THE DOORS - The UNKNOWN SOLDIER

On this day in music history: September 7, 1968 - “Waiting For The Sun” by The Doors hits #1 on the Billboard Top 200 for 4 weeks (non-consecutive). Produced by Paul A. Rothchild, it is recorded at Sunset Sound Recorders in Hollywood, CA from February - May 1968. Their third studio album in just over a year and a half, with the exception of two songs, most of the material is written during the recording sessions as the band as mostly exhausted its reserve of songs on their first two albums. To make up for the shortfall of new material, initially The Doors plan to fill the entire second side of the album with Jim Morrison reading his epic poem “Celebration Of The Lizard”. These plans are scrapped when they can not record it to everyone’s satisfaction. One excerpt titled “Not To Touch The Earth” does not make it on to the album. It spins off two singles including “Hello I Love You” (#1 Pop), and “The Unknown Soldier” (#39 Pop). Ironically, the title track is not included. Instead it surfaces on their fifth album “Morrison Hotel/Hard Rock Cafe” in 1970. “Waiting” is also the last Doors album to be issued in both mono and stereo (though the mono is a fold down of the stereo mix). The mono LP is pressed in such small quantities that it later becomes a much sought after collector’s item by fans. The album is newly remixed and reissued on CD in 2007 to commemorate the fortieth anniversary of its original release,  adding five additional bonus tracks, including outtakes of “Not To Touch The Earth” and “Celebration Of The Lizard”. “Waiting For The Sun” is certified Platinum in the US by the RIAA.

thanks Jeff . . . .