The Doors: Classic or Dud?

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At first I misread that as "...basically shittier THAN Booker T. & The MGs with a tripping lounge singer" and was going to voice my enthusiasm at the thought of hearing such a combo!

― M. Agony Von Bontee (M. Agony Von Bontee), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 20:34 (nineteen years ago)

I am starting to think better of them than I used to - I mean when you're 15 and you have to choose sides, it feels like it's either Jim Morrison, great American poet, or Jim Morrison, annoying twat. Later in life you can get past the pompousness of the frontman, or even enjoy it. They had a good sound, even it if it was something of a Stax-rip.

― A-ron Hubbard (Hurting), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 21:49 (nineteen years ago)

What are the Doors songs that, in your mind, are so Booker T. that you have to categorize them in such a seemingly reductionist way?

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 22:09 (nineteen years ago)

It's an exaggeration, obviously, but I think at least half of the first album sounds like it could be Booker T. and the MGs if you took away the vocals and maybe a bit of the production. It's that same stripped-down, tight approach to guitar-organ-drums (with keyboard left hand obviating the bass, obv.) - the sound is so reminiscent of Stax I'm sure the Doors themselves would admit to Stax soul being a huge influence.

― A-ron Hubbard (Hurting), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 22:19 (nineteen years ago)

the organ sound is miles away from booker t, though

― gear (gear), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 22:24 (nineteen years ago)

Well, he didn't have a Hammond. But maybe the vamp on "Soul Kitchen," Manzarek's articulation style on "Back Door Man" - that stuff could've been Booker T. and the MGs influenced.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 22:43 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah, the articulation style is a good way to describe one of the things I'm hearing.

― A-ron Hubbard (Hurting), Tuesday, 24 October 2006 22:45 (nineteen years ago)

Great band. Not as great as I thought in Junior high, and not as bad as I thought in college and beyond. They've got more than their share of unbelievable songs, and even some of the crap is enjoyable, ie Wishful Sinful.

LA Woman is probably their best, either that or the debut.

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 01:06 (nineteen years ago)

I mean when you're 15 and you have to choose sides, it feels like it's either Jim Morrison, great American poet, or Jim Morrison, annoying twat

No way, you always get to choose sides with this. Much like fart jokes, you never outgrow it.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 11:08 (nineteen years ago)

But you can choose "Jim Morrison, annoying twat" and still like him/them

― The sun sets on twelve tons of pickled onions. A dynasty is dying... (Dada), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 11:10 (nineteen years ago)

Whatever did happen to "Roger Fascist"?

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 11:11 (nineteen years ago)

But you can choose "Jim Morrison, annoying twat" and still like him/them

Exactly.

― A-ron Hubbard (Hurting), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 11:38 (nineteen years ago)

Didn't think much of them instrumentally either.

I do like "Touch Me" but are there any actual Doors on it apart from Jimbo?

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 11:50 (nineteen years ago)

Och, they're all on it Marcello!

― The sun sets on twelve tons of pickled onions. A dynasty is dying... (Dada), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 11:52 (nineteen years ago)

I used to find Manzerik's parts corny. I still do, but in kind of a good way.

― A-ron Hubbard (Hurting), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 15:43 (nineteen years ago)

Krieger was kind of standard b-level 60s/70s blues rock, but he had some transcendent moments.

― A-ron Hubbard (Hurting), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 15:44 (nineteen years ago)

I like the sax solo on "Touch Me," which leads into the "Stronger Than Dirt" ending.

― Orgy of Pragmatism (Charles McCain), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 20:59 (nineteen years ago)

Morrison Hotel is my favorite Doors record, but I still think this bit from Mark Prindle's review is one of his best:

"This record is many things - raw, fun, bluesy, varied - but it's not circusy, it's not weird, and poop it, it's not idiosyncratic! Any band could have made this album! Well, any band with a godlike singer."

Krieger was kind of standard b-level 60s/70s blues rock

Oh, for christ sake. Yeah, he wasn't Jeff Beck. Dude wrote "Light My Fire" - first song he ever wrote!!!

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 21:14 (nineteen years ago)

He was a boring, wanky guitar player a lot of the time.

― A-ron Hubbard (Hurting), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 21:17 (nineteen years ago)

circusy, weird, idiosyncratic? You want Strange Days.

Nothing standard b-level about The Doors ever.

― Soukesian (Soukesian), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 21:18 (nineteen years ago)

I agree.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 21:22 (nineteen years ago)

Light My Fire is kind of a dumb song, honestly - if you've ever heard anyone else sing it, it really comes through. I guess that's to Morrison's credit though.

― A-ron Hubbard (Hurting), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 21:27 (nineteen years ago)

B-level would be like Fever Tree or something, Hurting.

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 21:32 (nineteen years ago)

man, seems like there must be a Door revival on the way or something.
all these threads...
classic, but perhaps the least listened to things i own now.
ask my high-school self= classic beyond classic
now- classic, and let's not play it till i'm drunk, ok?

― edde (edde), Thursday, 26 October 2006 11:15 (nineteen years ago)

eight months pass...

Listening to the new Doors Live in Boston 1970 triple CD. Morrison keeps it together pretty good for a drunk guy. (Liner notes say that his first move at soundcheck was trying to chop into the stage with the mic stand.)

― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Tuesday, 17 July 2007 08:36 (eighteen years ago)

Classic.

Mediocre poetry, but GREAT theatre.

― PhilK, Sunday, 29 July 2007 20:24 (eighteen years ago)

Oh, for christ sake. Yeah, he wasn't Jeff Beck. Dude wrote "Light My Fire" - first song he ever wrote!!!

And his solo on "When the Music's Over" is mind numbing and totally psychedelic.

― QuantumNoise, Sunday, 29 July 2007 21:14 (eighteen years ago)

Light My Fire is kind of a dumb song, honestly - if you've ever heard anyone else sing it, it really comes through.

what u no liek jose feliciano? joolz driscoll did a nice verxion

― m coleman, Sunday, 29 July 2007 21:29 (eighteen years ago)

dud. i mean sure, morrison's buffoonery is a well-worn subject, but i'd be able to dig it if he had even just a half-decent band behind him. specifically, john densmore sounds like he's desultorily checking his watch, like he'd much rather be doing something else.

one of the best favors the Who ever did for anyone was when they "accidentally" destroyed some of the doors' gear opening for them at a 1968 show.

― Lawrence the Looter, Sunday, 29 July 2007 21:56 (eighteen years ago)

Light My Fire is kind of a dumb song, honestly - if you've ever heard anyone else sing it, it really comes through.

Mae West's version is classic. So is Al Green's.

― Kevin John Bozelka, Sunday, 29 July 2007 22:58 (eighteen years ago)

one year passes...

me:i liked the doors again when i realized that if you get past all the JIM MORRISON AMERICAN POET bullshit mythos they're basically a goth psych band fronted by an acid-damaged lounge singer
Bimble78:that's bloody right
me:which is fucking awesome

― exHOOS my back! (BIG HOOS aka the steendriver), Sunday, 21 September 2008 03:33 (seventeen years ago)

It's all about The End, folks. Throw Jimi Hendrix out the window, because it is ALL about this song:

― Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You, Sunday, 21 September 2008 04:03 (seventeen years ago)

bimble's goth heart loves you

― Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You, Sunday, 21 September 2008 04:28 (seventeen years ago)

"lost in a roman/wildneress of pain/
and all the children are insane"

― Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You, Sunday, 21 September 2008 04:31 (seventeen years ago)

I Netflixed this Doors collection DVD out of curiosity and it was pretty fun because I was really into the Doors in high school. But I'll never forget this one moment when i was watching the LA Woman video and I don't know if it was a different mix that put Jim's vocals more up front or what, but at 6:10 he makes this sound that brought the LOLZ. It sounds like he is

a)drunk
b)just tripped over something
c)still trying to be cool on the record

It's pretty damn funny!

― Adam Bruneau, Sunday, 21 September 2008 21:41 (seventeen years ago)

Dud. I was recently at a party where the host had what I'm guessing must be every single Doors release ever (there were like five different 4cd bootleg comps to start with) and I accidentally told him they were crap. Pretty sure we'll never be friends but it doesn't matter, can't trust anyone who is THAT into the Doors.

― sonderangerbot, Sunday, 21 September 2008 21:59 (seventeen years ago)

Adam, was it the studio version?

Trying to pull it up on You Tube now...

― Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You, Sunday, 21 September 2008 22:29 (seventeen years ago)

one of the best favors the Who ever did for anyone was when they "accidentally" destroyed some of the doors' gear opening for them at a 1968 show.

Ha ha OTM

― Sara Sara Sara, Sunday, 21 September 2008 23:07 (seventeen years ago)

LOL

― The Gothic Nature of Bimble's Mind (Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You), Sunday, 21 September 2008 23:08 (seventeen years ago)

one year passes...

The speed-corrected mix of the 1st album sounds fantastic!

― Hugh Manatee (WmC), Tuesday, 29 September 2009 03:34 (sixteen years ago)

Which way was it corrected?

― Mark, Tuesday, 29 September 2009 03:49 (sixteen years ago)

It was slowed down to the point of inaudibility.

― staggerlee, Tuesday, 29 September 2009 03:51 (sixteen years ago)

After a bit of googling, it seems there's a fair bit more to this than speed correction - it's a remix, with elements that were inaudible or cut out restored. Be interested to know more about how it sounds. I'm almost used to hearing cleaned-up versions of recordings I know this well, but "finally, at the right speed" is a bit mind boggling.

― Soukesian, Tuesday, 29 September 2009 08:21 (sixteen years ago)

"finally, at the right speed" is a bit mind boggling.

Thinking about how it took forty years (and umpteen remasters/reissues) for somebody at Doors Inc. to realize the album had been issued at the wrong speed=lolz

― The Wild Shirtless Lyrics of Mark Farner (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 30 September 2009 23:14 (sixteen years ago)

So, why are the Doors SO appealing in the early-to-mid teens? I can't dredge it up, I can't get it back.

― bendy, Thursday, 1 October 2009 01:38 (sixteen years ago)

I just got advances of their upcoming six-CD set - four live shows from NYC, January 1970. Morrison's delivery is hilariously over-the-top; he sounds like Tom Waits circa Bone Machine half the time, and like Ian Astbury's imitation of him the rest of the time.

― neither good nor bad, just a kid like you (unperson), Thursday, 1 October 2009 01:54 (sixteen years ago)

http://www.wackypackages.org/originalart/scans/dud_rough.jpg

― Daniel, Esq., Thursday, 1 October 2009 02:03 (sixteen years ago)

Imagine if they suddenly found out that all the Beatles albums had been recorded at the wrong speed.

― Mark, Thursday, 1 October 2009 02:14 (sixteen years ago)

YEAH WE COULD POLL ALL THEM MOTHERFUCKERS

― Feral Whizzkids kept me Going (Noodle Vague), Thursday, 1 October 2009 02:15 (sixteen years ago)

seven months pass...

anyone able to recommend a good book on the doors/morrison?

― titchy (titchyschneiderMk2), Wednesday, 19 May 2010 12:40 (sixteen years ago)

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