmonies and clean-cut image contrasted sharply with the rougher sounds and images of musicians in the rest of the country. Equally distinctive musical styles emanated from companies formed by three...