Poor Man's Shangri-La

THIS IS the project that provided the working framework for artist Vincent Valdez's mural; the saga of Chavez Ravine unfolding, panel by panel along the body of a lowrider (yes, it was a lowrider) ice cream truck. Completed in 2007, the truck, El Chavez Ravine, was commissioned by musician, Ry Cooder. We'll discuss the neighborhood, Chavez Ravine, and the project a little bit more down the line but here are some song samples, drawn from the album, that tell the story of an old Los Angeles neighborhood, now vanished.
The song, "Poor Man's Shangri-la" is an aural establishing shot, if you will, of a time and place in Los Angeles more than fifty years ago and a dramatic story of eminent domain.
The lyrics unscroll below. Pay close attention to Cooder's storytelling devices, how he places you in a time, place, era, moment with specific details --

"Tell you 'bout this friend of mine that you don't know
He lives way up a road that's lost in time.
Don't know his name, or where he's coming from,
Only thing you know, he's a real gone cat,
This friend of mine.

He don't have no uptown friends, or drive a Cadillac,
But he's got cool threads and a beat up car.
All his downtown friends like me ride around in the back
'Cause he's a real cool cat, yeah he's a real cool cat,
This friend of mine.

La Loma boys will run with you,
Do anything that you want them to,
If you need a friend 'cause you're feeling blue
Palo Verde girls never let you down.

Na na na na na, living in a poor man's Shangri-La.

Firme guys in their firme cars,
Underneath the moon and stars.
The city lights way down below.
What's that sound? What's that light
Streaking down through the night?
What's it mean? It's a red cloud over
Chavez Ravine.

Orale, UFO, come gliding low.
Se cayo up Chavez Road.
Space Vato, square cat.
Say, "Caramba, partners, where's the party at?"

I heard about the cool jerk, and the alligator,
Tokay wine, Mary Jane, and Lil' Julian Herrera.
I want to learn to dance, make romance.
These La Bishop girls might take a chance.

My friend says, "No, be cool, bro.
If you want to dance slow,
Learn to ask a mi hermana con respeto."

UFO got a radio.
Lil' Julian singing soft and low.
Los Angeles down below.
DJ says, we got to go.
To El Monte, El Monte, pa El Monte.

Na na na na na, living in a poor man's Shangri-La"

Here's an evocative PBS slideshow showcasing a collection of photographs made by Don Normark in 1949.
Where does the music take you? In a nutshell, what other L.A. songs transport you to a time or place?
-- L.G.

(Music Credit: Lyrics by Ry Cooder/William Garcia/Gene Aguilera Hi-Lo Shag Music [BMI]/Wagamita Music [BMI] Carmelita Music)