Posts From Harvey Kubernik

Harvey Kubernik

Harvey Kubernik is the author of 20 books, including 2009’s 'Canyon Of Dreams: The Magic And The Music Of Laurel Canyon,' 2014’s 'Turn Up The Radio! Rock, Pop and Roll In Los Angeles 1956-1972,' 2015's 'Every Body Knows: Leonard Cohen,' 2016's 'Heart of Gold Neil Young' and 2017's' 1967: A Complete Rock Music History of the Summer of Love.' Sterling/Barnes and Noble in 2018 published Harvey and Kenneth Kubernik’s 'The Story Of The Band: From Big Pink To The Last Waltz.' In 2021 the duo wrote 'Jimi Hendrix: Voodoo Child' for Sterling/Barnes and Noble. Otherworld Cottage Industries in 2020 published Harvey’s 'Docs That Rock, Music That Matters.' His 'Screen Gems: (Pop Music Documentaries and Rock ‘n’ Roll TV Scenes)' is scheduled for 2025 publication. Harvey wrote the liner notes to CD re-releases of Carole King’s 'Tapestry, The Essential Carole King,' Allen Ginsberg’s 'Kaddish,' Elvis Presley 'The ’68 Comeback Special,' The Ramones’ 'End of the Century' and Big Brother & the Holding Company 'Captured Live at The Monterey International Pop Festival.' During 2006 Kubernik appeared at the special hearings by The Library of Congress in Hollywood, California, discussing archiving practices and audiotape preservation. In 2017 he lectured at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, in their Distinguished Speakers Series. Amidst 2023, Harvey spoke at The Grammy Museum in Los Angeles discussing director Martin Scorsese's 'The Last Waltz' music documentary. Kubernik was interviewed on screen in an August 2025 documentary, 'The Sound of Protest,' now being broadcast on the Apple TV broadcasting service. Director Siobhan Logue’s endeavor features Smokey Robinson, Hozier, Skin (Skunk Anansie), Two-Tone's Jerry Dammers, Angélique Kidjo, Holly Johnson, David McAlmont, Rhiannon Giddens, and more. Harvey is also an interview subject with Iggy Pop, Bruce Johnston, Johnny Echols, the Bangles' Susanna Hoffs and Victoria Peterson, and the founding members of the Seeds in director Neil Norman’s documentary' The Seeds: Pushin' Too Hard,' now streaming online on Vimeo. This November (2025), a DVD with bonus footage of the documentary is scheduled for release via the GNP Crescendo Company. The New York City Department of Education will be publishing in 2025 the social studies textbook 'Hidden Voices: Jewish Americans in United States History.' Kubernik’s 1976 interview with music promoter Bill Graham on the Best Classic Bands website, 'Bill Graham Interview on the Rock ’n’ Roll Revolution, 1976,' is included.

The Rolling Stones’ ‘Exile on Main Street’: Behind the Cover Art

The 1972 album cover was highly influential. Since, then, thousands of artists have used its “Ripping and Tearing” style and graffiti in their work.

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Rolling Stones ‘Exile on Main St.’: An Interview with Engineer Andy Johns

“They were at the height of their powers as far as rock ’n’ roll goes. ‘Exile’ turned out to be a great collection of music.”—Engineer Andy Johns

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Gold Star Recording Studios: Behind the Scenes of Some of L.A.’s Earliest Rock Hits

It was the place where Phil Spector, the Beach Boys, the Turtles and rockabilly great Eddie Cochran all made hits. We look back at a true rock landmark.

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When Johnny Cash Played for 700 San Francisco Hippies

The recording is “probably the closest to what it actually sounded like to be in the audience for a Johnny Cash show in 1968.”

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Jimi Hendrix Engineer Eddie Kramer: ‘He Changed My Life’

“There was this amazing dynamic all rolled up into one human being, an amazing purity and presence.”—Kramer

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Paul Kantner of Jefferson Airplane on Alternate Quantums and Nude Mud Love-Ins

“San Francisco was very good, I think, particularly the musicians, at transmitting the goodness of the day, rather than complaining about the badness of the day.”

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When the Eagles Took Off: A 2008 Interview with Randy Meisner

“On one of our first gigs, in Boulder, Colorado, I captured it on tape. I had this little stereo tape machine and it was exam time for the college students, so I recorded this gig in front of three people”—Randy Meisner

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Micky Dolenz on The Monkees’ Early Days: The ‘Lost’ Interview

Dolenz: ‘It was probably the closest thing to musical theater on TV. It was about this band that wanted to be famous, but on the show we never were famous.’

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‘Young Americans’ at 50: Behind the Scenes, Studio and Stage

Music journalist Harvey Kubernik spoke to the star and others in his orbit about the recording, in this archival interview.

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Jim Keltner on George Harrison and the ‘Bangla Desh’ Concert

“When we started playing with the audience in the room, it really did come alive. George seemed very powerful that night.”—Keltner

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