The Legacy of Jim Morrison and the Doors
Image from: Carroll Bryant blog Post The Doors
The rock band The Doors formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1965. The group consisted of singer Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger, and drummer John Densmore. The band began by playing gigs in and around Los Angeles before getting signed to Elektra Records. They released their self-titled debut album, in 1967. The psychedelic group’s first single, “Break On Through (To the Other Side)”, was initially unsuccessful; however, their next single, “Light My Fire,” reached number one on the charts. The success of that song led to numerous concerts and television appearances, including a famous performance on The Ed Sullivan Show. The group’s sophomore effort, Strange Days, was released later that same year. It peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 chart, though its highest-charting single, “People Are Strange,” reached only number 12. A few months later, Jim Morrison was arrested during a New Haven, Connecticut concert after insulting the police. In 1968, The Doors released their first and only number-one album, Waiting for the Sun. Their next release, The Soft Parade (1969), faced difficulties during recording due to Morrison’s increasing drug and alcohol problems. Despite this, the album became a Top 10 hit. That same year, Morrison’s wild onstage behavior in Miami, Florida, led to charges of indecent exposure and public profanity.
In 1970, The Doors released their fifth album, Morrison Hotel, which marked a return to their hard rock roots, though it also featured blues influences, as heard in “Roadhouse Blues.” Their first live album, Absolutely Live, was released a few months later and featured Morrison’s poetic narrative “Celebration of the Lizard. ”The band continued touring that summer, with one of their most notable appearances taking place at the Isle of Wight Festival in England. By the end of the year, The Doors performed their final shows with Morrison in support of their upcoming album, L.A. Woman. Released in 1971, the blues-rock LP was the last album to feature Morrison as lead singer. It produced two Top 20 singles: “Love Her Madly” and “Riders on the Storm". On July 3, 1971, Jim Morrison died in Paris, France. No official autopsy was performed, but many believe that a drug overdose was the most likely cause of death.
Image from : Morrison Gallery
After Morrison’s death, The Doors continued as a trio, releasing two albums Other Voices and Full Circle before disbanding in 1973. Full Circle featured the band’s final hit single, “The Mosquito.”In 1978, the surviving members reunited to release An American Prayer, a commercially successful album featuring Morrison’s recorded poetry and spoken word pieces. Two notable films about the band followed: the 1991 biopic The Doors and the 2010 documentary When You’re Strange, which included rare interviews and photographs. Led by the charismatic and unpredictable Jim Morrison, The Doors became one of the most popular and controversial bands of the 1960s. To this day, they remain musical legends, known for their psychedelic sound and unforgettable performances.
My personal all time favorite Doors song is Roadhouse Blues Listen here- https://youtu.be/n2_X4VTCoEo?si=MI3obd7k-aEnwzHG
What's Your Favorite Doors song ?
1.https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Doors
2.https://thedoors.com/the-band
3.https://www.doorshistory.com/doors1968.html