Classic Album Review: The Doors

[ChairmanWalker]

The Door's self titled debut album hit shelves in January 1967, right at the very beginning of the summer of love. It featured songs that the group had honed after years of playing them at clubs like the Whisky A Go Go.

The album captures the raw energy of The Door's early live performances with songs like "Break On Through (To The Other Side)", but also had a lighter sound with "The Crystal Ship" and "Twentieth Century Fox". The two most known songs from the album though, "Light My Fire" and "The End" both became instant classics upon release.

The spidery guitar of Robby Krieger and the organ riffs of Ray Manzarek, as well as the diverse drum style of John Densmore all provide the perfect back drop for Jim Morrison's menacing vocals.

There was also some controversy that surrounded the album at the time of it's release; "Break On Through" featured the line 'she gets high' several times, taken to be a drug reference, which was omitted from the single release. Also, "The End" with it's Oedipal mid-section caused The Doors to be fired from their residency at the Whisky A Go Go.

Overall, the album is an excellent first foray in to the music scene by The Doors, and still remains popular today, containing some of the groups best known hits.

4 stars.

[Wingette]

1/5 stars for the sleazy faces on the cover.

Just had a listen, probably a bit too retro for my liking

[geerish]

I watched the documentary on the Doors. I listen to them because of their music and tend to ignore their addiction/bs on the stage.

[Wingette]

There's a lot of bands out there that would undoubtedly have a darker unseen side, but ultimately it's their music that we'll probably remember them by.