# Songs set in Los Angeles **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 10, 2010, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802 "2010-08-10T07:44:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/41 "2010-08-10T16:35:44Z")
There’s also _Midnight Train to Georgia_, which is about a guy who couldn’t hack the LA music scene… admittedly, this is only tangentally related to the OP. Same thing with Elton John’s _Tiny Dancer_, which has a LA-feel about the lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/42 "2010-08-10T16:37:17Z")
_It Was A Good Day_ by Ice Cube. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/43 "2010-08-10T17:15:30Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > I thought of a whole list when I read the OP… By the time I got through all the responses I was left with _Lullabye_ by Shawn Mullins. Be glad you were left with that. I thought about listing it, but I’m not quite familiar enough with the places he mentioned to be sure they were specifically in LA. ---
**Author:** ![Cinebar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Cinebar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinebar)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/44 "2010-08-10T17:24:47Z")
Not really _set_ in L.A. but Steve Miller mentions it in “Rock 'N Me:” > [@](#): > > I went from Phoenix, Arizona, all the way to Tacoma > Philadelphia, Atlanta, L.A. > Northern California, where the girls are warm > So I could hear my sweet baby say ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/45 "2010-08-10T17:33:35Z")
Lots of list songs mention LA. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/46 "2010-08-10T17:37:18Z")
There’s at least four songs about: 1.[Sunset Boulevard.](http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/sunsetboulevard/sunsetboulevard.htm) 2.[Sunset Boulevard](http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/a/alex_morph/sunset_boulevard.html) 3.[Sunset Boulevard](http://www.metrolyrics.com/sunset-blvd-lyrics-scott-grimes.html) 4.[Sunset Boulevard](http://www.justsomelyrics.com/1375757/Pacific!-Sunset-Blvd-Lyrics) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/47 "2010-08-10T20:07:59Z")
_Celluloid Heroes_ - Kinks _Twelve Thirty_ - Mamas & Papas _Deadman’s Curve_ - Jan & Dean _Little Old Lady From Pasadena_ - Jan & Dean ---
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/48 "2010-08-10T20:28:47Z")
Tom Waits’ “Emotional Weather Report” mentions “Sunset & Alverado.” Lazlo Bane’s “I’m No Superman” mentions the 405. ---
**Author:** ![Ichbin\_Dubist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ichbin\_Dubist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichbin_Dubist)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/49 "2010-08-10T21:01:19Z")
> [@B.Serum](#): > > Tom Waits’ “Emotional Weather Report” mentions “Sunset & Alverado.” Not to mention “Colder than the ticket-taker’s smile at the Ivar Theater”! ---
**Author:** ![breezman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@breezman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/breezman)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/50 "2010-08-10T21:32:11Z")
L.A. is my Lady, by Frank Sinatra. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/51 "2010-08-10T21:40:22Z")
I didn’t see an answer to post #9, so: [Straight outta Compton](http://assets.fuzzymuffin.com/Mar2007/straightouttacompton.mp3?910.64111921054) This version is the acoustic by Nina Gordon ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/52 "2010-08-10T22:23:50Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > Will you likewise accept Pasadena, Compton, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, etc.? (Those very distinct cities that get lumped in by the ill-informed?) Yes, because they’re part of the landscape. So, thanks, **Attack**. **Duke** , I’m not bothered if the song has a negative tone (although I haven’t heard that song, so I might simply not like it). Great suggestions, all, thanks! ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/53 "2010-08-11T00:30:00Z")
> [@batsto](#): > > Grateful Dead, “West L.A. Fadeaway” Los Lobos just included a cover of the Grateful Dead’s “West LA Fadeaway” on their new album. ## West LA Fadeaway is believed to have been written about John Belushi, who became close friends with (and shared many of the same hard-lifestyle habits as) Jerry Garcia… “Lookin’ for a chateau, 21 rooms but 1 will do” ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/54 "2010-08-11T00:43:21Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > > [@Rilchiam](#): > > > > **guizot** : No, both are okay. I want as many options as possible; I can always cull if necessary. > > Will you likewise accept Pasadena, Compton, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, etc.? (Those very distinct cities that get lumped in by the ill-informed?) LA starts at PCH and peters out somewhere east of Banning. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/55 "2010-08-11T01:50:15Z")
The Afghan Whigs – “Fountain and Fairfax” Elliott Smith – “Angeles” (although the only reference is in the title, repeated 3x in the song) – “Alameda” – “Condor Ave” ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/56 "2010-08-11T11:02:02Z")
And how could I forget: “Only in California” by Ice Cube and Snoop Dogg. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/57 "2010-08-11T13:56:25Z")
Jimmy Buffet’s four lonely haze-filled days in “Come Monday”? ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/58 "2010-08-12T15:10:11Z")
Neil Young’s, well, [L.A.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AB9pf_paEZg) ---
**Author:** ![Twoflower](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twoflower/32/22_2.png) [@Twoflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Twoflower)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/59 "2010-08-12T15:19:46Z")
Joni Mitchell - “Ladies of the Canyon” Not stated directly in the song, but the canyon in question is Laurel Canyon, LA. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802/60 "2010-08-12T15:34:55Z")
**Exquisitly Bored** – Pete Townshend reminiscing about SoCal in the mid-80s… > [@](#): > > Take a drive up to L.A., > In my gas guzzling limousine. > There’s a whole lot of crazy people up there, > Living out a life in sweet ennui. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-in-los-angeles/549802.md?page=4)