THE DOORS

The Doors is one of the most influent band of the sixties. Jim is one of the best songwriter of the decade. An enormous personality like there are no such more nowadays. The sound of Ray's keyboard will set the pace for the whole psychedelia of the band. The line-up will remain the same troughout their (short) career. Densmore on the drums and Krieger on the lead guitar. I first heard of them quite late actually (it was with "The End" in the movie "Apocalypse Now" in 1979). I own their entire official catalogue as well as about thirteen non-offical recordings (boots). On this first effort, the band has already reached his full maturity. The whole Doors "sound" is here. Manzarek hitting his keyboard so specially : one can recognize its typical sound almost instantly. Krieger being very sober on this album (I'm talking in terms of music because I donot know precisely if soberty was a common thing in those days...). Jim is of course already the gigantic leader we all know. As everybody, I can only be sadly sorry that he passed away way too soon (I incidently went to pay him a visit at the cementary of Le Père Lachaise in Paris last June (2006). A very, very emotional journey for me. This album is extremely important not only for the Doors, but for rock music in general. One weak track only : "Wiskey Bar". On the more commercial side "I Looked at You" must have been a solid base of inspiration for Syd while writing the first Floyd hits "Arnold Layne", "See Emily Play" and "Matilda Mother". The dark "End Of The Night" is an intruiging song : "Some are born to sweet delight, Some are born to the endless night". The bluesy "Back Door Man" is another good song of the album. "Light My Fire" is an extraordinay psychedelic number with a fantastic keyboard section. Quite sexually oriented the song is rather dynamic and lenghty (over seven minutes) for the era. I guess this type of songs made it all possible for a band like the Floyd. The opener "Break On Through" is gorgeous and quite rocking. I would place "Take as It Comes" on the same level (although is is not well-known). Now : "The End" : this is the Doors absolute masterpiece and one of the most important song ever written. It is said that it was showing the suicidal attitude from Jim (right or wrong, I don't know). It is almost twelve minutes of pure psyche with very dark and provocative lyrics (also sexually oriented at times, Jim wanting to f... his mother and kill his father. Sic.). This song is FABULOUS. I hear it frequently and I am never tired of it. The Doors were also approached to play at Woodstock. But since the organizers were willing to present this event as a Music and Art Festival to the local authorites they were afraid that the name of "The Doors" would ruined their efforts. They were also scrared that their performance would lead to substantial disorder. I guess they were not wrong. Five stars for this essential album of rock history.