Everybody Had an Ocean

Los Angeles in the 1960s gave the world some of the greatest music in rock ''n'' roll history: "California Dreamin''" by the Mamas and the Papas, "Mr. Tambourine Man" by the Byrds, and "Good Vibrations" by the Beach Boys, a song that magnificently summarized the joy and beauty of the era in three and a half minutes.

But there was a dark flip side to the fun fun fun of the music, a nexus between nai...