During the Summer of 1967 I was a child on the verge of my 5th birthday. At this time many classic albums introduced the world to the changes in rock music. The Doors were a phenomenal band as they focused heavily on the keyboard/organ tones of Ray Manzarek yet giving guitarist Robbie Krieger and drummer John Densmore plenty of room to add their talents. But hey it was that Mojo Rising Crawling King Snake part Sinatra part Shaman part Crazed Poet Jim Morrison that brought the experience into our souls forever.
Their first self titled album captured the music world by storm mainly due to the big hit Light My Fire with its captivating organ sounds and outstanding vocal delivery of Jim Morrison. However the album had at least six additional songs that were just fabulous. Crystal Ship is such a beautiful haunting ballad and Take It As It Comes with the eclectic soloing. Covers of the old blues standard Back Door Man and the eclectic Alabama Song just please my ears. Heck just about every song added something to the counterculture going on in the 1960’s. Even the controversial The End introduced psychology of an emerging generations.
The subsequent five studio recordings showed the world that the four piece unit of The Doors were not a one trick pony. The Doors dabbled in many styles and even invented a few along the way. Example: In the late 1960’s what band would experiment with a waltz based song like Wintertime Love or the flamenco styled Spanish Caravan. How about the touch of Sinatra on Touch Me? The title track from The Soft Parade combines many styles in one epic song that have yet to be duplicated.
The Jim Morrison led Doors concluded their recording career on a high with the fabulous LA Woman loaded with roots rock and blues. The last track Riders On The Storm a mesmerizing slow blues tune was oh so captivating showing Jim Morrison phasing out of this world like the Prophetic Shaman.
Although the Doors were in existence for a short period of time, their music has remained relevant even up to today. There have been many Doors Revivals during the 1970’s up to the present. If you are a musician very often Roadhouse Blues is a standard jam tune that even today’s 20 something generation appreciate. The Doors will remain a legendary part of music that can not been duplicated.