Death Valley ’69 — You Must Remember This

This episode is titled after the Sonic Youth song “Death Valley ’69,” which, as Kim Gordon explains in her memoir Girl in a Band, was partially inspired by the Manson family. I included a few other Sonic Youth songs just for their vibe; Gordon tells stories about many of them in her book. I particularly like the story about how “Halloween” was inspired by Henry Rollins.

The final song in this episode before the end credits was composed and submitted by YMRT listener Blake Godfrey. If you’d like to submit your music for consideration for use in a future episode, the best way to do that is by sending Karina a link to your stuff on Soundcloud or whatever streaming thing you prefer. 

Episode breakdown:

Intro: “Album Tag Song” by Dennis Wilson; “Modern Heavy Rock Guitar Top Line” royalty free loop

Woodstock: “Mellow Music Theme Instrumental” royalty free track

Spahn Ranch raided by Straight Satans and police: “Southern Rhythm Guitar” GarageBand loop

Shorty Shea’s murder: “Psychedelic 6 Guitars Soundscape Mystery” royalty free track

Barker Ranch, Easy Rider connection: “Dark Melodic Metal Guitar Loop 1 Long” royalty free loop; “Death Valley ’69” by Sonic Youth

Linda Kasabian leaves the Manson Family: “70s Acid Trip 2 Guitar Loop” royalty free loop

The Manson Family in the desert, preparing for Helter Skelter and searching for the Bottomless Pit; Juan Flynn; Danny DeCarlo’s defection; Barbara Hoyt and Kitty Lutesinger want to leave; Barbara and Sherrie leave; Sherrie Doe’s body is found: “Halloween” by Sonic Youth

Manson vs. Scientologist prospector Crockett; Juan Flynn’s defection: “Stranger on a Train”: by Sonic Youth

Hard times in the desert force Manson to beg from Gregg Jakobson; Charlie cracks the whip; the earth mover fire;: “Because Coda” by Sonic Youth

Rangers question Crockett about Manson Family; Crockett freaks out; Rangers find Tex Watson’s Toyota: “Halloween” by Sonic Youth

Charlie tells Tex to shoot the Rangers; Tex defects; Kitty and Stephanie escape; the first raid on Barker Ranch; “Devastation and Revenge” by Kevin MacLeod

Charlie thinks he’s escaped arrest; second raid on Barker Ranch; cops find Manson hiding in a cabinet; Charlie tries to talk his way out of arrest by invoking Helter Skelter; Kitty tells the police everything she knows; Susan talks to investigators about Gary Hinman; Susan spills to her jailhouse roommates; Virginia and Ronnie decide to snitch; Danny DeCarlo talks; LAPD announces they’ve cracked the Tate case: “Remembering Past Everything” by Pipe Choir

Zabriskie Point plot connections to the Manson Family: “Stormy Moods Orchestra” by Apache Tomcat

Zabriskie Point as doomed production; casting of Daria Halprin and Mark Frechette; Mel Lyman, the Fort Hill Community; Avatar Magazine and first amendment battles: “Railroad’s Whiskey Co” by Jahzzar

Daria Halprin marries Dennis Hopper; Mark Frechette robs a bank; Frechette dies in prison; similarities between Lyman and Manson; future of Fort Hill; Manson’s letter to Lyman”A Memory Starts” by Blake Godfrey

End Credits: “Pop Rock Guitar Rhythm Loop” royalty free loop

Outro: “Expressway To Yr Skull” by Sonic Youth