Thanks for the information, Brenda. I was really flabbergasted when I read that quote from Elliot Roberts in the O'Brien Joni bio. Made me feel a little like part of my life had been erased! Geez, the Capitol Records building was one of the tallest and most prominent buildings in town when I was growing up (L.A. being relatively lowrise then). When I went back and read the bio again, he was quoted as saying "the only *major* record company on the west coast," but that simply is/was not true but any stretch of the imagination. Thanks for the reminder of Fantasy, too - I knew there was one in S.F., but couldn't recall the name.
Kakki > Jac Holzman opened a west coast office for Elektra in the 60's, Berry Gordy > transitioned Motown out of Detroit to L.A. in the late 60's/early 70's and if I recall > correctly, ABC/Paramount, which later bought Dunhill, had a sizeable west coast > presence as well, fueled by associations with Quincy Jones and Ray Charles. And of > course there was Fantasy in San Francisco, home to CCR and Dave Brubeck. > > Considering the success Capitol was having with the Beach Boys and as the U.S. label > for the Beatles, to say that Warner was the only record company on the west coast is > more than a little absurd. The Capitol tower at Hollywood & Vine is probably the most > prominent architectural symbol of the recording industry in the U.S.
