The Doors – The Doors

There so many great debut albums from the classic rock era and the first LP from one of rock’s most enigmatic bands would certainly be up there in exalted status. Morrison, Manzarek, Densmore and Krieger accomplished incredible things in just over five years and across six studio albums. It may be seen as a negative that ‘The Doors’ was never topped or that they peaked with the first record but when you create such a landmark piece of music - they can hardly be faulted for that! So many amazing songs starting with the lead track, and first single - “Break on Through (to the Other Side)” which surprisingly did hit big on the pop charts; most likely due to a censored lyric which many suspected to be encouraging the use of hallucinogens (go figure!). “Light My Fire” was a huge song - originally written by Robby Krieger with added lyrics by Jim Morrison - and it was all over the radio in the summer of ‘67, though pop radio edited the long instrumental section. So many classics that have been mainstays on classic rock media formats for over 50 years - “The Crystal Ship”, “Soul Kitchen”, “20th Century Fox” and “Backdoor Man” (a personal favorite) - but no discussion about either the album or the band would ever be complete without “The End” which is, my opinion, their greatest song and the culmination of what the Doors were all about both lyrically and musically. Jim’s dark poetry building in dramatics; Krieger’s exploding into some form of Indian raga; Ray Manzarek’s haunting organ just maintaining that aura of menace. There aren’t too many 11 minute songs that can completely captivate the listener from start to finish. Less than two years into their existence, The Doors were a force to be reckoned with and represented the dark side of the hippie culture and the mythical ‘summer of love’ throughout the rest of their short but turbulent career. I eat more chicken any man ever seen….the killer awoke before dawn…and where on our way and we can’t turn back…you’re moving much too fast….
There so many great debut albums from the classic rock era and the first LP from one of rock’s most enigmatic bands would certainly be up there in exalted status. Morrison, Manzarek, Densmore and Krieger accomplished incredible things in just over five years and across six studio albums. It may be seen as a negative that ‘The Doors’ was never topped or that they peaked with the first record but when you create such a landmark piece of music - they can hardly be faulted for that! So many amazing songs starting with the lead track, and first single - “Break on Through (to the Other Side)” which surprisingly did hit big on the pop charts; most likely due to a censored lyric which many suspected to be encouraging the use of hallucinogens (go figure!). “Light My Fire” was a huge song - originally written by Robby Krieger with added lyrics by Jim Morrison - and it was all over the radio in the summer of ‘67, though pop radio edited the long instrumental section. So many classics that have been mainstays on classic rock media formats for over 50 years - “The Crystal Ship”, “Soul Kitchen”, “20th Century Fox” and “Backdoor Man” (a personal favorite) - but no discussion about either the album or the band would ever be complete without “The End” which is, my opinion, their greatest song and the culmination of what the Doors were all about both lyrically and musically. Jim’s dark poetry building in dramatics; Krieger’s exploding into some form of Indian raga; Ray Manzarek’s haunting organ just maintaining that aura of menace. There aren’t too many 11 minute songs that can completely captivate the listener from start to finish. Less than two years into their existence, The Doors were a force to be reckoned with and represented the dark side of the hippie culture and the mythical ‘summer of love’ throughout the rest of their short but turbulent career. I eat more chicken any man ever seen….the killer awoke before dawn…and where on our way and we can’t turn back…you’re moving much too fast….

If you can find the right VG pressing, it’s totally worth paying $60 for this record. No complaints about the sound. A shame VG+ and higher are so pricey.

I paid 60 bucks for a copy of this at a record fair recently and I'm very disappointed with how it sounds kind of like it's coming out of a radio not my stereo. I know you take a punt every time you purchase an old copy of a record but for an album so popular and well known I was expecting something a bit more hi fidelity, I think my old Australian pressing with the butterfly Elektra label sounded much better than this. Maybe I just got a dud pressing. BTW, my copy comes with a "Gold Record Award" printed on the front cover.

Side 1 is a little disappointing. The lizard king’s vocal’s are recessed, especially in the opener “Break on Through”. But side 2 makes up for it. Deeper bass, vocals way more lively. It doesn’t hurt that “The End” is one of my favorite songs. Grab a bottle of whiskey, play “The End” and you’ll be rolling over the bed in your underwear shattering mirrors with karate punches in no time, it’s that good!

Has anyone compared these versions?

EKS-70047A (M) M in a circle ^9991
EKS-70047B (M) M in a circle ^9991-X

VS this one

EKS-70047A (M) M in a circle ^9991
EKS-70047B-2 (Mon) M in a circle ^9991-X

I guess the first side should be the same, right?

As for the B side, I read somwhere that it's louder and bassier (better by some opinions) on the latter copy.

Any comments?

Cheers

This is a good sounding record. I was told that the 1967 Monarch pressing is the best pressing of this album ever done. I compared it to the AP, DCC, and a 67 Terre Haute press. Found the AP and the 67 the worst, and this Monarch and the DCC being the best. Although, some times Jim’s vocals suffers from that 60’s cutting, as in its hotter (in a bad way) than the rest of the band and it spoils this record. I prefer the DCC pressing, in of both mastering and vinyl quality.

So I have a copy of this album with an interesting dilemma... My version has the "Harms" under Alabama which would make it a 2nd pressing but it has the Matrix of a first pressing of the album... my matrix is as follows. Side A- EKS-74007A2 (mon) "MR" Δ9991 Side 2 EKS-74007B (M) "MR" Δ9991-x

So I don't know which one to put this up under. Any help would be appreciated.

What a lot of show offs you are with your first pressings and censorship worries. Just listen to the remastered CD and wallow in a collection of songs that no current rock band could possibly match.

I'm a little confused. So, mine doesn't have a "Harms" publishing credit on the label. Does that mean it's a first press? It's gold and has this stuff on the dead wax:

Matrix / Runout (Variant 1 - Side One [etched]): EKS-74007A (M) Δ9991
Matrix / Runout (Variant 1 - Side Two [etched]): EKS 74007B (M) Δ9991-X
Matrix / Runout (Variant 2 - Side One [etched]): EKS-74007A (M) Δ9991
Matrix / Runout (Variant 2 - Side Two [etched]): EKS-74007B-2 (MON) Δ9991-X
Matrix / Runout (Side One & Two [stamped]): "MR" in a circle

Although I bought a used record, it still sounded pretty nice to listen to the first pressing. Near mints are expensive ,but I'd say it's worth buying.

There's an obvious censor on "Break On Through" where all you can hear is "She Get.." This record also down-mixed Jim Morrison's "Fuck" repetition on the song "The End" so you can faintly hear him talking. As far as I know, most of the vinyl pressings for this album are censored.