10 Best Rock Songs About The City Of Los Angeles

Feature Photo: Mos Sukjaroenkraisri

I don’t know what it is, but whenever I hear the name Los Angeles, Randy Newman’s song “I Love L.A.” just pops into my head. Maybe it’s the video that went into heavy rotation on MTV, or perhaps it’s his voice, the character he plays, the sarcasm, the joy, the lyrics, and the melody—all of it has always resonated with me, and I’ve never forgotten that song. Of course, that’s not the only great song written about Los Angeles—there are thousands of them. This article aims to present 10 popular ones that we think define the city of L.A. in both original and unique ways, making them great songs to listen to.

Our 10 Most Underrated  Songs list presents the Most Underrated songs that  has released throughout his career.

# 10 – MacArthur Park by Jimmy Webb (Richard Harris version)

“MacArthur Park” by Jimmy Webb is a sweeping, emotional epic that has become one of the most unique songs to come out of the late 1960s. Originally recorded by actor and singer Richard Harris in 1968, the song is an ambitious blend of pop, orchestral music, and poetic storytelling. Jimmy Webb wrote the song as an allegory for a failed relationship, using the imagery of Los Angeles’ MacArthur Park to symbolize lost love and fleeting beauty. The song’s vivid, almost surreal lyrics, such as “Someone left the cake out in the rain,” have become legendary, sparking both admiration and confusion.

The song was recorded at Sound Recorders in Hollywood, and its production is as elaborate as its structure. Spanning over seven minutes, “MacArthur Park” features lush orchestration, dramatic shifts in tempo, and Harris’ powerful, theatrical vocals. Webb’s intricate arrangement includes elements of classical music, jazz, and pop, weaving together various movements like a mini-symphony. Despite its unconventional nature, the song became a commercial success, reaching number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning Harris a Grammy nomination.

The connection to Los Angeles’ MacArthur Park runs deep, as Webb had reportedly spent time there during the dissolution of a romantic relationship, making the park a metaphor for the emotions he experienced. “MacArthur Park” remains a polarizing yet enduring piece of music, celebrated for its originality and grandiosity, and it has been covered by numerous artists over the years, including a popular disco version by Donna Summer in 1978. The song continues to be an evocative, if somewhat enigmatic, tribute to love, loss, and the ever-changing landscape of Los Angeles.

# 9 – Rock Show – Paul McCartney and Wings

“Life in the Fast Lane” by the Eagles is a gritty, driving rock anthem that captures the excess and danger of the Los Angeles lifestyle during the 1970s. Released in 1976 as a single from their iconic album Hotel California, the song was co-written by Don Henley, Glenn Frey, and Joe Walsh. Its sharp lyrics and infectious riff reflect the band’s take on the hedonistic, fast-paced life that often defined L.A.’s celebrity culture during that era.

Musically, the song opens with Walsh’s signature guitar riff, which instantly sets the tone for the track. Henley’s vocals tell the story of a reckless couple living on the edge, indulging in the highs and lows of fast cars, parties, and all the temptations that Los Angeles had to offer. With lines like “Everything all the time” and “We were just dying to get out,” the song vividly depicts the dangerous allure of living without limits.

“Life in the Fast Lane” became a major hit, reaching number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, and is widely regarded as one of the Eagles’ defining songs. It resonates as a cautionary tale about the darker side of success and excess in Los Angeles, a city where the glamour often masks the underlying dangers.

# 7 – I Love L.A. – Randy Newman

# 6 – City of the Angels – Bill Withers

# 5 – Carmelita – Warren Zevon

Warren Zevon’s “Carmelita” is a haunting portrayal of desperation and addiction set against the gritty backdrop of Los Angeles. Originally released on his 1976 self-titled album Warren Zevon, the song tells the story of a heroin addict navigating the streets of L.A., with references to specific places like Echo Park that ground the song in the city’s underbelly. Zevon’s raspy, emotionally charged vocals are paired with a mournful country-influenced arrangement that underscores the bleakness of the lyrics.

The song’s narrative revolves around the protagonist’s longing for his love, Carmelita, while waiting for his next fix. “Carmelita, hold me tighter / I think I’m sinking down” is a plea for solace in a world where the neon lights of Los Angeles fail to provide any real comfort. The inclusion of local references, such as “I’m all strung out on heroin on the outskirts of town,” makes the song a gritty portrait of L.A.’s darker side—a far cry from the glamour and glitz often associated with the city.

“Carmelita” has become one of Zevon’s most beloved songs, praised for its vivid storytelling and its raw depiction of addiction. While the song never charted as a single, its impact has been lasting, with numerous artists covering it over the years.

# 4 – Billy the Mountain – Frank Zappa

Frank Zappa’s sprawling epic “Billy the Mountain” is an eccentric and satirical journey that ties the surreal to the very real city of Los Angeles, serving as both a bizarre narrative and a biting commentary on the entertainment industry. Released on the 1972 live album Just Another Band from L.A., this 24-minute track is one of Zappa’s most ambitious and humorous works, blending rock, jazz, and absurdist storytelling in his inimitable style. Recorded live at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, the song was co-written with band member Howard Kaylan and features the talents of Zappa’s band, The Mothers of Invention.

The storyline of “Billy the Mountain” revolves around a mountain (Billy) and his wife, Ethel (a tree), who leave their quiet existence in the mountains to cash in on Billy’s fame in Los Angeles. The song lampoons the commercialization of art and fame, with Billy navigating the absurdity of the city’s entertainment industry. The track’s connection to Los Angeles is overt as Billy travels through the city, encountering various iconic L.A. locations and characters along the way.

With its intricate musicianship and satirical lyrics, “Billy the Mountain” became a standout track for fans of Zappa’s work, embodying his disdain for the superficiality of L.A. while celebrating its absurdities. The song offers a sharp, witty critique of the very city where it was performed, proving that Zappa’s love-hate relationship with Los Angeles ran deep, and could be both outrageously funny and culturally incisive.

# 3 – Babylon Sisters – Steely Dan

Steely Dan’s “Babylon Sisters” paints a vivid picture of Los Angeles’ glitzy and seductive allure while simultaneously revealing its underbelly of excess and disillusionment. Released as the opening track on the 1980 album Gaucho, the song serves as a love letter to the hedonism and indulgence that defined L.A. in the late ’70s and early ’80s. Written by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, “Babylon Sisters” captures their signature jazz-rock fusion, with a complex arrangement that includes smooth horns, intricate rhythms, and sophisticated chord changes.

The lyrics are a reflection of the transient pleasures and dangers that the city of angels represents. Lines like “Drive west on Sunset to the sea” evoke the famous Sunset Boulevard, a street that has long been synonymous with the glitz of Hollywood and the darker side of L.A.’s nightlife. Fagen’s smooth, world-weary vocals are backed by the pristine production of Gary Katz and a group of top-tier session musicians, including drummer Jeff Porcaro and saxophonist Tom Scott, adding layers of lush instrumentation that juxtapose the song’s bittersweet undertones.

Though Gaucho didn’t achieve the same level of commercial success as earlier Steely Dan albums, “Babylon Sisters” became a cult favorite, particularly for its depiction of Los Angeles as a city of contradictions—where beauty, excess, and emptiness coalesce. The track remains a fascinating exploration of L.A.’s glamorous façade and its equally seductive, darker side.

# 2 – Under the Bridge – Red Hot Chili Peppers

Under the Bridge by the Red Hot Chili Peppers is a hauntingly beautiful ode to isolation and longing within the sprawling metropolis of Los Angeles. Recorded at The Mansion, a historic studio in L.A., and released on the 1991 album Blood Sugar Sex Magik, the song reflects frontman Anthony Kiedis’s deep personal connection to the city—both its darker corners and the solace he finds in its streets. The song was produced by Rick Rubin, with Kiedis’s intimate lyrics paired with John Frusciante’s melancholy guitar melody, Chad Smith’s subtle percussion, and Flea’s bass lines that help anchor the song’s emotional weight.

“Under the Bridge” tells the story of Kiedis’s feelings of alienation and the way the city, in all its vastness, became both his companion and his escape. The lyrics, “Sometimes I feel like my only friend / Is the city I live in,” underscore his deep-rooted connection to Los Angeles, especially during a period of sobriety when he felt separated from his bandmates and struggling with loneliness. The bridge Kiedis refers to is a real place in the city, though he has never publicly disclosed its exact location, adding to the song’s mystique.

Released as a single in 1992, “Under the Bridge” reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming one of the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ most iconic songs. The track resonated with listeners for its vulnerability and authenticity, encapsulating both the beauty and the isolation found within L.A.’s urban landscape. The accompanying music video, directed by Gus Van Sant, further emphasizes the song’s connection to the city, featuring sweeping shots of Kiedis walking through the streets of Los Angeles, reinforcing the deep ties between the song’s narrative and the environment that inspired it.

# 1 – L.A. Woman – The Doors

The recording of L.A. Woman by The Doors was anything but conventional, mirroring the wild, unpredictable nature of the song itself. Laid down in December 1970, the track took shape in the band’s unassuming rehearsal space in Los Angeles, which they turned into a makeshift studio after longtime producer Paul A. Rothchild walked away, dismissing their new material. With engineer Bruce Botnick stepping in, The Doors embraced a raw, stripped-back sound that captured the essence of the city—dirty, mysterious, and alive. Jim Morrison, in a characteristically unorthodox move, recorded his vocals in a bathroom, using the room’s acoustics to lend an eerie, echoing quality to his voice.

The song itself is a sprawling, nearly eight-minute ode to the dark side of Los Angeles, blending blues, rock, and poetic mysticism. The haunting atmosphere is driven by Robby Krieger’s fluid guitar work and Ray Manzarek’s swirling keyboard melodies, while the rhythm section, featuring John Densmore on drums and Jerry Scheff on bass, provides a hypnotic, relentless groove. Morrison’s lyrics, dripping with both romance and menace, paint the city as a place of temptation and danger. His famous chant, “Mr. Mojo Risin’,” which is an anagram of his name, adds to the song’s mysterious allure.

Released as the title track of the L.A. Woman album in 1971, the song became one of the defining moments of The Doors’ career. The album hit number nine on the Billboard 200, drawing acclaim for its gritty return to bluesy rock, a perfect swan song for Morrison, who would pass away just months after its release. While the official music video came later, it visualized the track’s energy with a juxtaposition of the sprawling cityscape and the band’s raw, unfiltered performances. “L.A. Woman” remains a timeless tribute to the city that helped forge the legend of The Doors.

Read More: The Doors Most Underrated Songs

10 Best Rock Songs About The City Of Los Angeles article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2024

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