Twenty-Five to One: THE DOORS RESULTS THREAD

Damn I meant to vote in this. Ever since I saw that ridiculous Oliver Stone movie I've always regarded Morrison's pretensions as just another pop shtik; as Christgau says, "Shaman, poet, lizard king - believe that guff, and you'll miss a great pop band." I feel less guilty about liking them than I do about liking the Eagles. And the Doors were certainly the more interesting group. Morrison and Manzarek sure were some El Lay Men, though. I used to think Densmore was kinda weak too, but as a marching band drummer with a modicum of jazz chops he wasn't "laid back." He just didn't hit hard. I'm listening to "Waiting for the Sun" on Spotify right now and there's some good stuff I missed - it's a pretty neat little psych record, isn't it? Thanks for the poll.

waiting for the sun, it's the departure point

LOL

I think the fact that I haven't met anybody who took Morrison seriously since high school really helped to suppress the gag reflex with Morrison's bleargh "poetry". RIP to Manzarek, but he was as guilty as anyone else of building a cottage industry around Jimbo's ridiculous mystique.

I really think all the instrumentalists, including Densmore, were great and worked really well together.

If Morrison hadn't died I think he would have had a far less angst fuelled 70s than Lennon. JM certainly comes across in '69/'70 interviews as far more personable and relaxed then JL in the 70s.

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/4793/morrisonstage.jpg

http://youtu.be/tb0MF1UnD3o

15. Strange Days
Strange Days (1967)
307 points, thirteen votes, two no.1s

My number one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_d_VJbYAfc

14. Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar)
The Doors (1967)
321 points, thirteen votes, two no.1s

http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/1835/collared.jpg

http://youtu.be/0bAFITGnjrg

13. Five To One
Waiting for the Sun (1968)
334 points, fourteen votes, one no.1

One thing I like most about The Doors is how relentlessly bad vibes they are. Obviously this one's meant to be unsettling, but to my ears even their more celebratory stuff goes all askew. Only the Stones compete on this front, I think.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRwwUZLV-IE

12. The End
The Doors (1967)
336 points, thirteen votes, two no.1s

One of those #1s for The End was mine....

Nearly everything in the upper reaches got a no.1 vote, there's a notable lack of consensus at work.

Anyway we're into the top ten next (via a tie) but I'm getting something to eat first.

I was the #1 vote for "Five To One" -- was ALWAYS my favorite growing up, and almost got self-conscious about 'oh it's a predictable favorite for rap fans after the Jay-Z sample, maybe it should be my #2' but then i had to give it up. a little shocked it missed the top 10, honestly.

I love the story about 'Five To One', where Morrison recorded the vocals and then stumbled out of the booth and said "If I had an axe, I'd kill everyone, except, er, my friends".

haha awesome

"NOONE HERE GETS OUT ALIVE, except, er, my friends"

I think there's a heavy unconscious shame factor that is sort of understandable. To even say you like the Doors these days is still pretty uncool. "Five to One" is one of those mockable songs for the haters I think

really? i've never heard of anyone say "Five To One" is anything but straight fire

I think people patronizingly cop to liking the sleazeball Jim of L.A. Woman but anything where he gets heavy (no pun intended) seems like prime mocking material. Maybe I'm just projecting after years of trying to defend the Doors!

http://michigantoday.umich.edu/2010/11/doors-2.jpg

http://youtu.be/X34JarNjoIU

10. Peace Frog
Morrison Hotel (1970)
359 points, seventeen votes

wooow i thought that would be way higher too.

Otm thats way too low

http://michigantoday.umich.edu/2010/11/morrison.jpg

http://youtu.be/58ceB8U9N3w

10. Soul Kitchen
The Doors (1967)
359 points, fifteen votes

Wait a min... iirc peace frog was my numero uno. Did my ballot not get through?

ARGH

Taxi for Mr Klata

lol I imagine Jimbo and especially Ray having a good laugh of that!

I don't have it moka, I've got three no.3s but nothing higher. I sent a thank you to everyone, if you didn't get that then it didn't reach me.

I hate the idea of this poll having an asterisk, that's ruined my life evening life

"Weird scenes inside the goldmine (with an asterisk)"

imo, you should just continue the poll as planned, and after the whole wrap up you can post how it would've looked w/ moka's ballot. it's unfortunate but don't sweat it, things happen.

"The End*"

Hahaha. Okay, stiff upper lip, just like Jim would've wanted.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39IldUW7QpM

9. Love Me Two Times
Strange Days (1967)
367 points, fourteen votes, one no.1

Ismael, seriously, don't sweat it! We are all grateful you are doing this...just keep your eyes on the road buddy

so, no Spanish Caravan?

I've been trying to think of a suitably buoyant, motivational lyric to get us through - but like I say, there's nothing but bad vibes.

just push on through to the opposite side

I'm gonna whip some horses' eyes, that'll make me feel better

Don't wanna derail, but I found this in The Book of Rock Lists (1981 edition), thought it was kinda cool:

Ray Manzarek's Most Memorable Doors Concerts

1. Whisky a Go-Go, Los Angeles
When Jim first did "Father, I want to kill you, Mother I want to fuck you!" We were fired that night.

2. Fillmore West, San Francisco
The weekend of the Human Be-In, the world's first love-in ever. We were the opening act. The first number was "When the Music's Over." We'd never opened with it before, or since.

3. Singer Bowl, New York
What a show! The Doors and The Who. And what a riot! One of the best riots I've ever been in.

4. The Roundhouse, London
The Doors and The Jefferson Airplane: Psychedelic West Coast comes to England.

5. Miami
I think we all know what happened there. Or do we? Did he really do it? If he did it, how long was it?

6. Des Moines
Thirty-four people in the audience. One of the last college gigs before "Light My Fire" hit the top of the charts. We were a little early for Des Moines. The promoters told us that the week before, more than 5000 people had come to the same auditorium to see The Association.

Take a long holiday

Derailment welcome - that's great, The Doors at a love-in

(erm, xp)

nice. The Doors and The Who in '68, jesus christ.

^inspired "Sally Simpson"!

Yeah, the Who weren't happy about opening for the Doors (they weren't exactly fans), and their smashup "accidentally" damaged some of the Doors' gear.

yeah i can't picture townshend enjoying the doors