Such a nice reaction to this Iconic band and wonderful song. This tune indeed is very cinematic. For me the Doors music is so timeless. I was only 13 in December of 1967 when I saw the Doors in Sacramento at the Memorial Auditorium. This was the year that "Light My Fire" hit the airways. Very memorable moment in time.
Agreed! LA Woman is a complete song, brilliant, compelling, and with strong metaphors, with all the Doors’ best traits. The End is their very best, one of the greatest songs ever (among many in their repertoire), but it’s dangerous. You need to be emotionally strong to hear it. Countless other Doors songs are great. Very good reaction, with good research.
Syed....this is just SO great to know and think that this is the first time you're hearing this! I've lived and breathed with this amazing song for the past 53 years. It's such a kick to watch you reacting....and hearing your heartfelt, intelligent comments. Thank you!!
Probably one of my most favourite songs of all time, Fantastic Vocals, Great Lyrics, and Bands Don’t get any tighter than the Doors.....Fabulous.......that sound was so far ahead of anything at the time.
If you ever feel like expanding to new territories of music and especially by the doors. Check out either “The End” or “When the musics over”. Both great songs that really emerge you into another world of music.
I own all The Doors albums, they are one of the true quality Rock Bands of all time. Peace Frog literally jumps out of the speakers, as a Frog would. When I was 10 yrs old in 1971, I was lying awake in bed, listening to an old valve radio. I heard the sound of thunder, waves crashing and the tinkling of a piano. By this stage I was already intrigued, then I heard a rich, deep voice emanate from the radio. It said " Riders on the Storm " My 10 year old self said WTF is this?? Well, " Riders on the Storm " is solidly entrenched in my TOP 10 songs of all time.
I’m a year older than you and I am a Doors fan for Life, once you hear them you realise that you are listening to something Very special, Close your eyes ....and Enjoy......RIP Jim and Ray.
Hi coming from England I was listening to the Doors when I was in my teens I am now retired and yes I am still listening to this awesome music 👍👍👍👍👍 All the best from a 🌬️ Nottinghamshire England
@SyedBhai: "actor out on loan" is an old theater/movie term in the US. It's from back when many actors were employees of the studio, so they had no control of what roles they played. BTW, your reactions are excellent, and I'm glad I found your channel. Peace
It was a guy Named Tom Baker who was a b actor and occasional drinking buddy of his. Micheal Madsen plays it in the Doors movie. He says" you have a really nice penis"
The very first concert I saw was the Doors in the spring of '67 just as Light My Fire was getting major air time on AM radio. I was just 15 at the time, it was a life altering experience.
@@camronbay1 - They didn't do Light My Fire at the show I saw as far as I can remember. When the Music's Over was the one song I remember the most but they did most of the first album. The sound wasn't that great since the venue was a roller rink with hardwood floors. The whole place was real echoie but it was small and intimate so they didn't need to turn the amps up to max like they do at a larger venue.
Not many Doors fans here. Absolutely Live. Is a must. Over east coast 12 city or so tour. Celebration of the lizard. Only played 8 times? It like 8 songs in one. Hill dwellers is primitive.
Great analysis as usual Syed. This is, like you say, a dark road movie, full to the brim with a brooding atmosphere. The creepy mood and title was inspired by a track by country artist Johnny Cash called 'Ghost riders in the sky'. The menace is heightened by not only Jim Morrison's sonorous singing, but very subtly he doubled the vocal as he breathily whispers along with the lyrics, like the hitchhiker is on your shoulder talking right into your ear. I love the interplay between Ray Manzarek's Fender Rhodes electric piano and Robby Krieger's guitar and that wide stereo split between the two. Ray with those tinkling downward scale runs evoking the sound of trickling water and Robby's guitar run through a dreamy, heavy tremolo effect. In the coda it sounds like the storm begins to pass with it's last raindrops splashing into muddy puddles at [14:48].
John Densmore on drums - jazz/rock style that along with Kreiger and Manzarek gave The Doors their unique combination of sound. Then you lay on the poetic lyricism of Morrison and you have it. Unique for the time…
Morrison was an avid student of film and an aspiring film maker, and often thought in cinematic terms when writing lyrics. The idea for this song is actually descended from an idea for a movie, in which an unsuspecting family picks up a hitchhiker along the side of the highway, who then murders them.
I agree. Morrison to me is more like a narrator rather than a singer. Sometimes his lyrics are like acid trips onto themselves. Especially "the end". In that song he seems to ride the music like a jockey on a horse in a slow rhythmic stride.
Jim Morrison (RIP) gets most of the popular attention for the Doors, but honestly Ray Manzarek, the keyboardist, should be just as popular. He's a musical genius and as big a contributor to The Doors sound as Morrison was.
John Densmore is one of my top influences to become a drummer. His drumming on HELLO I LOVE YOU is iconic as Ringo on COME TOGETHER. John was Lead Snare at UCLA and a was selected as an ALL-CITY ROSE PARADE DRUMMER. His Biography also called RIDERS ON THE STORM is a great read with tons of anecdotes from the golden age of rock.
@@steveullrich7737 Growing up in LA gave me the chance to visit many locations mentioned in the book. The Country Store is still there in Laurel Canyon. The building from The Morrison Hotel was recently sold and I believe they are going to put up some sort of marker. The Bronson Caves (Picture of Jim in the book standing in front of cave). The Morrison Cave in Malibu is blocked off but the location is amazing for pictures. Visiting the locations in the book would make for a great vacation itinerary. Reading this book is always a trip down memory lane.
@@steveullrich7737 Yes! Many locations are publicly accessible. Morrison St and Densmore Ave cross each other in Encino but only recently had street signs put up together (signs were on opposite corner before). They had a dedication ceremony and John showed up. John and Robby have recently been active doing interviews and public appearances the last few years. You think they would be sick of it but they seem to be enjoying themselves. Pretty darn cool for a couple of living legends.
The Doors did not have a bass player!! Ray Manzarek played the bass on a separate keyboard with his left hand while he played the keyboard with his right!! So when you say top tier piano playing I think you really hit the nail on the head because to play that piano solo and still keep up the bass rhythm is pretty remarkable!!!
Although they almost never used a bassist, they did occasionally, and Elvis' late 60's bassist Jerry Scheff plays here, and possibly on other tracks from "L.A. Woman"...Not to take anything away from Ray, who did everything live...
They certainly never had a bassist as a permanent member of the band (although they did make offers) they used a succession of bassists on all their studio albums. Although very effective live, Ray's Keyboard bass just didn't cut it for their producer Paul A. Rothchild and to him nothing could totally replace the dynamics of a real bass guitar.
to understand the Doors unbelievable greatness. you should start with early songs from the first and second album, then progress to the Soft Parade album (different from any other album) then end on their LA Woman album... ABSOLUTELY MIND BLOWING MUSIC
Roman is 100% correct! When learning about and reacting to the music of these great rock bands I think it is always best to start with the earlier songs and move through their music over time, as they progressed over time! Well said, Roman!!
While in film school Morrison's final project was about a hitchhiker murder. While in the doors he also made a film called HWY, about the same subject. It was from these projects that Morrion evolved the concept into a song.
LA Woman is fantastic, Spanish Caravan is really good, Light My Fire & many more. Several of these musicians were jazz musicians. They were all, individually really talented.
Pianos weren't often part of rock bands...but keyboards and organs were very common. ..as was the case here. Ray was playing a Vox Continental organ. Note...he was also playing the bass role on that same organ at the same time. There were times when Jim wouldn't show up at gigs and Ray would do the vocals as well (he was a good mimac). Many, in the audience, didn't notice Jim was missing. I wonder why????
Played at my brother's funeral so long ago. 😪 Ray Manzarek on keyboards. Please also do their song "Roadhouse." Jim Morrison was a poet first and foremost.
I'm an old fart and when the Doors first appeared all the girls were in love of Jim and all the boys wanted to be him. I would call him Elvis of the late 60's to '71. Also the genius of Ray playing bass keyboard with his left hand and lead keyboard with his right hand was magical. I saw them over a dozen times. From The London Fog on Sunset to the Wiskey to the Santa Monica Civic to the Valley Music Center {which had a circular stage in the middle of the floor that did a 360 turn with all the fans surrounding them)Hollywood Bowl. Those where the days.
Top tier piano playing, especially considering they had no bass guitar, Ray Manzarek, anothe Southsider from Chicago, played their bass line with his left hand. Keep sharing the great songs of my youth with your generation.✌️❤️🎶
Morrison’s lyrics don’t always tell a linear type story. He considered himself a poet (and was) more than a singer/musician. A lot of Doors music is about the mood. They could also rock heavy, too. Try LA Woman, Light My Fire (their big first hit), Love Her Madly, The End, Roadhouse Blues, Peace Frog, Spanish Caravan and more for a trip through the many moods and styles The Doors played in their short career.
Catacombs, nursery bones carring babies to the river. Streets an shoes avenues leather writers selling news. The monk bought lunch. Then it get funky. Am Stones, Beatles, cream, Hendricks. Kinks. Who. Like them or not. They were different. Light my fire. Love me 2 times. Hello. Love her madly. Were written by Robby Kreiger. Morrison wrote 99% of other songs. He also was the one who gave the band copyrights. Doors always had the Written by the doors. Not Jim Morrison. Robby Kreiger. They were done with first album in 10 days. They had been playing all these songs for year and half. They were told you need a bass player. Manzerak knew it was just those 4. He came up? Found this old bass organ and played bass one handed Keys other. Morrison would pull out these lines and little rants. Ray would coax his into his memory bank and you can know hear studio tracks that are 25 30 takes that they keep musically changing but Morrison is now getting into his lyrics and delivery. Alot of his songs have lines that you now hear in early live shows and studio tracks. Celebration of the lizard. Listen to that.
I'm a new subscriber, once again you know your period culture. Remember discovering new music in this error for us young people was by word of mouth! In my case someone's older brother or sister would have the album and wee go to each other's house to listen to it. Way more organic and by the time you heard of a group they had years perfecting thier music. Sadly not so today. I always thought "actor out on loan" was describing how temporary and insecure life is life is a storm we are all riding on life's storm.
Morrison was a film student and had an idea to make a film about a killer hitchhiker in the desert... maybe Old Rt 66. That was the inspiration for the song.
You nailed it Syed. Very cinematic and mysterious. Morrison is a poet for the ages. Let me suggest a movie 🎥 that fits into the atmosphere of this masterpiece song: " THE HITCHER" Suspense/Thriller from 1986 staring Rutger Hauer, Thomas C. Howell, Jennifer Jason Leigh. When I hear this song I often am reminded of that movie, and vice-versa. The villains name in the movie is John Ryder
FYI... The Doors lineup didn't include a bass player. They used one for studio recording but not live. Ray Manzarek played bass lines on keyboard live. The bass player on the L.A. Woman album was Jerry Scheff... Elvis Presley's bass player.
The genius of Jim the Poet; these lyrics are a multi-layered metaphor for life. We're all riders on the storm of life and..eventually The Killer will get into our car, but in the end, as the philosopher relates to his girl student, just understand that life is a dreamscape where love is the key to happiness but , after the ride, there is no death.
Funny you should say that. Jim and Ray met at film-school. There is a video somewhere around here where Ray is talking about this song and how it came together. Great sense of humour, all-around great guy.
Jim Morrison and the keyboardist Ray Manzarek met as students at UCLA's film school. They graduated and started a band instead of making movies. It always amused me because that's the Harvard of film schools. It's Hollywood's film school, in Los Angeles.
HEY MAN, I JUST GOT INTRODUCED TO YOUR CHANNEL I FKKNNNNN LOVE IT, I FKKNNNNN DIG YOUR TAKES I GET TO ENJOY ALL THE MUSIC I HAVE LOVED FOR 40YRS ALL OVER AGAIN. HORSE LATITUDES, FOLLOWED BY MOONLIGHT DRIVE
First time the Doors produced their own album. They recorded it at The Doors office. So it has that garage band feel sometimes. Also first time they used a bass player. Jerry Scheff who was Elvis's bass player. Jim was pretty excited about that. Great thing about this album to me is that on alot of the tracks it sounds like they were really having a good time. Lots of "Yeps" and "Whoos" from Jim. Noticed the chorus of screams in the background as Jim fades out the vocal "Riders on the storm......."
its like the storm is the world of chaos and danger we live in, we’re all riders in the storm, the storm of life, subject to the pitfalls and dangers, as well as it’s more pleasant features. we each experience good and bad things in our lives.
I remember going to the beach in the early morning, sun coming up in the east. Boards in the rack on top of car; this song playing on the 8 track, singing along. We thought we had the world by the tail.
I think everybody does the Air Piano to this song :P. It's amazing the images this song ekokes in us. An example is the lyric "actor out on loan". Its a reference to the studio system in hollywood. Studios "owned" actors through exclusive contracts. They were not allowed to work for another studio, but through deals by higher ups they were loaned out to other studios. They were essentially pawns in the business. The worth of the actors creativity was boiled down to a business transaction. A lot like how society treated people as non people. Their worth was determined by which class they were in, or just the menial job they did, they had no worth beyond what others determined. All of that was expressed with four words ....actor out on loan. Master storytelling :)
Syed I posted this information a while back but inncase nobody has seen it, The Doors never recorded with a bass player but they wanted one for LA Woman so they hired Elvis' bas player. Pretty cool.
Irony of Ironies. You’re first reaction to a Doors song is the last song they ever recorded and it’s one of their greatest songs. Morrison left for Paris right after LA Woman was done. They are very Cinematic and he painted images in the mind with his poetic words. He graduated from UCLA with a degree in Film after all. So did Ray Manzerak the keyboardist. Morrison had a 145 IQ which is genius level. He said provocative things like: We are Erotic Politicians and My Gang will get you! Also, the West is the Best! Get here and we’ll do the rest. No longer true but it was back then. He was very enigmatic and a provocateur. Probably the best American band ever. They have so many hits and good songs that didn’t chart but are quality nonetheless. I think you’ll like their entire catalog. Please review their debut album and Soft Parade. You’re into words and so was Morrison. He said he was a word man better than a Bird man. 😅 I knew you’d like and enjoy this great song. It does have a cinematic effect and a jazzy atmosphere. Wonderful keyboards simulating Raindrops. Enjoy!
You got it, my man. I wish he would review the album and song "Strange Days". For me the Doors records were "Summer time records". Best listened to on a hot summer night, late. Strange Days is the album best to listened to on a winter's night. It's *different*, in so many ways that I could talk to you all night over drinks and really not scratch the surface. Plus the song "Strange Days" explained the underbelly of Hollyweird in one song where the Eagles had to do an entire album (Hotel California) to do the same thing. And, I can say "Hollyweird", it's my birthright, I was born in the City of the Angels and grew up nearby. I'm still still looking for my own LA Woman.
you gotta listen to the doors' "the end" very beautiful song. "break on through" is another great song that is quite short, and "the unknown soldier", an anti war song
Glad more people across the board are hopping on The Doors lately, defined my late high school/early college years but the dark poetry and Nietzchen philosophical undertones will resonate with me for a lifetime. Check out self-titled The Soft Parade track for a song with 3/4 genres in one
What memories this song has. I was a young teenager, on a stormy evening. I was killing time by assembling a scale model, while listening to the local radio station CHOM 97.7 FM, The Spirit of Rock. I must have spent several hours on this project, since this song was played three times before I went to bed, to the sound of the rain, it goes without saying.
I have great memories too with this. Driving in the rain with my best HS friend after a folk rock church service in San Jose in ‘68. I always thought the “ storm” sound was crashing waves!
It is very gratifying to see someone from a younger generation appreciating the genius that is The Doors, you get a lot of stuff right about this in your analysis, indeed, the voice, the keys, the drums, the guitar, the moodiness, the poetry, it's all part of The Doors package. Their best song for me is "When the Music's Over", but I like all of them :). However, despite the fact that The Doors have been my favourite band since chilhood, I have to say that the best frontman title should go to Freddie Mercury...
@SyedRewinds - 1) This album was recorded in a motel room, with Jim singing in the bathroom, sitting on the loo (Pants up, lid down, of course. I think. I hope anyway...lol. And he was drunk). 2) Listen to this song again with heads phones. Close your eyes and immerse yourself. You'll hear Jim singing in whispers in the background and even a door shut.
The Doors have been all-time favorite band since 1990. It's hard for me to recommend a song because I like to listen to them a whole album at a time.. but they do have many singles that charted. I hope you explore them further. #NewSubscriber 👍
I once picked up a hitchhiker and he asked me if I was a serial killer and I told him no. He then said great what are the odds of there being two in this car. Lol 😂 just found you and looking forward to watching your videos. Thanks
If I remember right Jim had an idea for a movie he was trying to write about a hitchhiking serial killer. They put out an album called "American Prayer" , in the 1980's. It was spoken word and music. recorded before Jim died. The section where they reference this song gives a different angle on the story.Jim wanted to be a poet...
Appreciate watching someone loving the music of my youth. Probably the the best debut album ever " The Doors" you gotta check it out. Morriston was a poet of the first order thanks for the ride Dekk1307
Morrison wrote these lyrics about the actions of Billy Cook, the notorious US spree-killer who murdered six people, including a young family, while hitchhiking from Missouri to California in the early 50s.
Such a nice reaction to this Iconic band and wonderful song. This tune indeed is very cinematic. For me the Doors music is so timeless. I was only 13 in December of 1967 when I saw the Doors in Sacramento at the Memorial Auditorium. This was the year that "Light My Fire" hit the airways. Very memorable moment in time.
Memorial Auditorium. That brings back memories. I grew up in Folsom. My friends and I saw Tool perform there when Aenima came out. Late 90’s. Rock on
‘We’re all riders on the storm. The storm being life, and everything it throws at us’
J.D. Morrison
Amen!
I’ll recommend “L.A. Woman”, off the same album. Top notch lyricism, great musically, and shows a more up beat side of The Doors as opposed to Riders.
Agree. LA Women is my personal favorite!
Eileen, you know what....
Agreed! LA Woman is a complete song, brilliant, compelling, and with strong metaphors, with all the Doors’ best traits.
The End is their very best, one of the greatest songs ever (among many in their repertoire), but it’s dangerous. You need to be emotionally strong to hear it. Countless other Doors songs are great. Very good reaction, with good research.
Syed....this is just SO great to know and think that this is the first time you're hearing this! I've lived and breathed with this amazing song for the past 53 years. It's such a kick to watch you reacting....and hearing your heartfelt, intelligent comments. Thank you!!
Probably one of my most favourite songs of all time, Fantastic Vocals, Great Lyrics, and Bands Don’t get any tighter than the Doors.....Fabulous.......that sound was so far ahead of anything at the time.
If you ever feel like expanding to new territories of music and especially by the doors. Check out either “The End” or “When the musics over”. Both great songs that really emerge you into another world of music.
In "the end",Morrison seems to ride the music like a jockey on a horse in a slow rhythmic stride.
Don't forget "The Soft Parade" or "5 to 1". Both classics.
I own all The Doors albums, they are one of the true quality Rock Bands of all time. Peace Frog literally jumps out of the speakers, as a Frog would.
When I was 10 yrs old in 1971, I was lying awake in bed, listening to an old valve radio.
I heard the sound of thunder, waves crashing and the tinkling of a piano.
By this stage I was already intrigued, then I heard a rich, deep voice emanate from the radio.
It said " Riders on the Storm "
My 10 year old self said WTF is this??
Well, " Riders on the Storm " is solidly entrenched in my TOP 10 songs of all time.
I’m a year older than you and I am a Doors fan for Life, once you hear them you realise that you are listening to something Very special, Close your eyes ....and Enjoy......RIP Jim and Ray.
Hi coming from England
I was listening to the Doors when I was in my teens
I am now retired and yes I am still listening to this awesome music 👍👍👍👍👍 All the best from a 🌬️ Nottinghamshire England
@SyedBhai: "actor out on loan" is an old theater/movie term in the US. It's from back when many actors were employees of the studio, so they had no control of what roles they played. BTW, your reactions are excellent, and I'm glad I found your channel. Peace
I heard Jim was trying to make movies too, so it makes sense that he would use the term. It's a great phrase whichever way you take it. Thanks Kev!
It was a guy Named Tom Baker who was a b actor and occasional drinking buddy of his. Micheal Madsen plays it in the Doors movie. He says" you have a really nice penis"
The very first concert I saw was the Doors in the spring of '67 just as Light My Fire was getting major air time on AM radio. I was just 15 at the time, it was a life altering experience.
In 67 saw them at the Valley Music theater with The Rainy Daze….
Oh man what other songs did they do and how was the sound.
@@camronbay1 - They didn't do Light My Fire at the show I saw as far as I can remember. When the Music's Over was the one song I remember the most but they did most of the first album. The sound wasn't that great since the venue was a roller rink with hardwood floors. The whole place was real echoie but it was small and intimate so they didn't need to turn the amps up to max like they do at a larger venue.
Not many Doors fans here. Absolutely Live. Is a must. Over east coast 12 city or so tour. Celebration of the lizard. Only played 8 times? It like 8 songs in one. Hill dwellers is primitive.
Great analysis as usual Syed. This is, like you say, a dark road movie, full to the brim with a brooding atmosphere. The creepy mood and title was inspired by a track by country artist Johnny Cash called 'Ghost riders in the sky'. The menace is heightened by not only Jim Morrison's sonorous singing, but very subtly he doubled the vocal as he breathily whispers along with the lyrics, like the hitchhiker is on your shoulder talking right into your ear. I love the interplay between Ray Manzarek's Fender Rhodes electric piano and Robby Krieger's guitar and that wide stereo split between the two. Ray with those tinkling downward scale runs evoking the sound of trickling water and Robby's guitar run through a dreamy, heavy tremolo effect. In the coda it sounds like the storm begins to pass with it's last raindrops splashing into muddy puddles at [14:48].
Agreed and great comment - Preeeesh
John Densmore on drums - jazz/rock style that along with Kreiger and Manzarek gave The Doors their unique combination of sound. Then you lay on the poetic lyricism of Morrison and you have it. Unique for the time…
Morrison was an avid student of film and an aspiring film maker, and often thought in cinematic terms when writing lyrics. The idea for this song is actually descended from an idea for a movie, in which an unsuspecting family picks up a hitchhiker along the side of the highway, who then murders them.
I agree. Morrison to me is more like a narrator rather than a singer. Sometimes his lyrics are like acid trips onto themselves. Especially "the end". In that song he seems to ride the music like a jockey on a horse in a slow rhythmic stride.
You can't go wrong with anything from the Doors. Greatest band ever😎🤘
Jim Morrison (RIP) gets most of the popular attention for the Doors, but honestly Ray Manzarek, the keyboardist, should be just as popular. He's a musical genius and as big a contributor to The Doors sound as Morrison was.
I was blown away by his musicianship on this one, EPIC KEYS!
indeed! along with Richard Wright, they were something else those 2
John Densmore is one of my top influences to become a drummer. His drumming on HELLO I LOVE YOU is iconic as Ringo on COME TOGETHER. John was Lead Snare at UCLA and a was selected as an ALL-CITY ROSE PARADE DRUMMER. His Biography also called RIDERS ON THE STORM is a great read with tons of anecdotes from the golden age of rock.
I read his autobiography and it's a great read giving you an insight into the band's creation and Jim's psyche.
@@steveullrich7737 Growing up in LA gave me the chance to visit many locations mentioned in the book. The Country Store is still there in Laurel Canyon. The building from The Morrison Hotel was recently sold and I believe they are going to put up some sort of marker. The Bronson Caves (Picture of Jim in the book standing in front of cave). The Morrison Cave in Malibu is blocked off but the location is amazing for pictures. Visiting the locations in the book would make for a great vacation itinerary. Reading this book is always a trip down memory lane.
@@ramonalfaro3252 Sounds like a great Doors' tour.
@@steveullrich7737 Yes! Many locations are publicly accessible. Morrison St and Densmore Ave cross each other in Encino but only recently had street signs put up together (signs were on opposite corner before). They had a dedication ceremony and John showed up. John and Robby have recently been active doing interviews and public appearances the last few years. You think they would be sick of it but they seem to be enjoying themselves. Pretty darn cool for a couple of living legends.
It’s a bit pre-Bundy, but Manson was infamous by this time.
Key board solos were common at the time, many bands had them; the pinnacle of a virtuoso period.
"Green-Eyed Lady" comes to mind..
The Doors did not have a bass player!! Ray Manzarek played the bass on a separate keyboard with his left hand while he played the keyboard with his right!!
So when you say top tier piano playing I think you really hit the nail on the head because to play that piano solo and still keep up the bass rhythm is pretty remarkable!!!
Although they almost never used a bassist, they did occasionally, and Elvis' late 60's bassist Jerry Scheff plays here, and possibly on other tracks from "L.A. Woman"...Not to take anything away from Ray, who did everything live...
@@jonathanlocke6404 GREAT POINT
They certainly never had a bassist as a permanent member of the band (although they did make offers) they used a succession of bassists on all their studio albums. Although very effective live, Ray's Keyboard bass just didn't cut it for their producer Paul A. Rothchild and to him nothing could totally replace the dynamics of a real bass guitar.
Holy Cow…never knew that. That’s like JPJ playing bass with his feet…
They did in the studio. Live it was Ray s left hand
Far and away the best reaction and analysis of this song by a first time listener that I've seen!
"The End" 11 + min full version off their debut album. Hope to see your reaction to that one later on 😁✌️🎸
This has one of the most iconic keyboard solos ever
"Peace Frog" is The Doors at their shredding best.
to understand the Doors unbelievable greatness. you should start with early songs from the first and second album, then progress to the Soft Parade album (different from any other album) then end on their LA Woman album... ABSOLUTELY MIND BLOWING MUSIC
Roman is 100% correct! When learning about and reacting to the music of these great rock bands I think it is always best to start with the earlier songs and move through their music over time, as they progressed over time! Well said, Roman!!
From what I heard,the title of this song was supposed to be "killer on the road". You are right about the hitchhiking phenomenon going on.
Jim Morrison lyrics and voice - and Ray Manzareks organ - no words are matching the miraculous spirit and beauty they are unfolding.
I love this song, and your reaction is as it should be. The song is AMAZING. It made me very happy to see you enjoyed it so much.
While in film school Morrison's final project was about a hitchhiker murder. While in the doors he also made a film called HWY, about the same subject. It was from these projects that Morrion evolved the concept into a song.
LA Woman is fantastic, Spanish Caravan is really good, Light My Fire & many more. Several of these musicians were jazz musicians. They were all, individually really talented.
Jim always considered himself more of a poet than a vocalist.
Ray Manzerak on the keyboards is an absolute beast.
Pianos weren't often part of rock bands...but keyboards and organs were very common.
..as was the case here. Ray was playing a Vox Continental organ. Note...he was also playing the bass role on that same organ at the same time.
There were times when Jim wouldn't show up at gigs and Ray would do the vocals as well (he was a good mimac). Many, in the audience, didn't notice Jim was missing. I wonder why????
The doors are certainly impressive. But when you consider Jim Morrison was in his twenties it is truly astounding.
Iconic Doors' songs to react to that capture their classic rock vibe are Roadhouse Blues and L.A. Woman.
The doors are in my top 5 bands
Texas radio and the big beat is a must hear
The Doors are the #1 US band of all time.
There are two vocal tracks, he's whispering the lyrics underneath, brilliant!
Another great Doors song is "My Eyes Have Seen You".
Moonlight Drive...
Played at my brother's funeral so long ago. 😪 Ray Manzarek on keyboards. Please also do their song "Roadhouse." Jim Morrison was a poet first and foremost.
"Roadhouse Blues".
For another VERY one of a kind songs from the 60s, the cult classic White Bird (from It's a Beautiful Day). Very different and very emotive.
I'm an old fart and when the Doors first appeared all the girls were in love of Jim and all the boys wanted to be him. I would call him Elvis of the late 60's to '71. Also the genius of Ray playing bass keyboard with his left hand and lead keyboard with his right hand was magical. I saw them over a dozen times. From The London Fog on Sunset to the Wiskey to the Santa Monica Civic to the Valley Music Center {which had a circular stage in the middle of the floor that did a 360 turn with all the fans surrounding them)Hollywood Bowl. Those where the days.
This is a great example of psychedelic rock….a genre that The Doors did extremely well…
2 MUST HEAR Classics,,
Argent "Hold Your Head Up"
Head East "Never Been Any Reason"
Love me some Head East🤘
Ray Manzarek usually played the bass line with his left hand on the electric piano. Both he and the drummer had extensive jazz experience.
One of the best rabbit holes you can go down I would suggest the Crystal Ship
I believe they mostly made songs around Jim’s poems. Love the channel.
Top tier piano playing, especially considering they had no bass guitar, Ray Manzarek, anothe Southsider from Chicago, played their bass line with his left hand. Keep sharing the great songs of my youth with your generation.✌️❤️🎶
Roadhouse blues is a must also!
Great reaction. This is one of my favorite Doors songs. They were an incredibly talented and insightful group.
I’d recommend to check out”Break on through” by The Doors at some point. Amazing energy and instrumentation in that.
Morrison’s lyrics don’t always tell a linear type story. He considered himself a poet (and was) more than a singer/musician. A lot of Doors music is about the mood. They could also rock heavy, too. Try LA Woman, Light My Fire (their big first hit), Love Her Madly, The End, Roadhouse Blues, Peace Frog, Spanish Caravan and more for a trip through the many moods and styles The Doors played in their short career.
The Soft Parade is my favorite Doors song! My brother hates them, lol! But they've been my number one since I first heard them!
Catacombs, nursery bones carring babies to the river. Streets an shoes avenues leather writers selling news. The monk bought lunch. Then it get funky. Am Stones, Beatles, cream, Hendricks. Kinks. Who. Like them or not. They were different. Light my fire. Love me 2 times. Hello. Love her madly. Were written by Robby Kreiger. Morrison wrote 99% of other songs. He also was the one who gave the band copyrights. Doors always had the Written by the doors. Not Jim Morrison. Robby Kreiger. They were done with first album in 10 days. They had been playing all these songs for year and half. They were told you need a bass player. Manzerak knew it was just those 4. He came up? Found this old bass organ and played bass one handed Keys other. Morrison would pull out these lines and little rants. Ray would coax his into his memory bank and you can know hear studio tracks that are 25 30 takes that they keep musically changing but Morrison is now getting into his lyrics and delivery. Alot of his songs have lines that you now hear in early live shows and studio tracks. Celebration of the lizard. Listen to that.
I'm a new subscriber, once again you know your period culture. Remember discovering new music in this error for us young people was by word of mouth! In my case someone's older brother or sister would have the album and wee go to each other's house to listen to it. Way more organic and by the time you heard of a group they had years perfecting thier music. Sadly not so today. I always thought "actor out on loan" was describing how temporary and insecure life is life is a storm we are all riding on life's storm.
PLEASE CONTINUE to explore songs from The Doors : L.A. Woman ; Love Me Two Times ; The End ;
To me it always represented our journey in life. An unpridictable road trip of peace fear love and death.
I was lucky enough to be born in 59, so I got to grow up with most of the best music in history.
They had swag and you need to check out his live stuff.
Luv your reaction to this one man, perfectly in tune.. Yep, this is one out of the box, an A grade classic!
Morrison was a film student and had an idea to make a film about a killer hitchhiker in the desert... maybe Old Rt 66. That was the inspiration for the song.
You nailed it Syed. Very cinematic and mysterious. Morrison is a poet for the ages. Let me suggest a movie 🎥 that fits into the atmosphere of this masterpiece song: " THE HITCHER" Suspense/Thriller from 1986 staring Rutger Hauer, Thomas C. Howell, Jennifer Jason Leigh. When I hear this song I often am reminded of that movie, and vice-versa. The villains name in the movie is John Ryder
FYI... The Doors lineup didn't include a bass player. They used one for studio recording but not live. Ray Manzarek played bass lines on keyboard live. The bass player on the L.A. Woman album was Jerry Scheff... Elvis Presley's bass player.
The genius of Jim the Poet; these lyrics are a multi-layered metaphor for life. We're all riders on the storm of life and..eventually The Killer will get into our car, but in the end, as the philosopher relates to his girl student, just understand that life is a dreamscape where love is the key to happiness but , after the ride, there is no death.
Funny you should say that. Jim and Ray met at film-school. There is a video somewhere around here where Ray is talking about this song and how it came together. Great sense of humour, all-around great guy.
Jim Morrison and the keyboardist Ray Manzarek met as students at UCLA's film school. They graduated and started a band instead of making movies. It always amused me because that's the Harvard of film schools. It's Hollywood's film school, in Los Angeles.
beautiful analysis, you sure can feel the original essence that went into this song
HEY MAN, I JUST GOT INTRODUCED TO YOUR CHANNEL
I FKKNNNNN LOVE IT,
I FKKNNNNN DIG YOUR TAKES
I GET TO ENJOY ALL THE MUSIC I HAVE LOVED FOR 40YRS ALL OVER AGAIN.
HORSE LATITUDES, FOLLOWED BY MOONLIGHT DRIVE
Remember Ray Manzeric also plays bass with his left hand on the bass master while playing keys with his right hand
First time the Doors produced their own album. They recorded it at The Doors office. So it has that garage band feel sometimes. Also first time they used a bass player. Jerry Scheff who was Elvis's bass player. Jim was pretty excited about that. Great thing about this album to me is that on alot of the tracks it sounds like they were really having a good time. Lots of "Yeps" and "Whoos" from Jim. Noticed the chorus of screams in the background as Jim fades out the vocal "Riders on the storm......."
Great reaction and observations. Enjoying this channel!
its like the storm is the world of chaos and danger we live in, we’re all riders in the storm, the storm of life, subject to the pitfalls and dangers, as well as it’s more pleasant features. we each experience good and bad things in our lives.
Yeah, this song pretty single handedly put an end to widespread hitch hiking in the US
I remember going to the beach in the early morning, sun coming up in the east. Boards in the rack on top of car; this song playing on the 8 track, singing along. We thought we had the world by the tail.
I think everybody does the Air Piano to this song :P.
It's amazing the images this song ekokes in us. An example is the lyric "actor out on loan". Its a reference to the studio system in hollywood. Studios "owned" actors through exclusive contracts. They were not allowed to work for another studio, but through deals by higher ups they were loaned out to other studios. They were essentially pawns in the business. The worth of the actors creativity was boiled down to a business transaction. A lot like how society treated people as non people. Their worth was determined by which class they were in, or just the menial job they did, they had no worth beyond what others determined.
All of that was expressed with four words ....actor out on loan.
Master storytelling :)
In 1971 a well known serial killer was active in the San Francisco area the time. Hitch hiking at the time was getting considerably risky at the time.
"THIS IS THE END" by the Doors is a must....epic masterpiece/trippy acid ride. 🇨🇦🇨🇦
Syed I posted this information a while back but inncase nobody has seen it, The Doors never recorded with a bass player but they wanted one for LA Woman so they hired Elvis' bas player. Pretty cool.
Irony of Ironies. You’re first reaction to a Doors song is the last song they ever recorded and it’s one of their greatest songs.
Morrison left for Paris right after LA Woman was done. They are very Cinematic and he painted images in the mind with his poetic words. He graduated from UCLA with a degree in Film after all. So did Ray Manzerak the keyboardist.
Morrison had a 145 IQ which is genius level. He said provocative things like: We are Erotic Politicians and My Gang will get you!
Also, the West is the Best! Get here and we’ll do the rest. No longer true but it was back then.
He was very enigmatic and a provocateur. Probably the best American band ever. They have so many hits and good songs that didn’t chart but are quality nonetheless. I think you’ll like their entire catalog.
Please review their debut album and Soft Parade.
You’re into words and so was Morrison.
He said he was a word man better than a Bird man. 😅
I knew you’d like and enjoy this great song. It does have a cinematic effect and a jazzy atmosphere.
Wonderful keyboards simulating Raindrops.
Enjoy!
You got it, my man. I wish he would review the album and song "Strange Days". For me the Doors records were "Summer time records". Best listened to on a hot summer night, late. Strange Days is the album best to listened to on a winter's night. It's *different*, in so many ways that I could talk to you all night over drinks and really not scratch the surface. Plus the song "Strange Days" explained the underbelly of Hollyweird in one song where the Eagles had to do an entire album (Hotel California) to do the same thing. And, I can say "Hollyweird", it's my birthright, I was born in the City of the Angels and grew up nearby. I'm still still looking for my own LA Woman.
Agreed... the song "Soft Parade" will definitely be a treat for you (^,^)
A series of vignettes, we are all riders on the storm. Into this house we're thrown.
you gotta listen to the doors' "the end" very beautiful song. "break on through" is another great song that is quite short, and "the unknown soldier", an anti war song
Other Doors classics: Roadhouse Blues, Love her Madly, Love Me Two Times, The Crystal Ship, The End, and Five to One.
Its like the anticipation builds between the notes they arent playing.
Favorite band of all time
Great analysis! I would definitely recommend the Pink Floyd song ‘Sheep’ or anything from the album animals…
Not to Touch the Earth is a mind bender
Again, great breakdown and analysis!
Glad more people across the board are hopping on The Doors lately, defined my late high school/early college years but the dark poetry and Nietzchen philosophical undertones will resonate with me for a lifetime. Check out self-titled The Soft Parade track for a song with 3/4 genres in one
It was nice listening to someone who has done some research on his subject.
What memories this song has. I was a young teenager, on a stormy evening.
I was killing time by assembling a scale model, while listening to the local radio station CHOM 97.7 FM, The Spirit of Rock.
I must have spent several hours on this project, since this song was played three times before I went to bed, to the sound of the rain, it goes without saying.
I have great memories too with this. Driving in the rain with my best HS friend after a folk rock church service in San Jose in ‘68. I always thought the “ storm” sound was crashing waves!
Roadhouse blues is also a very good one...
It is very gratifying to see someone from a younger generation appreciating the genius that is The Doors, you get a lot of stuff right about this in your analysis, indeed, the voice, the keys, the drums, the guitar, the moodiness, the poetry, it's all part of The Doors package. Their best song for me is "When the Music's Over", but I like all of them :). However, despite the fact that The Doors have been my favourite band since chilhood, I have to say that the best frontman title should go to Freddie Mercury...
In USA, FM Radio plays this every time it's raining.
Every.damn.time. They don't do subtlety.
@SyedRewinds - 1) This album was recorded in a motel room, with Jim singing in the bathroom, sitting on the loo (Pants up, lid down, of course. I think. I hope anyway...lol. And he was drunk).
2) Listen to this song again with heads phones. Close your eyes and immerse yourself. You'll hear Jim singing in whispers in the background and even a door shut.
My God Ray Manzerek, I've heard this track 800 00000 times but I still get the "stank face"
You hit the nail on the head on this one...subscribed. 👍❤🤙
The Doors have been all-time favorite band since 1990. It's hard for me to recommend a song because I like to listen to them a whole album at a time.. but they do have many singles that charted. I hope you explore them further. #NewSubscriber 👍
really like your reactions man
I once picked up a hitchhiker and he asked me if I was a serial killer and I told him no. He then said great what are the odds of there being two in this car. Lol 😂 just found you and looking forward to watching your videos. Thanks
If I remember right Jim had an idea for a movie he was trying to write about a hitchhiking serial killer. They put out an album called "American Prayer" , in the 1980's. It was spoken word and music. recorded before Jim died. The section where they reference this song gives a different angle on the story.Jim wanted to be a poet...
Jim WAS a poet.
Appreciate watching someone loving the music of my youth. Probably the the best debut album ever " The Doors" you gotta check it out. Morriston was a poet of the first order thanks for the ride Dekk1307
Morrison wrote these lyrics about the actions of Billy Cook, the notorious US spree-killer who murdered six people, including a young family, while hitchhiking from Missouri to California in the early 50s.