VALLEY VIBES; BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WE LIVE IN A HOTBED OF ROCK HISTORY.

Byline: Fred Shuster Daily News Music Writer

It all started in the early '40s with Capitol Records - but that was over the hill and far away.

In the San Fernando Valley, rock and pop didn't roam the scorched earth until the early '60s, when surf and folk music staked their claim to the nation's hearts and minds.

Ever since, the Valley has been a sort of proving ground for musicians hoping to play the Westside and, by extension, the rest of the country. In other words, dreams of world domination and bigger amplifiers start here.

Cleveland has the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame museum, Detroit's got the original Motown studio, and London has various Beatles-related locations. Hollywood has that Capitol tower, a bunch of low-key recording studios and the Walk of Fame, with stars dedicated to musicians and singers from Doris Day to Jimi Hendrix.

But what are the Valley's rock landmarks? Well, there's Sound City, the Van Nuys studio where Nirvana cut its groundbreaking ``Nevermind'' album. And don't forget Barris Kustom Auto, the North Hollywood body shop where Prince, Elvis and James Brown had vehicles customized.

According to Art Fein, author of ``The L.A. Musical History Tour'' (2.13.61; $15), the Valley is a place where youth trends, musical and otherwise, begin.

In the just-published new edition of his guide, longtime rock manager and writer Fein discusses more than 50 local locations of musical merit.

``I keep a keen eye on the Valley,'' admits Fein, a Westsider who lived in North Hollywood in the '70s. ``It was once just the suburbs, but there's more to it now. At one time, it was the bedroom for the city of Los Angeles. I wish there was more going on there musically. I'd love to see the House of Blues open an Encino branch.''

Among the places Fein missed - the Brass Ring, a Sherman Oaks club of the '60s and '70s where Arthur Lee met musicians with whom he'd form Love, one of Los Angeles' best-known groups.

The Valley has a history - even if much of it isn't there anymore. Like everything else in the nation's sunbaked second-largest city, local landmarks are transitory. Today's hitmaking factory is tomorrow's bagel emporium.

But thanks to Fein's research, you can still jump in the car and see what remains of the Valley's hidden pop past.

Here are some of the spots. The numbers correspond to the map.

(1) Stephen Stills ranch: In 1968, Stills, still in Buffalo Springfield, rented this Topanga ranch. Shortly afterward, police dropped by to bust 13 partygoers, including Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Jim Messina and Richie Furay, for possession of pot. Charges were eventually reduced to disturbing the peace.

(2) Valley Music Center, Woodland Hills: Rock bands such as the Doors, the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield and Canned Heat played here in the '60s and '70s.

(3) Taft High School, Woodland Hills: Attended by Jane Wiedlin (Go-Go's), Joan Jett, Cherie Currie and Jackie Fox (Runaways).

(4) Stoney Point High School, Chatsworth: Jackson Browne.

(5) Cleveland High School, Reseda: Pamela Des Barres.

(6) Country Club: Merle Haggard was the first act to play this venerable Canoga Park club, which presented hair-metal bands like Poison and Motley Crue in the '80s. Prince played a private party here, too, and Mick Jagger shot a video with Jeff Beck. Still operating.

(7) Gene Vincent grave at Eternal Valley Memorial Park, Santa Clarita: In 1971, the leather-jacketed singer of ``Be-Bop-A-Lula'' saw his luck run out in Newhall, where he died of a bleeding ulcer.

(8) Birmingham High School, Van Nuys: Bobby Sherman, the Jacksons.

(9) Devonshire Downs: Now known as California State University, Northridge, North Campus, this former horse track saw many rock shows in the '60s and '70s, including the two-day Newport festival in '69 that featured the Animals, Jethro Tull, the Chambers Brothers and Jimi Hendrix. In the '80s, Black Flag, Fear and the Cramps played.

(10) Morrison Street and Densmore Avenue, Encino: An intersection not connected to Doors founders Jim Morrison and John Densmore - except by weird coincidence.

(11) Sherman Oaks Galleria: The mall where ``Fast Times at Ridgemont High'' was filmed also provided inspiration for Moon Zappa's ``Valley Girl.''

(12) Jim Gordon murder site, Van Nuys: Top session drummer and Derek & the Dominos member Gordon murdered his mother here in 1983. He's now serving a life sentence in state prison.

(13) Rollin' Rock Records, Van Nuys: World-famous rockabilly label was run out of a garage here from the '70s through the mid-'80s.

(14) The Onion, Sepulveda: In 1966, the Grateful Dead played here as part of the Acid Tests, a series of happenings organized by LSD gurus the Merry Pranksters.

(15) Sound City: Tom Petty's been using this Van Nuys location for something like 20 years, and Fleetwood Mac cut parts of ``Rumours'' here, but Nirvana put this out-of-the-way studio on the map when they cut their classic ``Nevermind'' here. The studio isn't all about good vibes - Charles Manson cut his demos here, too.

(16) Sandy Nelson crash site: On April 22, 1963, Sandy Nelson, then the most well-known drummer in rock 'n' roll, crashed into a school bus (in which a teen-age Bonnie Raitt was a passenger) and was seriously injured.

(17) Van Nuys High School: Where ``Rock 'n' Roll High School,'' featuring the Ramones, was partly shot.

(18) Jimmie Rodgers beating site, Granada Hills: Rodgers' folk-singing career started in 1957 and ended here in 1967 when a man who identified himself as an off-duty cop accused Rodgers of cutting him off in traffic and proceeded to beat him senseless. After his recovery, Rodgers never returned to the recording and concert trail.

(19) Antelope Valley High School, Lancaster: Frank Zappa, Capt. Beefheart.

(20) Ritchie Valens grave, San Fernando: This local teen-age singer had a cometlike career when his double-sided single ``Donna''/``La Bamba'' rocketed to No. 2 in the national charts. A year later, he was killed along with Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper in a plane crash.

(21) The Rock Corporation: Rough-and-tumble Van Nuys club where Van Halen, Black Oak and the Knack cut their teeth.

(22) Franklin Canyon: The Rolling Stones' ``Big Hits (High Tide and Green Grass)'' album cover was shot here in 1966. So was Simon & Garfunkel's ``Sounds of Silence.''

(23) Grant High School, Van Nuys: Jeff, Steve and Mike Porcaro (Toto), Steve Lukather (Toto), Mickey Dolenz (Monkees), Jim Gordon, Tom Scott (L.A. Express).

(24) Pacoima Junior High School: Ritchie Valens.

(25) Smokey Joe's Barbeque, North Hollywood: A still-standing branch of the original Westside restaurant that inspired transplanted New Yorkers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller to pen ``Smokey Joe's Cafe'' for the Robins, who later became the Coasters.

(26) Phil Kaufman former residence, North Hollywood: Road manager Kaufman was one of those arrested for stealing Gram Parson's body from the airport and immolating it in Joshua Tree National Forest, as per the late country-rocker's wishes. A backyard concert took place here to raise money for Kaufman's legal defense.

(27) Bomp Records, North Hollywood: Opened in 1977 by fanzine writer Greg Shaw, the store was dedicated to oldies, imports, punk and other newly emerging music. Up-and-comers that played in-store gigs here include Blondie, Cheap Trick and the Ramones.

(28) Zappa Records: Zappa launched his own label in Studio City in the late '70s. Although he died in 1993, new Zappa product is issued from these offices.

(29) ``Our House,'' Lookout Mountain Road, Laurel Canyon: Joni Mitchell lived here when she wrote ``Ladies of the Canyon'' and ``Clouds.'' When Graham Nash moved in, he penned ``Our House,'' about the mellow vibes of the place.

(30) Palomino: North Hollywood's premier country music venue from 1949 until it closed in 1994. Everybody from Hank Williams to Johnny Cash to Elvis Costello played here.

(31) FM Station: Local bands and national touring acts played this North Hollywood club in the '70s and '80s, but in its last years it focused on tribute bands.

(32) Carole King former residence, Laurel Canyon: Where King penned songs for her multimillion-selling ``Tapestry.'' The album cover was also shot here.

(33) Laurel Canyon Country Store: Members of the Doors, the Byrds and the Eagles have been spotted here.

(34) Frank Zappa former residence, Laurel Canyon: The late Zappa lived here from 1966-68 in a log cabin once owned by cowboy actor Tom Mix. Zappa claimed he moved out because too many freaks and weirdos were dropping by without invitations. Eric Burdon rented it after that.

(35) American Recording, Studio City: In the late '60s, the Standells, Chocolate Watchband, Steppenwolf, Three Dog Night and many other hit acts recorded here.

(36) Cinnamon Cinder, Studio City: Hot teen club of the '60s run by enterprising radio personality Bob Eubanks. The Beatles held their pre-Hollywood Bowl press conference here.

(37) Billy James former residence: Record company talent scout James used his Laurel Canyon home as a gathering place for musicians such as the Doors, the Byrds and Jackson Browne, who lived in the downstairs laundry room for a year.

(38) Dairy Queen (former location Moorpark Street and Bakman Avenue, North Hollywood): Sibling North Hollywood High School students Dick and Don Addrisi celebrated the release of their Del-Fi record ``Cherrystone'' here in 1959; they went on to pen ``Never My Love'' for the Association - the most-played song in BMI history.

(39) Nudie's Rodeo Tailors, North Hollywood: The late ``Nudie'' Cohen dressed Elton John, Eric Clapton, John Lennon, George Harrison and others here. But earlier, he made his most famous outfits - a white suit decorated with musical notes for Hank Williams and a glittering gold number for Elvis Presley.

(40) Blue Saloon: In the early '90s, this North Hollywood neighborhood bar was the primary showcase for roots-rock acts like Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Trio, Untamed Youth and the Dave & Deke Combo while '50s idols Rose Maddox and Sleepy Labeef also played.

(41) Barris Kustom Auto: George ``Kustom King'' Barris still holds forth at this North Hollywood shop where he modifies machinery for the music and movie industries. Elvis Presley had Barris speckle his Cadillac with gold, while James Brown, Prince, David Lee Roth and countless other celebs have had work done here.

(42) MCA Records, Universal City: One of the world's biggest record labels, home to Lyle Lovett, Tom Petty, Mary J. Blige and the Mavericks.

(43) Warner Bros. Records, Burbank: Currently the recording home of superstar acts Madonna, R.E.M. and Eric Clapton, although the label once had more esoteric tastes that included Ry Cooder, Little Feat and even the Sex Pistols.

(44) Esther Phillips grave (Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Burbank): The onetime ``Little Esther,'' Phillips scored blues, r&b and jazz hits in the '50s, '60s and '70s. Aretha Franklin, accepting a Grammy Award in 1975, said Phillips - who died in 1984 - deserved it more.

(45) Dick Clark Productions: ``The world's oldest teen-ager'' and ``American Bandstand'' host operates from this old house in Burbank, near NBC-TV.

(46) Chadney's, Burbank: Regular gig site for prominent session cats, including New Orleans drummer Earl Palmer and percussionist Emil Richards, an original member of Phil Spector's Wrecking Crew session band.

(47) Dionysus Records: One of the most eclectic indie labels of all started in a small Burbank house in 1984 before moving to an actual office in 1995. The label releases new music and reissues, plus hosts a weeklong festival of its artists each year.

(48) Muir High School, Pasadena: David Lee Roth.

(49) Perkins Palace: Home of metal and '80s hard rock. Guns N' Roses were established after seven consecutive sold-out shows in this Pasadena location in 1987.

(50) Pasadena High School: Eddie and Alex Van Halen, Phil and Dave Alvin.

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos, Map

Photo: (1--Cover--Color) THE VALLEY ROCKS

This place we call home possesses some distinguished - and notorious - links to pop music's past.

Photo by Gus Ruelas/Daily News; photo illustration by Bradford Mar

(2) no caption (Valley sites)

Gus Ruelas/Daily News

Map: ROCKIN' and ROLLIN' through the VALLEY ... and beyond