When I first headed West to find my fortune I arrived in LA the most LA way possible, in my car. I took the 10 from Palm Springs and exited somewhere in Westwood. I’ve lived in the Valley, Santa Monica, West LA, and Los Feliz for 3 years (Jon Hamm and Beck were neighbors) but mostly I’ve called the Miracle Mile home. As a music fiend, I was enthralled to discover the veritable smorgasboard of awesome shows playing nightly. The musical tastes catered to are as varied and numerous as L.A. neighborhoods, which suits this girl just fine. But sometimes I wonder, is there a song for and about Los Angeles that tops all the others? A single definitive local anthem, that somehow encapsulates and epitomizes all the individuality, diversity and neurosis of this strange little Emerald City, without a wizard, in the land of Oz? Before I could possibly begin to answer that question for myself, I’d need to start collecting data, which is good news for you, darlings, cause you get a new playlist. Prego, e niente.

The LA Mix

I Love L.A. – Randy Newman
Welcome to California – Clark Graham
L.A. Woman – the Doors
White Punks on Dope – The Tubes
Under the Bridge – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Born and Raised in Compton – DJ Quik
Celluloid Heroes – The Kinks
Hollywood Nights – Bob Seger
Los Angeles, I’m Yours – The Decemberists
Los Angeles – X
Straight Out of Compton – NWA (Explicit lyrics)
L.A. Town – Hoyt Axton
It Was a Good Day – Ice Cube
Lausd – Jurassic 5
Come A Long Way – Michelle Shocked
Free Fallin’  – Tom Petty
L.A. City Slum – Dead Sara
Desperados Under the Eaves – Warren Zevon
Hotel California – the Eagles
Time Spent in L.A. – the Dawes
Welcome to the Jungle – Guns N’ Roses
California Love – Tupac
This is L.A. – the Briggs
L.A. – Neil Young
San Fernando Valley – Bing Crosby
Old L.A. Tonight – Ozzy Osbourne
To Live and Die in L.A. – Tupac
West L.A. Fadeaway – Grateful Dead
The Only Place – Best Coast
L.A.’s My Spot – Fred Travalena
City by the Sea – Barbara Morrison
Screenwriter’s Blues – Soul Coughing
City of the Angels – Fred Astaire *
All I Wanna Do – Sheryl Crow
California – Phantom Planet
A Sorta Fairytale – Tori Amos
Girls, Girls, Girls – Motley Crue
Lullaby – Shawn Mullins
Malibu – Hole
Locals Only – Surf Punks
Let Me Ride – Dr. Dre
Andres – L7
Beverly Hills – Weezer
Cheap Beer – Fidlar
Garden Grove – Sublime
I Left My Wallet in El Segundo – A Tribe Called Quest

*Lyrical Sampling: Life’s a taste of honey // when the days are bright and sunny // while you dream of picking money off the trees.

If we’ve overlooked any, let us know!