Classic Albums: The Doors - The Doors
by Bob Smeaton
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: John Densmore, Michael McClure, Perry Farrell, Robby Krieger, The DoorsDirector: Bob Smeaton
Brand: Universal Studios
DVD: Region Code 0
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 88 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2008-04-22
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Eagle Rock Ent
Movie Reviews of Classic Albums: The Doors - The Doors
Movie Review: Shedding Light on the Incomparable Sound
Summary: 5 Stars
The Doors' debut album certainly calls for a classic album review. I submit that Side 1 of the vinyl LP is the best rock LP side ever and that "Light My Fire" is the greatest rock song of all time.
Why the high praise? The Doors represent a one-of-a-kind phenomenon of 1960s rock. Their early music is an amalgam of psychedelic blues and rock, also infused with an unflawed tightness of rhythm on the hard-driving songs. It is highly eclectic, utilizing Latin high notes and eerie twangs, minor chords, dark or streaming (or Bachian) organ sound, bottleneck guitar, German oompah, and even Indian raga sound. Combine that with lead singer Jim Morrison's larger-than-life personality, poetic sensibilities, and sexy voice, and you have the stuff of a musical legend. Through Morrison, The Doors transcend mere rock music by exploring the world of theater and lyrical images.
The sound of the Doors, from the explosive centripetal force of "Break on Through" to the majesty of "Light My Fire," is musical ecstasy. I once heard the sound of the group's first two albums referred to as "Trip Doors." Disc jockey Jim Ladd comments, "They took you somewhere that no other band seemed to take you. These were highly educated, well-read, smart people." Morrison and keyboard player Ray Manzarek attended UCLA Film School.
The commentators emphasize the debut album is representative of The Doors' legendary live performances at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles. There is no studio finessing to dilute the group's raw power.
Each Side 1 song (except "Twentieth Century Fox") is discussed thoroughly. Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger, and drummer John Densmore talk about such diverse influences as the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, James Brown, Ray Charles, Latin music, and the bossa nova beat, in detail: They even show you the chords, licks, and drumbeats. "Backdoor Man," "End of the Night" (briefly), and "The End" are also discussed.
Jim Morrison's voice is isolated on several songs. The commentators note his voice was rich; he could be a controlled crooner like Frank Sinatra or go for the "feral, ferocious animal connection," as commentator Henry Rollins puts it. On "Backdoor Man," engineer Bruce Botnick observes: "It's like he's ripping his vocal chords out." All Doors joined in on the vocals on the "Alabama Song." Years ago, subletting a place in Manhattan, I discovered the tenant had the original on Brecht/Weill's "Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny"; how great it is to hear it discussed on this DVD! Botnick also isolates instruments often, including the beautiful piano on "The Crystal Ship" as a finale.
The "Bonus" features are extensive and very interesting. One topic is how two different versions of "Moonlight Drive" did not make it onto the debut album. Another is Ray commenting on how John Coltrane's "My Favorite Things" influenced the soloing in "Light My Fire." One of my few criticisms is that the latter should have been included in the main body and made more extensive.
The commentators give their perspectives on the group's genesis, the creation of the songs, and the debut album's significance: It launched widespread Doors appreciation. It also helped define the political and social consciousness of the 1960s and became emblematic of individuality and the pursuit of personal freedom. The Doors' message is often seen as negative. But a nirvana of brotherhood is achieved in the consciousness of Doors' enjoyment, as we "make the scene ... gate is straight, deep and wide." Commentator Michael McClure, a beat poet, quotes William Blake, whose book "The Doors of Perception" is the basis of the group's name: "The road of excess leads to the Palace of Wisdom."
Summary of Classic Albums: The Doors - The Doors
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