BIRTHDAYS | Jim Morrison 8 December 1943 - Interview THE DOORS : When The Music’s Over / Riders On The Storm

Remembering Jim Morrison (December 8, 1943 – July 3, 1971)

This extraordinary recording of Jim Morrison from 50 years ago feels like it could have been recorded yesterday. This CBC interview was recorded about one year before Jim's death in 1971

When The Music’s Over

The Doors Live In Copenhagen 1968

What have they done to the earth? What have they done to our fair sister? Ravaged and plundered and ripped her and bit her Stuck her with knives in the side of the dawn And tied her with fences and dragged her down

Riders On The Storm

 

The song Riders was recorded at the Doors Workshop in December 1970 with the assistance of Bruce Botnick, their longtime engineer, who was co-producing the recording sessions. Jim Morrison recorded his main vocals and then whispered the lyrics over them to create the echo effect. This was the last song recorded by the members of The Doors, according to Manzarek, as well as Morrison's last recorded song to be released. The single was released in 1971, shortly before Morrison's death in Paris 

For Ray (Manzarek) - on What Would Have Been His (83rd) Birthday:: Frequently my Top Track of ALL TIME - RIDERS ON THE STORM - THE DOORS

 

Ray Manzarek was born in Chicago, Illinois on this day in 1939.

Into this world we're thrown, like a dog without a bone, an actor out on loan. Riders on the storm. Perhaps my favourite song of all time

Oh you KNOW it! . . . . . probably up there in my top three singles of all time (albums too) bought when it came out

On this day in music history: April 29, 1971 - “L.A. Woman”, the sixth studio album by The Doors is released. Produced by The Doors and Bruce Botnick, it is recorded at The Doors Workshop in Los Angeles, CA from December 1970 - January 1971. After the departure of their producer Paul A. Rothchild (leaving after having differences with the band over musical direction), The Doors along with recording engineer Bruce Botnick handle the production duties on their sixth studio release. Unlike past albums, much of “L.A. Woman” is recorded live with few overdubs. They will be augmented by bassist Jerry Scheff (Elvis Presley) and rhythm guitarist Marc Benno (aka Leon Russell). It is the bands last album with lead singer Jim Morrison who dies three months after its release. The first press run of the LP features a die cut cover (with rounded corners similar to a photographic slide) with a portrait of the band printed on transparent yellow acetate plastic with the title and band name embossed on the front. Subsequent re-pressings of the LP are printed on standard cardboard stock without the die cutting and plastic window. It spins off two singles including “Love Her Madly” (#11 Pop) and “Riders On The Storm” (#14 Pop). To commemorate the albums’ fortieth anniversary, it is remixed, remastered and reissued as a double CD set. On the first disc, some tracks are extended, running past the fade out point of the original mixes. The second disc includes alternate versions of several songs and previously unreleased tracks. The album is also reissued in 2009 as a 180 gram vinyl LP, restoring the original cover artwork featured on the initial pressing. “L.A. Woman” peaks at number nine on the Billboard Top 200, and is certified 2x Platinum in the US by the RIAA.

thanks to the most excellent Jeff Harris' blog 'Behind The Grooves 

Favourite tracks/songs of all time . . . . . . . 

The Doors.  Riders on the Storm. 1971