The Playlist Post

Here are my recommendations for the songs that you need to listen to in order to fully understand the L.A. Sound. Beginning with 1970 and ending with 1983, I have chosen what I consider the best West Coast songs for each set of years to add to the list. Happy listening!

1970-1971

1. And It Stoned Me - Van Morrison (Moondance)
2. Anticipation - Carly Simon (Anticipation)
3. Big Yellow Taxi - Joni Mitchell (Ladies of the Canyon)
4. Black Magic Woman - Santana (Abraxas)
5. California - Joni Mitchell (Blue)
6. Caravan - Van Morrison (Moondance)
7. Carey - Joni Mitchell (Blue)
8. Carry On - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (Deja Vu)
9. Cinnamon Girl - Neil Young (Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere)
10. Country Road - James Taylor (Sweet Baby James)
11. Crazy Love - Van Morrison (Moondance)
12. Danny's Song - Loggins & Messina (Sittin' In)
13. Deja Vu - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (Deja Vu)
14. Domino - Van Morrison (His Band and the Street Choir)
15. Finest Lovin' Man - Bonnie Raitt (Bonnie Raitt)
16. Fire and Rain - James Taylor (Sweet Baby James)
17. Helpless - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (Deja Vu)
18. Hope You're Feeling Better - Santana (Abraxas)
19. House at Pooh Corner - Loggins & Messina (Sittin' In)
20. I Feel the Earth Move - Carole King (Tapestry)
21. Into the Mystic - Van Morrison (Moondance)
22. It's Too Late - Carole King (Tapestry)
23. Legend in Your Own Time - Carly Simon (Anticipation)
24. Me and Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin (Pearl)
25. Moondance - Van Morrison (Moondance)
26. Nobody But You - Loggins & Messina (Sittin' In)
27. Oh Lonesome Me - Neil Young (After the Goldrush)
28. Only Love Can BreakYour Heart - Neil Young (After the Goldrush)
29. Our House - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (Deja Vu)
30. Oye Como Va - Santana (Abraxas)
31. So Far Away - Carole King (Tapestry)
32. Southern Man - Neil Young (After the Goldrush)
33. Teach Your Children - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (Deja Vu)
34. Wild Night - Van Morrison (Tupelo Honey)
35. Woodstock - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (Deja Vu)
36. You've Got A Friend - Carole King (Tapestry)

 1972-1973 

1. A Horse With No Name - America (America)
2. Alabama - Neil Young (Harvest)
3. Angry Eyes - Loggins & Messina (Loggins & Messina)
4. Been To Canaan - Carole King (Rhymes and Reasons)
5. Believe in Humanity - Carole King (Fantasy)
6. China Grove - Doobie Brothers (The Captain & Me)
7. Desperado - Eagles (Desperado)
8. Diamond Girl - Seals and Crofts (Diamond Girl)
9. Dirty Work - Steely Dan (Can't Buy A Thrill)
10. Dixie Chicken - Little Feat (Dixie Chicken)
11. Do it Again - Steely Dan (Can't Buy A Thrill)
12. Doctor, My Eyes - Jackson Browne (Jackson Browne)
13. Frozen Love - Buckingham Nicks (Buckingham Nicks)
14. Good Friend - Loggins & Messina (Loggins & Messina)
15. Heart of Gold - Neil Young (Harvest)
16. Hummingbird - Seals and Crofts (Summer Breeze)
17. Hypnotized - Fleetwood Mac (Mystery to Me)
18. Jackie Wilson Said - Van Morrison (Saint Dominic's Preview)
19. Jesus is Just Alright - Doobie Brothers (Toulouse Street)
20. Listen to the Music - Doobie Brothers (Toulouse Street)
21. Long Train Runnin' - Doobie Brothers (The Captain & Me)
22. My Old School - Steely Dan (Countdown to Ecstacy)
23. Night Owl - Carly Simon (No Secrets)
24. Nightingale - Eagles (Eagles)
25. Nothing Seems to Matter - Bonnie Raitt (Give It Up)
26. Old Man - Neil Young (Harvest)
27. Peaceful Easy Feeling - Eagles (Eagles)
28. Redneck Friend - Jackson Browne (For Everyman)
29. Reelin' In the Years - Steely Dan (Can't Buy A Thrill)
30. Rock Me on the Water - Jackson Browne (Jackson Browne)
31. Rockin' Down the Highway - Doobie Brothers (Toulouse Street)
32. Rocky Mountain Way - Joe Walsh (The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get)
33. Summer Breeze - Seals and Crofts (Summer Breeze)
34. Sweet Seasons - Carole King (Music)
35. Take It Easy - Eagles (Eagles)
36. Tequila Sunrise - Eagles (Desperado)
37. These Days - Jackson Browne (For Everyman)
38. Under the Falling Sky - Bonnie Raitt (Give It Up)
39. Witchy Woman - Eagles (Eagles)
40. Without You - Doobie Brothers (The Captain & Me)
41. Your Mama Don't Dance - Loggins & Messina (Loggins & Messina)
42. You're So Vain - Carly Simon (No Secrets)
43. You've Been In Love Too Long - Bonnie Raitt (Takin' My Time)

1974-1975 

1. Already Gone - Eagles (On the Border)
2. Angel from Montgomery - Bonnie Raitt (Streetlights)
3. Before the Deluge - Jackson Browne (Late for the Sky)
4. Best of My Love - Eagles (On the Border)
5. Black Friday - Steely Dan (Katy Lied)
6. Black Water - Doobie Brothers (What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits)
7. Fountain of Sorrow - Jackson Browne (Late for the Sky)
8. Free Man In Paris - Joni Mitchell (Court and Spark)
9. Haven't Got Time for the Pain - Carly Simon (Hotcakes)
10. Help Me - Joni Mitchell (Court and Spark)
11. Heroes Are Hard to Find - Fleetwood Mac (Heroes Are Hard to Find)
12. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) - James Taylor (Gorilla)
13. James Dean - Eagles (On the Border)
14. Jazzman - Carole King (Wrap Around Joy)
15. Landslide - Fleetwood Mac (Fleetwood Mac)
16. Lyin' Eyes - Eagles (One of These Nights)
17. Mexico - James Taylor (Gorilla)
18. Miracles - Jefferson Starship (Red Octopus)
19. Mockingbird - Carly Simon (Hotcakes)
20. Monday Morning - Fleetwood Mac (Fleetwood Mac)
21. Nightingale - Carole King (Wrap Around Joy)
22. No Other - Gene Clark (No Other)
23. One of These Nights - Eagles (One of These Nights)
24. Over My Head - Fleetwood Mac (Fleetwood Mac)
25. Play on Love - Jefferson Starship (Red Octopus)
26. Raised On Robbery - Joni Mitchell (Court and Spark)
27. Rhiannon - Fleetwood Mac (Fleetwood Mac)
28. Ride the Tiger - Jefferson Starship (Dragon Fly)
29. Rikki Don't Lose that Number - Steely Dan (Pretzel Logic)
30. Rock and Roll Doctor - Little Feat (Feats Don't Fail Me Now)
31. Say You Love Me - Fleetwood Mac (Fleetwood Mac)
32. Shower the People - James Taylor (In the Pocket)
33. Take it to the Limit - Eagles (One of These Nights)
34. Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While) - Doobie Brothers (Stampede)
35. Walk On - Neil Young (On the Beach)
36. You're No Good - Linda Ronstadt (Heart Like A Wheel)

1976-1977 

1. American Girl - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)
2. Breakdown - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)
3. Carmelita - Linda Ronstadt (Simple Dreams)
4. Dance, Dance, Dance - Steve Miller Band (Fly Like and Eagle)
5. Desperados Under the Eaves - Warren Zevon (Warren Zevon)
6. Don't Stop - Fleetwood Mac (Rumours)
7. Dreams - Fleetwood Mac (Rumours)
8. Fly Like an Eagle - Steve Miller Band (Fly Like and Eagle)
9. Gambin' Man - Bonnie Raitt (Sweet Forgiveness)
10. Get Closer - Seals and Crofts (Get Closer)
11. Go Your Own Way - Fleetwood Mac (Rumours)
12. Gold Dust Woman - Fleetwood Mac (Rumours)
13. Hasten Down the Wind - Warren Zevon (Warren Zevon)
14. Help Is on Its Way - Little River Band (Diamantina Cocktail)
15. Hotel California - Eagles (Hotel California)
16. I Don't Want to Know - Fleetwood Mac (Rumours)
17. I'd Really Love to See You Tonight - England Dan and John Ford Coley (Nights are Forever)
18. It Keeps You Running - Doobie Brothers (Takin' It to the Streets)
19. It's Sad to Belong - England Dan and John Ford Coley (Dowdy Ferry Road)
20. Jet Airliner - Steve Miller Band (Book of Dreams)
21. Just a Song Before I Go - Crosby, Stills, & Nash (CSN)
22. Kid Charlemagne - Steely Dan (The Royal Scam)
23. Lido Shuffle - Boz Scaggs (Silk Degrees)
24. Life in the Fast Lane - Eagles (Hotel California)
25. Like a Hurricane - Neil Young (American Stars 'n Bars)
26. Long May You Run - Stills-Young Band (Long May You Run)
27. Mohammed's Radio - Warren Zevon (Warren Zevon)
28. Never Going Back Again - Fleetwood Mac (Rumours)
29. New Kid In Town - Eagles (Hotel California)
30. Nights are Forever Without You - England Dan and John Ford Coley (Nights are Forever)
31. Only Love is Real - Carole King (Thoroughbred)
32. Poor Poor Pitiful Me - Linda Ronstadt (Simple Dreams)
33. River Song - Dennis Wilson (Pacific Ocean Blue)
34. Rock n' Me - Steve Miller Band (Fly Like and Eagle)
35. Runaway - Bonnie Raitt (Sweet Forgiveness)
36. Running on Empty - Jackson Browne (Running on Empty)
37. Second Hand News - Fleetwood Mac (Rumours)
38. Sentimental Lady - Bob Welch (French Kiss)
39. Silver Springs - Fleetwood Mac (Single)
40. Songbird - Fleetwood Mac (Rumours)
41. Swingtown - Steve Miller Band (Book of Deams)
42. Take the Money and Run - Steve Miller Band (Fly Like and Eagle)
43. Takin' It to the Streets - Doobie Brothers (Takin' It to the Streets)
44. The Chain - Fleetwood Mac (Rumours)
45. The Chain - Fleetwood Mac (Rumours)
46. The Load-Out/Stay - Jackson Browne (Running on Empty)
47. The Load-Out/Stay - Jackson Browne (Running on Empty)
48. The Pretender - Jackson Browne (The Pretender)
49. Three Time Loser - Bonnie Raitt (Sweet Forgiveness)
50. Tumbling Dice - Linda Ronstadt (Simple Dreams)
51. With Your Love - Jefferson Starship (Spitfire)
52. You Are the Woman - Firefall (Firefall)
53. You Love the Thunder - Jackson Browne (Running on Empty)
54. You Make Loving Fun - Fleetwood Mac (Rumours)
55. Your Bright Baby Blues - Jackson Browne (The Pretender)
56. Your Smiling Face - James Taylor (JT)

1978-1979

1. Baker Street - Gerry Rafferty (City to City)
2. Comes a Time - Neil Young (Comes a Time)
3. Cool Change - Little River Band (First Under the Wire)
4. Count on Me - Jefferson Starship (Earth)
5. Crazy Love - Poco (Legend)
6. Deacon Blues - Steely Dan (Aja)
7. Don't Do Me Like That - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (Damn the Torpedoes)
8. Heart of the Night - Poco (Legend)
9. Heartache Tonight - Eagles (The Long Run)
10. Here Comes My Girl - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (Damn the Torpedoes)
11. Lawyers, Guns, & Money - Warren Zevon (Excitable Boy)
12. Legend - Poco (Legend)
13. Life's Been Good - Joe Walsh (But Seriously, Folks...)
14. Lights - Journey (Infinity)
15. Lonesome Loser - Little River Band (First Under the Wire)
16. Lotta Love - Neil Young (Comes a Time)
17. Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin' - Journey (Evolution)
18. Minute by Minute - Doobie Brothers (Minute by Minute)
19. Refugee - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (Damn the Torpedoes)
20. Reminiscing - Little River Band (Sleeper Catcher)
21. Right Down the Line - Gerry Rafferty (City to City)
22. Sara - Fleetwood Mac (Tusk)
23. Sisters of the Moon - Fleetwood Mac (Tusk)
24. Tenderness on the Block - Warren Zevon (Excitable Boy)
25. The Long Run - Eagles (The Long Run)
26. Think About Me - Fleetwood Mac (Tusk)
27. Tusk - Fleetwood Mac (Tusk)
28. Two Trains - Lowell George (Thanks, I'll Eat It Here)
29. Werewolves of London - Warren Zevon (Excitable Boy)
30. What A Fool Believes - Doobie Brothers (Minute by Minute)
31. Wheel In The Sky - Journey (Infinity)

1980-1983

1. After the Glitter Fades - Stevie Nicks (Bella Donna)
2. Bella Donna - Stevie Nicks (Bella Donna)
3. Boulevard - Jackson Browne (Hold Out)
4. Can't Go Back - Fleetwood Mac (Mirage)
5. Dirty Laundry - Don Henley (I Can't Stand Still)
6. Don't Stop Believing - Journey (Escape)
7. Edge of Seventeen - Stevie Nicks (Bella Donna)
8. Enchanted - Stevie Nicks (The Wild Heart)
9. Gypsy - Fleetwood Mac (Mirage)
10. Hey Nineteen - Steely Dan (Gaucho)
11. Hold Me - Fleetwood Mac (Mirage)
12. Holiday Road - Lindsey Buckingham (National Lampoon's Vacation Soundtrack)
13. I Will Run To You - Stevie Nicks (The Wild Heart)
14. If Anyone Falls - Stevie Nicks (The Wild Heart)
15. Insider - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (Hard Promises)
16. Keep This Heart In Mind - Bonnie Raitt (Green Light)
17. Leather and Lace - Stevie Nicks (Bella Donna)
18. Love in Store - Fleetwood Mac (Mirage)
19. Nightbird - Stevie Nicks (The Wild Heart)
20. Nothing Ever Changes - Stevie Nicks (The Wild Heart)
21. Open Arms - Journey (Escape)
22. Somebody's Baby - Jackson Browne (Fast Times at Ridgemont High: Music from the Motion Picture)
23. Southern Cross - Crosby, Stills, & Nash (Daylight Again)
24. Stand Back - Stevie Nicks (The Wild Heart)
25. Stone In Love - Journey (Escape)
26. Stop Draggin' My Heart Around - Stevie Nicks (Bella Donna)
27. Tender is the Night - Jackson Browne (Lawyers in Love)
28. The Waiting - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (Hard Promises)
29. Who's Crying Now - Journey (Escape)
30. Willya Wontcha - Bonnie Raitt (Green Light)
31. You Got Lucky - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (Long After Dark)