1. Break On Through (To The Other Side)
2. Soul Kitchen
3. The Crystal Ship
4. Twentieth Century Fox
5. Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar)
6. Light My Fire
7. Back Door Man
8. I Looked At You
9. End Of The Night
10. Take It As It Comes
11. The End
Best Song - Light My Fire
Recorded in 1966, but released in the first week of 1967, The Doors self titled album is an iconic reflection of those two great years. Although they did make other great albums, this is by far their best. Smash after smash, the songs line up so consistently it makes my head explode. Jim Morrison’s voice was never better. The combination Robby Krieger’s guitar work and Ray Manzerek’s unique keyboard sounds were also at their best. It was a combination of sounds and vocals that never seizes to amaze me. Recorded over a six day period, their debut album is out of this world.
Starting off with “Break On Through (To The Other Side)”, the album kicks off in an absolutely stunning fashion. With the drum opening, then that brilliant guitar riff, the song starts off incredible even before Jim even starts singing. However, once he does come in, all hell breaks loose. Starting off singing regularly, he then goes into an angry tone that is outstanding. Their first single, it just missed the Billboard Top 100. What they should have done, is re released it after “Light My Fire” became a number one hit. It would have actually charted, and at a very high number.
As we go on, “Soul Kitchen” and “Twentieth Century Fox” are two similar songs, but both classics. The keyboard intro to “Soul Kitchen” is of course beyond classic. The lyrics “Well the clock says its time to close” is imprinted into my brain now. “Twentienth Century Fox” is beyond cool, and is almost as good as “Soul Kitchen” but not quite”
I can’t forget about “The Crystal Ship” as it is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. Very spacey, and lyrically fitting the atmosphere of the song, it is a Doors song that is very overlooked. I actually can imagine myself on a ship in the ocean by the way Jim nails the lyrics with his amazing vocals. One song that does not impress me as much as the others that I have mentioned is “Alabama Song (Whskey Bar). I do not enjoy as much as a lot of people, and do not why it is popular as it is. However, it is not a BAD song, I just do not like it as much as the other stuff on the first half of the album.
Closing out side one, is “Light My Fire”. Now, I know it is probably their most famous song, but I have to say, it is my second favorite song of all time. First of all, Jim never sounded better, the keyboard solo is the best Manzerek ever came up with, and the spine tingling guitar solo by Robby Krieger is mind bending. Deservingly hitting number one on the Billboard Hot 100, the song is cherished by me, almost more than any other song that I have ever heard.
Side two is not as consistent as side one, but still very good. Starting with a cover of “Back Door Man”, The Doors make this bluesy song their own. The keyboard riff on it infectious, and Jim gives a raunchy vocal delivery that goes with the song very well. “I Looked at You” and Take it as it Comes” are weaker compared to the rest of the album, but still very listenable. The problem with “I Looked at You” is that it is somewhat corny, but that does not stop me from enjoying it.
Before I forget, “End of the Night” is a classic. With that scary opening guitar riff, it then goes into Jim singing in a tone that fits perfectly with the spacey atmosphere of the song. The song has the word “Night” in the title, and it is ironically a song that should be played at night. Absolutely essential.
Finally, we have “The End” an 11 minute epic that turned out to be very famous. Used in the movie, “Apocalypse Now”, it has a guitar accompanying Jim’s ambiguous vocals in a way that is so fitting, it is a match made in heaven. A classic, it closes the album in perfect fashion.
All in all, the Doors self titled album is an iconic and classic LP that just makes me smile every time I hear it. With classic song after classic song, I never get tired of listening to it. As I have said before, The Doors did make other albums that were really impressive, but none of them stands out as much as this one. If you have not listened to it in its entirety, then get it today. You won’t regret it.
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