That damned Jim Morrison just won't seem to stay dead, not around Blogcritics, leastways. Our Dear Leader Eric Olsen is known as a big Doors fan, and his birthday tribute from a couple years ago continues to draw in the supporters. Dude managed to get himself dead 30 odd years ago, but he's still the talk of the town.
For my part, I've always felt pretty much utter contempt for Jim Morrison as a person. I don't mean he was a little misguided, but that he was a complete fool, deceiving himself with his artistic and particularly poetic delusions. On top of which, he was pretty abusive of people around him. He really made people pay for the great gift of being in the company of Genius.
Even as a cheesy true believing high school fanboy, the Lizard King schtick didn't impress me. At 16, I was way too mature for Jimbo's dumb daddy problems and romanticized slow suicide. The only thing he was ever going to "break on through to the other side" of was the lawn, and absolutely everyone automatically ends up doing that. Part of the trick is trying to avoid that achievement for as long as possible. At this, Jimbo was definitely a failure.
Dear Leader's comparisons of Jimbo to "soulmates" like Baudelaire and Rimbaud is really pushing it. Leaving aside the obviously ridiculous "poetry," even his song lyrics were largely not especially interesting, at least not on the page.
However, even an obvious non-believer such as me has to say that the dude did some worthwhile work that can't be denied. How much of the Doors' achievement was Jimbo's vs the rest of the band, particularly keyboardist and songwriter Ray Manzarek is certainly open to debate. For my money, Manzarek's keyboards were a more unique element setting their sound apart from the crowd than Morrison's vocals. Still, you have to recognize that if you're going with the Doors, Jimbo was the soul. They obviously couldn't have just replaced him and moved on with a credible new Doors.
Article comments
1 - godoggo
I'm a Doors fan, but I've always been mystified by the "Riders on the Storm" cult. Everything about it, musically and lyrically is utterly banal. Especially musically, it's just a 6th rate attempt at the jazz that was happening at a time.
But pop music to me has always been like a person, a lover, to me. To analyze it is to miss the point. Unlike real music.
2 - godoggo
Let me try again. O love them much more than you, have since I was 13, when they meant a lot to me, and yet I wouldn't describe anything they did as "outstanding." Yet there is something unquantifiable there that allows them to transcend their mediocrity, at least to my ears. Part of it is Morrison's psychotic charisma, part of it is the sound of his voice, part of it is the chemistry between the musicians. But I can certainly understand if someone isn't moved by it - indeed, much more easily than I can explain why I am.
Also, my song choices wouldn't be the same as yours, but, on the other hand, who cares?
3 - Sister Ray
If I had to limit myself to 10 songs, I would substitute "Soul Kitchen" and "Not To Touch The Earth" for "Love Me Two Times" and "People Are Strange." The latter is just a little too reminiscent of adolescent angst for me to fully enjoy it today. (Adolescent angst and the Doors? Huh? :->).
They had good taste in covers, too. The "In Concert" album features "Who Do You Love" as well as short versions of "Alabama Song" and "Backdoor Man."
4 - Marty Dodge
I would find it hard to find 10 songs of the Doors that are think are anything special. The Doors were more about the vibe and the ethos of the band than the music. Al's list pretty much sums up the Doors songs that I rate at all.
I have always thought the Doors were one of the most overrated bands (musically) of that era.
5 - Shark
Al, I can't believe you left off the certified Best Song of The Doors:
Roadhouse Blues
Any song with the lyrics:
"Woke up dis moanin' -- got myself a beer;
the future's uncertain and the end is always near"
-- has just gotta be a Cracker Redneck's Theme Song.
-- which means I listen to it at least once a day.
=====
Esoteric Notes, etc.:
1) Play "Love Me Two Times" and listen to the syncopated bass drum right after: "...and one just for today..."
AWESOME!
2) Shark saw the Doors three times, once when they were a backup band, and twice at their peak, including the next to the last concert they played, which -- by the way -- was fucking great.
3) Morrison Hotel is my favorite Doors album.
4) Al, I can't believe you don't like a drunk, hedonistic, self-destructive blues-belting, insane rock poet. I mean, what's wrong with you, man? Don't you have any fucking TASTE!?
Oh... wait, you think Prince is a great "artist".
Never mind.
6 - Sister Ray
Shark, I once heard the singer in a Holiday Inn band change it to: "Woke up this morning and got myself some...SEX!" He repeated it as if he were especially clever and naughty. Wow, if only Jimbo had ever been so provocative onstage.
Congrats on getting to see them three times. The Rolling Stones are the only classic 60s band I've seen live.
7 - Al Barger
Shark, I'm happy to see you actually positively enthused over something rather than more of the usual nay saying. However, using discussion of JIM MORRISON to knock at a real true genius like Prince looks a little silly.
"Roadhouse Blues" is ok, but it doesn't have quite the flavor, the strong personality that makes the Doors unique. It tends to strike my ears as a little bit generic.
8 - Sister Ray
Al, I bet if you could somehow hear the Doors "fresh," with temporary amnesia of Morrison as a person, you'd find more songs to like. Just as I might appreciate Michael Jackson's music if I could forget what I know of him.
Hmmm...what if Jacko did an album of Doors covers...
9 - The Duke
Densmore was an awesome drummer. Plus the studio application of recording his kit was inspiring.
Not to touch the sun, wow... forgot about that one.
I didn't particularly care for Krieger's guitar work. It was mildly interesting, in that he wasn't trying to copy the Clapton or Hendrix material. He was unique, but he was also somewhat trained in Flamingo and other classical influences. You can tell by the way he held and employed his fingers instead of picks.
Manzerick (sp) was okay, the Farfisa organ sound was cheesy, and he always broke into what sounded like ballpark music, or circus music. Especially on a heavy tune... then suddenly without warning here comes the 7th inning stretch tune... right in the middle of a meditative "Doorsy" vibe. It was strange.
LA Woman was recorded at the height of Morrizombie's descent into full blown drug and alcohol incoherence.
Densmore put out a book and a road show, highlighting Morrison's abnormalities, I saw bits and pieces of it over the years. Densmore was negatively affected by it. Morrison was psycho abusive, Densmore didn't come out of the experience a whole person. Sadly Densmore had a lot of talent.
Remember "Other Voices" it was the album that was put out by the remaining 3 Doors. I liked it... I don't think it's around anymore. There was a song called "Ships with Sails" kind of a cool jazzy number, with some real maturity. It broke the mold.
I never heard Krieger's work after that, but I understand he kept his hand in the game for many years. Manzerick (sp) produced a lot of bands in the 80's he still may be at it. I wonder if he still wears stripped suits? Krieger has given interviews in guitar rags off and on for many years. I think he really wanted to "play the blues" but to me, he didn't approach the instrument from that direction. Which I thought was odd.
Anyway, my thought and 2cents for what it's worth. I'll have to pull out some Door's CD's and listen this week.
My alternative nephew during the mid 90's listened to the Doors exclusively, I thought it was strange.
L8tr
10 - Eric Olsen
good to see you give the Doors some love Al, although I agree with Shark about "Roadhouse Blues" - it is epochal.
I can't believe no one has mentioned "Soul Kitchen"!
Although "Back Door Man" is no Howlin' Wolf, nor is it liver that has been chopped.
Other faves: "Five to One" "When the Music's Over" "The WASP"
11 - godoggo
OK, OK, I know you're all dying to know, so stop begging me, OK!???
My faves that I don't think have been mentioned: Moonlight Drive, Peace Frog, Crystal Ship.
12 - Eric Berlin
Thanks godoggo for mentioning those. The original picks are nice... but a bit easy as they're all off the Best of the Doors double album, originally released in the 80s if I'm not mistaken.
A real quick Top 10 list of mine:
Peace Frog
Soul Kitchen
Break on Through
I Looked At You
Wishful Sinful
Not to Touch the Earth (live)
Unhappy Girl
My Eyes Have Seen You
Take It As It Comes
Hello I Love You
13 - godoggo
Yeah, "My Eyes Have Seen You" is bitchen. I forgot.
14 - Eric Berlin
I also love stuff like "We Could Be So Good Together," "Runnin' Blue," "Wild Child," and "Yes, the River Knows" but would have a hard time putting them in the Top 10.
And then there's a horde-load of live stuff that's pretty near fantastic... and a bunch of drunken nonsense that's nearly unlistenable (anyone ever hear Jimi and Morrison live together on stage.... horrid).
15 - Evan
And that's precisely why those recordings were never meant to be heard by the public, and were never released. *Shifty eyes*
16 - Larry A. Sakin
Reading some of the comments about the Doors reminds me of an incident in a music shop many years ago. A couple were looking at records, and the woman came across the T.Rex "Electric Warrior" LP. The woman was about to orgasm talking about Marc Bolan in concert, while the good just said that he could play guitar better than Bolan.
There were a number of elements that made the Doors the creative force they were. While Morrison wasn't a particularly brilliant vocalist he was a tremendous stylist, especially live. Most people of this generation are only familiar with Morrison as he was portrayed by Val Kilmer in the Oliver Stone wetdream known as The Doors movie. But Morrison was much better than Kilmer could ever imagine. On stage, Morrison was a master of captivation; he often prowled around on stage much like a jungle cat and the burning intensity in his eyes as he directed certain lyrics to the audience could make people's hearts stop. Much of what made the Doors click on stage were the long instrumental passages which relatively few folks have hear on retro-radio anymore. The subtle jazz interplay between Manzarek and Krieger was sheer aural beauty to behold. Krieger structured his tuning to be completely in sync with Manzarek's organ, and there were times when the tones between them were so close it was like listening to one incredible hybrid instrument. These improvisational interludes is what gave the Doors an amazing edge over so many other bands. Their knowledge of classical, jazz and blues melded into many different shapes often within the same song.
Towards the end, Morrison did get sloppy and sometimes even vulgar. His antics tended to throw the band off. Krieger was not only distracted by Morrison's overweaning need for approval during this time but by his own heroin addiction. The integrity of the music had been usurped by commercial realities, exhaustion, and ego. Not an uncommon ending to musical groups lionized as pioneers of their sphere.
Perhaps what speaks the most for the sound the Doors created are the thousands of recording artists who site them as influences. In ways, the Doors were like the msuical equivalent of comedy's Lenny Bruce. In the beginning, they pushed the definitions of rock to the very borders and than over the borders of the genre. And like Bruce, they became self-absorbed, unable to define what made them great in the first place.
17 - Al Barger
Dear I Will Get You- I apologize unreservedly for any inappropriate insinuations against the great God James Douglas Morrison. Please don't get me. I am sore afraid. How could I doubt but that the sun does indeed rise and set directly in the center of Jimbo's dead ass.
18 - c
i just want to let you all know that your a bunch of dumb ass fucks for bashing the doors ....... lets see you go make music that people still listen to 30 yrs after your dead.....but i guess some ppl have nothing better to do than harass a dead man
19 - Troww
I dont care guys, I think the Doors are an amazing band and changed the culture of a generation, and are still the main topic of a LOT of conversations, over 30 years later.
and besides. only ten good songs? come on man ever hear peace frog, i looked at you, roadhouse blues, backdoor man, crystal ship, 20st century fox, soul kitchen.
yeah.