54 years on and the Doors still light my fire
This week marks 54 years since the Doors released their self-titled debut album.
The Doors were formed in Los Angeles, California in 1965 and were an essential piece in the 1960s counterculture puzzle. The band’s lineup consisted of Jim Morrison (vocals), Robby Kriger (Guitar), Ray Manzarek (Keyboard) and John Densmore (Drums).
American audiences had not seen a front man quite like Jim Morrison before, and in truth, many people were not ready for him. Morrison’s on-stage performances sparked controversy and the Doors were the first and only group, to be banned from playing on the iconic Ed Sullivan show, after just one appearance.
The psychedelic rock album, ‘the Doors’, was released by the band on January 4th 1967 and it received very positive reviews upon its release. One such review described the record as a crossover between the Beach boys and the Rolling stones.
Despite the album’s overall positive reception, the album’s first single, ‘break on through (to the other side)’ was unsuccessful. In contrast the album’s second single, light my fire, was quite the opposite. The song climbed to No.1 on the US billboard hot 100 chart. However, the album was not as successful over the pond, as it was here in Britain.
When I first listened to this album, I must admit I thought it was a bit weird. But the more I listened, the more it grew on me. I had not listened to many songs like ‘Soul kitchen’ or ‘Twentieth Century Fox’ before I heard this album, and in truth, I have not heard many songs like them since.
The final song on the record, ‘The End’ can only be described as bizarre. Some reviews even describe it as scary and disturbing. With an almost 12-minute run time you almost feel like you have been on a journey when the song comes to an end.
In my opinion the album has its own unique psychedelic style. The keyboard instrumentals from Ray Manzarek set this record apart from other legendary 60s psychedelic bands, like Cream and the Jimi Hendrix experience.
The Doors followed up their debut album with Strange days in September of the same year.
Around four years after the release of the first album, Jim Morrison died, whilst living in a rented apartment in Paris. His death was mysterious, as the cause of death remains undetermined, because no autopsy was performed on his body.
Morrison was buried in the city of love, his grave (or the Tombe De Jim Morrison), can be found at the Père-Lachaise cemetery.
The band continued without Morrison and released two albums as a three piece but eventually called it a day in 1973. However, they did reunite briefly a few years later in the late 70s.
Joe Strong
The Doors has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame; "Light My Fire" was also inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. It has been reissued several times on CD, including a 1999 remaster in “96/24 bit advanced resolution”, a 2007 remixed ”40th Anniversary new mix” and a 2017 new remaster in stereo and mono – "50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition." In 2015 the Library of Congress selected The Doors for inclusion in the National Recording Registry based on its cultural, artistic or historical significance.