TIGHTROPE RIDE

This single contains two songs taken from their first album recorded without JIm Morrison, titled "Other Voices" and released in late 1971.

The A-Side, "Tightrope Ride", was the best choice for a single, in my opinion. Sung by Manzarek and composed by Krieger-Densmore-Manzarek (as all the songs were credited in that album, but in the single, if I remember well after seeing one scan from the record label in ebay, the song was only credited to Manzarek-Krieger), which is one of the best of the album. It is an upbeat song influenced by Rock and Roll, with a good guitar solo, good lead vocals, and it also has the particularity of having two recorded drums parts: one in one channel, which only plays the rhythm, while in the other channel the other recorded drums part has drum fills. This song was the only song from their post-Morrison period to be included in one of the Boxed Sets released from The Doors in the 90s or in the present century (sorry, I can`t remember on which, but it was also included in Prog Archives). The A-side reached the number 71 in the U.S. singles charts.

The B-side, the song "Variety is the Spice of Life" (credited only to Krieger as composer in the record label of the single, but credited to Krieger-Densmore-Manzarek in the album) is a funny song also sung by Krieger with somewhat humorous lyics. In this song, it is evident that Krieger wasn`t the best choice as lead singer in the band, but he did a good job. Maybe Manzarek had a better voice.