Echo in the Canyon

In the mid-1960s a group of musicians became neighbours on a hill in Los Angeles called Laurel Canyon. The Byrds, The Beach Boys, Buffalo Springfield and The Mamas and the Papas lived in the same circle, listening to each other's songs and answering them. What came to be called American folk rock formed there in a short time. Andrew Slater's documentary is presented by Jakob Dylan. The narrative runs on two tracks: interviews with musicians of the period, and studio sessions in which present-day musicians re-record those songs. Brian Wilson, David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Eric Clapton and Ringo Starr are among those who speak. The film includes one of the last interviews Tom Petty gave on camera; he died before its release. Who it's for: Viewers who like 1960s American music, music documentary, and the songs of the period. Who it's not for: The narrative is admiring and barely enters the darker side of the era. The re-recordings also come off thin beside the originals.