Always loved this Doors album. Strange Ways is one of my favorite songs by them. Great album cover to boot.

Ove the years Strange Days has become my fave Doors album, Strange Days is one of the best album openers of all time and When The Music's Over is one of the best closers. Every member just shines on this album, IMO it's head and shoulders above the rest and definitely not a sophomore slump.

Fave tracks: Strange Days, You're Lost Little Girl, Love Me Two Times, Unhappy Girl, People Are Strange, My Eyes Have Seen You & When The Music's Over.

I like this album more than the debut. Listen to this album with headphones (the old giant ear muff style) and then the debut. You'll probably understand why ?

The cover art is definitily a step up. It shows what the album is all about.
Looks kinda silly ay first glance, but once you start to really look at it. You see alot of depth and I have always appreciated the use of allegory in expression.

How in the world did I miss this? I love the Doors

The Debut Album is pretty sweet IMO, Crystal Ship, 20th Century Fox, The End, Light My Fire its all good IMO

I had written a long paragraph on 'Waiting for the Sun' but the computer crashed on me!!!! I will post this tomorrow, when I am not so annoyed.

Too bad manny, can't wait till tomorrow.


I see you live on Love Street
there's the store where the creatures meet I...
wonder what they do in there!

I want to see that new documentary

Their third album released within 18 months, this album was not their strongest effort. Unlike the first two Doors albums where the band had time to develop those songs thru various live performances the Doors would have create most of these songs from scratch. These songs for the most part where written in the studio and The Doors themselves felt this was their weakest release but despite its faults this album features some great songs.

Hello I Love You- was written by Jim Morrison on Venice Beach when Morrison spotted a beautiful black woman making her way to him. This song is oldest song on the album and existed in demo form as far back as 1965. The band made this song deliberately commerical sounding to attract some airplay and it worked. Unfortunately for this song, Jim Morrison began to loathe this song and after only a few live airings it was quietly dropped from their live sets.

Love Street-A song written by Jim Morrison about the street and house his soulmate Pam Courson lived on. Manzarek's saloon like organ playing gives this song the whimsical feel that Jim Morrison's lyrics convey. BTW if you want to see the house, watch for it in the beginning of The Doors film, it is the house that Val Kilmer follows Meg Ryan to in the movie.

Not to Touch the Earth- Was originally meant to be part of song epic 'The Celebration of the Lizard'. Bits and pieces of the longer song existed in various forms and would be played live, in the studio 'The Celebration of the Lizard' proved to be unwieldy and the band choose to abandon it expect for this section. BTW the song 'The Celebration of the Lizard' finally made its appearance on the live album 'Absolutely Live' and the studio version was finally issued on the remastered version of the album.

Summer's Almost Gone-A cynical reflection on the summer of love from Jim Morrison. As lyric states: Morning Caught us Unaware.

Winterlove-An almost throw away song that sounds like it was written for an old fashion waltz. Manzarek's organ playing sounding like a harpsichord.

The Unknown Solider-Interesting that in this Jim Morrison's song, Morrison does not out and out criticizes the Vietnam War, but makes an observation on this war was televised and how we have become numb to the cycle of the bad news:

Breakfast where the news is Read/Television, children fed/Unborn living/Living Dead/Bullet tracks the helmet's head


Spanish Caravan-A Robbie Krieger song that features Krieger's classical guitar playing and became one of the Doors favorite songs to perform live.

Wild Love-Another song that the band created on the spot, featuring handclaps Morrison's voice blending in with other band members etc. Not a bad song but one that fill under the banner of filler.

We Could Be So Good Together- A pop like song with a few cool lines from Jim Morrison, not a bad track but again not one of their best. A book written by Pam Courson and Jim Morrison would take the title from one of the lines in this song 'Angels Dance/Angels Die'


Yes the River Knows- A very mellow showcase from Manzarek featuring great piano playing and a restrained performance from the rest of The Doors

Five to One-Jim Morrison was as drunk as hell when this was recorded, which explains some of the ad libbing. Five to One refers to the number of young people compared to older Americans at the time. This song is a classic and of course the title of Morrison's biography would be taken from this song, 'No One Here Gets Out Alive'

The Doors were one of the few rock bands of that era that seemed to "have their ear to the ground" of the jazz scene. Many of their arrangements during this era were basically built on the same "modal vamp" structure as was the norm on jazz records as well.

That sound of "mystery" in their music (the eastern modal scale thing) was something not many other bands explored in great detail. Then there's the fact that Jim is an unrepentant blues fan, Back Door Man and songs like Five To One show that in great detail.

The debut album is very close to a perfect album and one of the best from 1967...and that is saying ALOT. Despite being over-played through the years it still sounds very fresh and exciting (honesty doesn't age).

Strange Days is almost equally as good and Waiting For The Sun is just a notch or so below that.

I think this one is better than the debut but not as good as Strange Days. I think it's cool that Ace Frehley took the solo from Five To One and used it on She. I love this album.

Faves: Hello, I Love You, Love Street, Not To Touch The Earth, Spanish Caravan, Five To One.

I cant believe I forgot Five to One

The most underrated Doors album in their discography and also the album that Robby Krieger had the most input in. While the royalties on this album (as in all Doors albums) would be split four ways, this is the only album where the songwriting credits do not read as The Doors but credited individually. This was due to the fact that Jim Morrison did not want fans to think he was telling them to follow him or to get their guns in the opening track. This was Doors attempt to expand their sound and create their own Sgt Peppers. The songs interesting enough are credited to either Morrison or Krieger.

Tell All The People-Featuring a brass section was written by Krieger. Not a bad opening song but certainly not the sound Doors fans where expecting.

Touch Me- Another song written by Krieger, which became a huge hit for the band. Featuring a sax solo from guest musician Curtis May. The song was originally written by Krieger after he got in a hit with his girlfriend the original lyrics where 'Hit Me Babe' til Morrison gently suggested to change the lyrics and title. In the coda you hear the phrase 'Stronger Than Dirt' which was the slogan for a Tide commercial at that time period.

Do It-Is easily one of the most disposal songs Jim Morrison ever wrote, consisting of one phrase and a song that band never bothered revisiting. It is not a horrible song but certainly not a song that is among the Doors best.

Shaman's Blues-Written by Morrison, this song features it features an ominus organ -bass repeating line over a jazz like waltz. The coda which features Jim Morrison ad libbing was created by producer Paul Rothchild by splicing together various random musings from Morrison during the recording sessions.

Easy Ride-Is a cool song written by Morrison, the music conveying a carefree feeling and features some of Jim Morrison's word play.

Wild Child- The most straight forward and Doors sounding song on the album, features great interplay between the band.

Runnin' Blue-Written by Krieger, this song is the only one to feature lead vocal duties shared by both Krieger and Morrison. The song was written as a tribute to Otis Redding and the intro with the a cappella section was inspired by Lead Belly's 'Po' Howard'

Wishful Sinful-Written by Krieger, featuring lush string section, this song features an great vocal performance from Morrison.

The Soft Parade-One of my personal favorite Doors songs, it begins with Jim Morrison shouting in the style of an old Southern street preacher and then moves into the first movement of the song. The first part of the song, Jim Morrison sounds exhausted and dejected begging for santuary and place to hide. In the second section the music turns almost whimsical featuring sounds reminiscent of a harpsichord and features some of Morrison's most twisted imagery, til the music changes to a darker mood to fit the lyrics. Excellent percussion work from John Densmore. A great tour de force.

Great album and underrated indeed. You summed this album up all too well manny.

Faves:Touch Me, Shaman's Blues, Easy Ride & Wild Child.

Favs from the Soft Parade are Touch Me, The Soft Parade, Wishful Sinful though the Soft Parade did in some part to me sounded not like the Doors

An interesting Doors movie has just been released.....

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20358905,00.html

Looks like I'm behind a little bit.

Strange Days: Nice followup to The Doors. I always kind of liked "When The Music's Over."

Waiting For The Sun: I know this album is more commercial than many of the other Doors albums, but I still find it to be a good album. "Hello, I Love You" is still one of my favorites.

The Soft Parade: The string arrangements lost me at first, but this album has grown on me.

Ooooo that would be quick I cant wait to see that

Released in 1970, the album was named after Hotel in L.A. which Ray Manzarek spotted one day while he was driving around L.A. This album was a band's return to their roots, after Jim Morrison's continued legal troubles, including the infamous Miami incident the band concreted on the music. If 'The Soft Parade' was Robby Krieger's baby then this album was very much Jim Morrison's. The lyrics are more personal and at same time, as stripped down as the music.

Roadhouse Blues-A blues almost New Orleans style song, the lyrics begin with advise he would give his soul mate Pamela Courson:

Keep Your Eyes on the Road/Your Hands Upon the Wheel' the song featurers great performances from all of the Doors, and it also included guest musician Lonnie Mack on bass and John Sebastain on bass. Of course this song features one of Morrison's famous couplets: Woke Up In the Morning Got myself a Beer/The Future is Uncertain/The End is always Near.


Waiting for The Sun-Jim Morrison's father was Admiral Steve Morrison who was in the Gulf of Tomkin in 1964, and his grandfather was also a seaman, and Jim Morrison himself was born and raised in Florida. As a child of the water it is only natural that he would write a song about sea.

You Make Me Real-A bar room piano number, featuring Ray Manzarek's take on jazz/New Orleans piano style, a song of sexual longing where all he wants to do is sink into her tender loving seas/and throw away mistaken misery.

Peace Frog-The lyrics written around a great Robby Krieger lick, the lyrics speak of blood in the streets, blood in the town, and the closest Morrison ever came to writing political lyrics, the lyrics refer to the 60's fragmented generation and how real change demands blood sacrifices. He also reminds the listener that blood was born in the dust of this nation. Also interesting enough a line in the song is inspired by Pam Courson, a simple line that is repeated twice:
She came to town and drove away/Sunlight in her Hair' and also an experience he reminded as a young child of a car accident he witnessed of carload of Indians, 'Ghost Crowd the Young Child's fragile Eggshell mind.

Blue Sunday-This was song written about Pam, a simple love song.

Ship of Fools- A song that John Densmore called ecological rock due to the lyrics. The human race is dying out due to smog and pollution and of course they sail way to the moon, but soon the smog follow the humans their also, thus they are a ship of fools.

Land Ho- Another song inspired by Morrison's family backround as sailors, etc This song recounts the search a fictional account of his grandfather's journey.

The Spy-Morrison was inspired by Anais Nin's novel 'The Spy In the House of Love', unlike the book which explores voyeurism, this song explores the subject of a stalker who even knows your deepest secret dreams. One of the best songs on the CD IMO.

Queen of the Highway-Maybe the most personal song Jim Morrison ever wrote, explore and mythologizing his and Pam's relationship:

He was a Monster/Black Dressed in Leather/ She was a Princesses/Queen of the Highway.

The song speaks of man ready to lay his roots down but even in a state of bliss doubts still cloud his mind:

American boy/American Girl/ The Most beautiful people in the world/ Son of a frontier/Indian swirl/ Dancing to the midnight whirlpool/I hope it can continue a little while Longer.

Indian Summer-Another love song from Jim Morrison with a one line lyric with a twist: I love you the best/Better than all the rest. A simple barely two minute song but it works.

Maggie McGill-Was written during a soundcheck and features Ray Manzarek on rhythm guitar. Not a bad song and the closet thing the Doors have to filler track on this CD but it is a good song and it is a good ending to an excellent album.

The Soft Parade-I went to give this a listen over the week-end and was surprised to find out it wasn't in my vinyl collection.

Morrison Hotel-interesting listen, but....I don't know ?

Reading through these I realize I like their bluesy stuff quite a bit and the jazzy numbers not as much, with a couple exceptions.