Classic Album of the Month; The Doors- Self Titled
Just years before the rock monolith known as Led Zeppelin arrived via flaming Hindenburg The Doors slid quietly in the backdoor with their debut album released in February 1967 . This is often regarded as one , if not, of the most complete debut albums ever.
Although released in February ’67 the album didn’t explode until June & July that year. By July 29 ‘Light My Fire’ was sitting atop the Billboard charts, a remarkable achievement during a time when charts were intangible. The debut only produced 2 official singles; it included many anthems, particularly ‘The End’ which featured prominently in Apocalypse Now. ‘Break on Through’ was the first single released by The Doors and it was dark and brooding journey a perfect example of The Doors ‘sound’.
The Doors arrival was a perfect display of the free spirited 60’s and the dark foreboding 1970’s. The mystical Jim Morrison sauntered around onstage with a mythical prowl while keyboardist and chief musician Ray Manzarek met the eccentric nature of Morrison with avant-garde jazz rock fused together with a bluesy garage rock. This bluesy pulsating jazz rock infiltrates the entire LP. Characters like Jim , Kurt Cobain, Elvis and Daniel Johns have the ability to relate the unrelated in a strange but coherent manner. They are enigmatic characters, their charisma sucks us in and their journey swallows us.
The 1st half of the LP concludes with the full uncensored unedited 7 minute ‘Light My Fire’, including guitar and organ solo’s. The album concludes with “End of the Night” & ‘ The End’ . “End of the Night” is a eerie ghostly ramble which might be the only blemish on this album. While ‘The End ‘ is the crescendo this album deserves, an intense, bitter, poetical conclusion. Its 11-minute progression is honest and brutal in delivery dispelling any idea that The Doors were a manufactured pop group. Its interesting to note that this group of dark avant-garde rock musicians battled the sugary synthetic pop of the Monkee’s atop the charts. In the same month that this album was released the Monkee’s reigned supreme with ‘I’m a believer’. This is a fantastic example of battle of musical ideologies and standards prevalent in the late ‘60’s. This is one of my favourite albums of all time, although, I’m biased. This album goes beyond an album and represents a crucial piece of musical culture, it should be enjoyed and marveled.
VB.
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