This is my opinion...
The Doors were the most unusually distinctive rock band the United States of America ever delivered to our radios, our vinyl records, our CDs, our cassettes, our 8 Tracks, our streaming services. They were a marvel of magnificence and certainly one of the most significant of American rock bands.
The band had a short shelf life due to the untimely death of their dynamic and troubled lead singer, Jim Morrison. In spite of Morrison's 1971 death at the age of 27 The Doors amassed a memorable music catalog in just five years of recording.
They were a group of gifted musicians even though Morrison himself wasn't a musician, but Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger and John Densmore were certainly three of the finest musicians in the annals of pop/rock music. Morrison wasn't completely able to distinguish one chord from another, but he had a unique singing style that could alter itself from one song to another and he certainly knew his way around the concept of words. Some critics lambasted him as pretentious and a wannabe poet, but one would be hard pressed to look back on Morrison's lyrics and not see a gifted wordsmith.
Morrison was a certifiable genius with his 149 I.Q., but some biographers have stated Morrison suffered from extreme clinical depression and there is no mystery surrounding his hard-core alcoholism. In the late 1960's there were no rehab centers and even 12 step programs were somewhat rare. If one is being truthful about Morrison he probably wouldn't have attended one of them no matter what pressure was put upon him. Seemingly, no one in his inner circle would have done anything anyway. Sadly, the people that most likely would have supported and encouraged him were the very people he no longer spoke with. He was a talented, brilliant and stunningly beautiful man who lost out to booze and depression. He wasn't a good discerner of relationships; and his life was ended in a bathtub in Paris. Nearly 51 years after his death, the music of The Doors can still rattle a cage and upset the path of least resistance.
Morrison was fortunate to be in a synergistic music relationship with one of the most sensational of keyboard players, Ray Manzarek. Drummer John Densmore was a creative musician who could play jazz, blues and avant-garde experimental music. Robby Krieger is one of the most underrated and undervalued guitarists of the rock era. Some of the finest songs by The Doors were written by Krieger. All these years later, here are:
The Doors Ten Greatest Songs
10) THE WASP (TEXAS RADIO AND THE BIG BEAT)
Jim Morrison wrote this semi-autobiographical song years before the band recorded the song for what would be their last album (with all four band members on the album), L.A. Woman. In the earlier years, Morrison would recite the song on stage as beat (late 1950s-early 1960's poetic style) poetry. Since Morrison's speaking voice was a beautiful soft lilt he could pull off reciting poetry without sounding wildly off the mark. Today, with that voice, Morrison would have been a terrific add to narration on nature documentaries. Go ahead, imagine that. Imagination is all you have left with James Douglas Morrison.
The song takes a twist from the high powered 1950's Mexican radio stations that could be heard across the U.S. border. Also, since Morrison spent a couple of years living in Virginia (his father was an Admiral in the United States Navy) he then had the experience of attending live shows in that state. His poetic take with these words were filmed more than once, but this was in an era when there was little to no film of pop and rock artists, so we are limited with what we now have available. All of the footage that does exist is featured in black and white filmed entertainment.
"Comes out of the Virginia swamps cool and slow with plenty of rugged precision with a back beat narrow and hard to master."
The song has a unique marching band push of the melody. Drummer John Densmore was in his high school marching band, so that snare drum is right out of Densmore's high school days.
Morrison may have been one of the definitive bad boys of rock, but he was far more intriguing than most, if not all of his counterparts. Ironically, what makes him hold our attention all of these years later is not the bad boy stuff, but the smart and sensitive side of Morrison.
9) BREAK ON THROUGH (TO THE OTHER SIDE)
A powerful rock song with one of Morrison's best vocals. This song is off their debut album which was released in 1967. Break on Through (To the Other Side) is essentially a revolution within a revolution. It is a joyously unrestrained piece of music with a hard driving Bossa Nova beat. Keep in mind this song has to be put into the context of the era. Bossa Nova music out of Brazil was a huge trend during this time period. Even Frank Sinatra had drunk from the well of the Bossa Nova era.
There is a superb guitar riff and the marriage of drums/guitar/keyboards make this song sound like a savage mash of ferocity. The Doors, at this point in music weren't like anyone else and in many ways there is still no act that can match their genuine calm meeting madness. Treasure that bass line as it works in complete harmony with Morrison's vocal. Break On Through (To the Other Side) is like a powerful thunderstorm with a whole sky full of lightening strikes.
8) LOVE ME TWO TIMES
Love Me Two Times is a sensational pop song by The Doors. Morrison gets in your face with his interpretation and once again the bass line draws you in with heroic musical implications. A notable highlight on this track is that arousing and intense harpsichord bridge. Not a lot of bands could play this well and so consistently. Robby Krieger wrote this song as well, but much of the music on most Doors songs are made in communion with the entire band, but credit where credit is due --- this is a Krieger track.
7) LOVE HER MADLY
How not to love this song? One of Morrison's finest vocals. Love Her Madly appeared on the L.A. Woman album which of course was their last album as a four member band. By this time, Jim Morrison's physical decline had intensified, but a listener would never know by this powerful and masculine vocal. A man singing about his woman. "Don't You Love Her As She's Walking Out the Door." Lyrics and music by Robby Krieger. A pop/rock song for the ages. Love Her Madly never wears out its welcome.
John Densmore, Ray Manzarek, Jim Morrison, Robby Krieger
6) TOUCH ME
At the time of its release horns were becoming a central component in the success of some American bands. Most noteworthy was the seven man band out of Chicago named Chicago. Well, originally they were Chicago Transit Authority, but the city lords made them change their name. Chicago was a highly regarded band in the early days of their success and of course, they employed players on trumpet, saxophone and trombone. Blood, Sweat and Tears also rallied with much success at this point and The Doors allowed themselves to use horns and strings (hey, the Beatles used horns and strings on the then ubiquitous Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album). The horns and strings served this song well. In many ways, Morrison never sounded so good. He's the total crooner on the tune. Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Elvis Presley and Tony Bennett all could have sung this song. Imagine Jim Morrison in a Las Vegas lounge serenading the ladies with this wildly romantic song.
5) LIGHT MY FIRE
Light My Fire was released 55 years ago as of this writing and it is surely timeless. Part of you can't help but think of another time and place and on the other hand it is as fresh as that proverbial daisy. Even though there is nothing The Doors touched that would come off as innocent and pure as a freshly picked daisy. The progression of the song just keeps ramping up and up and then it never drops you off. You just keep going. It is one of the ultimate examples of classic rock at its best. Morrison's vocal is all predator. He never lets up as he near yells out for a rebellion. Manzarek's intro on this tune is so recognizable that you get it in two notes!
Guitarist Robby Krieger wrote the song with Morrison adding only the second verse which includes the funeral pyre reference. Morrison gravitated toward the end of things, including life.
4) THE END
The End started out as a farewell address to an old girlfriend from Florida. The woman in question wanted a career in Los Angeles and Morrison clearly didn't think that was such a good idea. In hindsight you almost have to wonder who in their right mind would have walked away from Jim Morrison at the age of 23? Well, she clearly did and most likely knew a lot more than anyone else at the time.
The 11:35 song is a journey to uncertainty. Death isn't just knocking at the door. It is blowing the whole house down in one big swoop. Keep in mind the song was released while the Vietnam War was in full destruction mode. The neocons and the neolibs love war, death and killing. Yes, and they still do. The End is a thought provoking trip of a song and a psychotherapist would have a field day attempting to figure out the song and the author.
Morrison was a self-destructive soul. The Doors were beyond way ahead of their time.
The experimental world the band delves into with this song is like nothing else from the era. "This is the end, my only friend - the end."
3) ROADHOUSE BLUES
No out and out rock band - I repeat no out and out rock band played the blues more masterfully and truthfully than The Doors. This is the example. This track is the definitive rock blues song. Some of Morrison's best lyrics are included in this romp of a track. Try not getting a speeding ticket while listening to this in the car. The nerdiest, dorkiest biggest yahoo of all-time could play this song and walk away smiling looking cool with Roadhouse Blues on their back.
"I woke up this morning and I got myself a beer." Well, quite frankly, the last thing Jim Morrison needed was a beer in the morning, but no question it's one grand line. Then, in the same song he delivers "The future's uncertain and the end is always near." In the middle of a bar band tune, Morrison waxes deeply poetic as though Tennyson is writing rock music. How much do you love this guy's work? Why, oh why did he have to be so troubled?
That eminent bass was played by Lonnie Mack and John Sebastian (Lovin' Spoonful) delivers the memorable harmonica punches.
2) RIDERS ON THE STORM
The story goes that the band members were messing around in the studio by playing the cowboy classic Ghost Riders in the Sky and somehow that morphed into Riders on the Storm. Even if you don't know notes and chords you should get the similarities. Add Morrison's lyrics where he takes you on an intense path of his life and you end up with literally one of the most singularly unique songs ever released by a music artist in the latter half of the 20th century.
This song must be listened to. Seriously, listened to. Play it while you are in the car. Play it at home. Play it anywhere. Riders on the Storm will transport you instantly to a dark two lane road with the rain coming down. I can see my windshield wipers moving at a quick clip and then the thunder hits.
Few songs in the rock era are as evocative as this classic. Talk about being put into a place and a defined setting. Brilliant on all levels.
1) L.A. WOMAN
L.A. Woman and all of its kinetic energy is one of the greatest rock songs of all-time. There would be no theoretical way not to have this wild ride of a 7:50 minute song be at the top of the list. That rolling auto engine rev open sets the stage for a ride through a city. The song is clearly not about a woman, but about the city of Los Angeles. The city as it was in 1971. Today, that Los Angeles would be unrecognizable. Los Angeles was a beautiful city in the late 1960's/early 1970's. Today, it is crowded, dirty and ugly. It also takes about an hour to go ten miles. The only thing left are those hills filled with fire.
I love the downshift of the tempo as Morrison goes full throttle into immortalizing his Jim Morrison acronym Mr. Mojo Risin - and he does it over and over again. "Motel, Money, Murder, Madness." In many ways Morrison saw the future of Los Angeles. L.A. Woman is a torpedo of spirit, spunk, rebellion, anarchy, chaos and out and out hard driving rock music. Few songs would run parallel to its achievement in rock's annals.
A woman I went to high school with said she hoped if she ever got pulled over for speeding this would be the song she'd be listening to at the time. If that ever happens, I hope the police officer just lets her off with a warning!
Copyright The Flaming Nose 2022
