The Doors and Jim Morrison:

[chet]

I was checking out the Amazon reviews and found that there have been remastered versions of thier CD's released in the past few years with new cuts on them. How are they- if you've bought them?

[pbenn]

The new (Aug 07) Vintage Guitar magazine has a full-page Dan Forte review. Apparently the original was mixed too slow ("almost a half-tone flat").... page 147.

[Oster]

I bought all of them. They sound phenomenal. The first album is a bit of a surprise since, yes, it's mastered quicker than it has been for the past 40 years. Apparently, according to original Elektra engineer Bruce Botnick, the machines were running slow when they did the original master. I won't ruin the surprise for you but I'll just say that, if you're a Doors fan, 'Break On Through' will send chills up your spine!

Lots of bonus material and great liner notes/photos. It's good to have the original albums for the original mixes but the remixes are very respectful and classy. LA Woman, in particular is a big improvement. Once the sort of Lo-Fi album of the bunch, it now sounds really good.

[weelie]

I've got the original CD issues, and haven't really been interested in these, but you got me interested now...

[chet]

I've also been watching the Doors video clips of thier appearances on the variety tv shows in the 60's.

I think Jim Morrison blew away all the other front men including Mick Jagger. He didn't have to resort to prancing around or all that other stuff. Better voice than most other singers too.

I gotta get the remasters when i get the bucks.

[chet]

Originally Posted by weelie

I've got the original CD issues, and haven't really been interested in these, but you got me interested now...

I didn't even know about them until now.

[J-man]

The remasters have been around for a long time!

In fact I can't say I've ever listened to any Doors NOT remastered

[chet]

I bought most of the CD's about five years ago and they didn't have the extra cuts etc.

[Skully]

The remasters have been around for a long time!

In fact I can't say I've ever listened to any Doors NOT remastered

These are new remasters that came out in November 2006. I bought the box set Perception, which includes both CDs with stereo mixes and DVDs with 5.1 mixes.

[TeleConvert]

Goody, I want some of them! I grew up on the doors. "Waiting for the Sun" was one of my mom's (and mine, at the time) favorite albums.

[Skully]

I grew up on the doors. "Waiting for the Sun" was one of my mom's (and mine, at the time) favorite albums.

I don't know if you care about such things, but "Waiting for the Sun" has the best 5.1 mix of all the albums.

[Pete Galati]

My brother got me a "24 Kt Gold Compact Disc" of The Doors "L.A. Woman" several years ago. Pretty nice. Well mastered. Comes in a high quality jewel case too.

Pete

[Oster]

Originally Posted by J-man

The remasters have been around for a long time!

In fact I can't say I've ever listened to any Doors NOT remastered

In addition to what Skully said, the new remasters are also new remixes done to celebrate the 40 years since the first album. Again, Bruce Botnick handled the remixing and the remastering as well as writing some really interesting liner notes about both the process and the material.

They seem to be budget priced - mine were all $6.99 brand new. There's some striking differences between other available versions of each album and these particular new ones. Instruments that weren't included in the original mixes are to be heard for the first time etc. and the first album has been 'restored' to its original intended speed.

All have bonus tracks and really concise, colourful booklets which I believe is a long overdue first for The Doors.

The one gripe I have is 'Absolutely Live' wasn't included in the series.

[weelie]

Listen to the new first album (2006 remaster) yesterday. It is faster, and has a lot better separation, and sharper sounds. Which is mostly a good thing, for my money. Haven't A/B'd yet, but I do like the remasters better, on most songs. But on some, the clarity sort of loses the magic of the original. But so it goes....

[kp8]

i just can't get used to the uncensored Break on Through. Even live Jim often sang it as it was released (cut) and now all of a sudden it is "She gets high" instead of "She gets" which is so much better, rhythmically and otherwise. I would rather have the old one just for that reason alone.

The Doors were remarkably well recorded. The originals must have been well done and preserved. The remasters are really clear and still warm sounding. I would have given anything if they had just left the original version of Break on Through as a bonus track at least.

Strange Days (i love this record) sounds amazing. The title track esp.

My dead iPod Nano (second dead iPod this year ughh!) had all of the remasters on there an now i am "on tour" [read sleeping on people's couches] and am missing them. I was hearing those old Doors tracks like never before. If you are a Doors fan, these reissues are worth it. (i can't believe i just endorsed the upteenth repackaging of a 60s group's catalog by a major label haha!)

[chet]

Jim Morrison's passing was another of a few rock artists who would've contributed a lot more to rock music. He probably would've changed the course of rock music in the '70's and beyond. It's mind boggling to speculate on what might've been.
It seems to me he still had his feet on the ground but his aversion to heavy partying was what did him in. Or did it? There's a couple of good books about his death that raise questions.

[chet]

Originally Posted by Oster

In addition to what Skully said, the new remasters are also new remixes done to celebrate the 40 years since the first album. Again, Bruce Botnick handled the remixing and the remastering as well as writing some really interesting liner notes about both the process and the material.

They seem to be budget priced - mine were all $6.99 brand new. There's some striking differences between other available versions of each album and these particular new ones. Instruments that weren't included in the original mixes are to be heard for the first time etc. and the first album has been 'restored' to its original intended speed.

All have bonus tracks and really concise, colourful booklets which I believe is a long overdue first for The Doors.

The one gripe I have is 'Absolutely Live' wasn't included in the series.

Where did you find them for $6.99?

[Oster]

Originally Posted by chet

Where did you find them for $6.99?

Well that might be a Canadian/Regional deal. I was totally surprised to find them brand new for so cheap!

Buying them launched a huge re-interest in me. I found an old VHS copy of 'Dance On Fire', the video comp. that was produced by Manzarek and Paul Rothschild. They're a fascinating band to watch. The Sullivan appearance of 'Light My Fire' is amazing (totally different from Oliver Stone's portrayal). They were a very theatrical band. Jim seemed to love the element of surprise and was quite understated - not at all a rock and roll buffoon as is so often thought (although I'm sure that was there too!).

What is really cool about Morrison is how he synthesized his two favorite singers: Sinatra and Presley into his own thing; influences very few other longhairs had in the late '60s.

And then of course there's Robbie Krieger: the best guitarist ever to wield an SG in my opinion.

The Doors' popularity seems to change in flux with whenever mass culture allows for rock stars. We're not really in a rock star age right now. The way I see it, charisma is not a selling point - the mood seems to be for a generally low-key, apologetic stance from the cool bands.

What is clear from any interview with the man is that Jim Morrison was - despite any self-destructive tendencies - exceedingly intelligent, literate and eloquent. I'm certain he would have eventually left music behind and gotten back into Film or Theater, probably anonymously.

[chet]

The Sullivan "Light My Fire" performance: He looks like he was high in it. A great vocal performance!
The "Moonlight Drive" tv performance might've been on the Smothers Brothers Show. He was totally cool in the dark sunglasses. The outer space footage takes it over the top.
The "Touch Me" footage shows his "Sinatra" influence. IMO
The sax solo at the end of the song is great.

The thing I remember about him at the time is how he was getting in trouble for indecent exposure. I'd read about it in the news but I was too young to be able to see him perform.

[Skully]

Jim Morrison's passing was another of a few rock artists who would've contributed a lot more to rock music. He probably would've changed the course of rock music in the '70's and beyond. It's mind boggling to speculate on what might've been.
It seems to me he still had his feet on the ground but his aversion to heavy partying was what did him in. Or did it?

You mean "propensity" rather than "aversion," correct?

I don't know if he would have kept on creating vital music. He was tapped out in so many ways -- physically, emotionally and creatively. The lyrics for the bulk of the songs that form his reputation as a "rock poet" for were written in a creative burst before the band was formed in the summer of '65. He knew it, too. It seems to be one of the major factors that sent his self-destruction snowballing.

If you're really interested in Morrison, you should check out Jim Morrison: Life, Death, Legend and Riders on the Storm: My Life with Jim Morrison and the Doors. The former gets slammed by fans, because it brings up things they'd rather not know about, namely Morrison's dabbling with men. But there are hints of it even in the hagiography "No One Here Gets Alive." "Life, Death and Legend" fills in some missing puzzle pieces -- "Oh, that's why his family refuses to discuss the reasons for his arrest in when he was in college in Florida in the early '60s!"

[chet]

If there were a buck to be made some scumbag would write a book with something bad about me, you and anyone who reads this board after we bite the dust. I don't take that stuff seriously. He's not around to defend himself. They did the same thing to John Lennon and I'm sorry I bought the book. Won't happen again.

Jim Morrison's work stands the test of time and I don't care about the other stuff.

[Skully]

It's fine if you don't care, but it's wrong to label the writer a scumbag if you're ignorant about both him and his subject.

[chet]

Back on topic: Is it worth getting the boxset? Is the DVD sound that much better on the videos?

Jim was responsible for almost all the fame the Doors realized. It's almost forty years since he passed away and people are still interested in what he created.
A lot of acts owe part of thier stage persona to watching his live performances and video. Like Bono for instance.

[Skully]

Back on topic:

Is it worth getting the boxset? Is the DVD sound that much better on the videos?

The DVDs contain the occasional bonus videos, but they're essentially higher fidelity versions of the CD that contain both stereo and 5.1 mixes of the albums.

[stantheman]

"Absolutely Live"............"Who Do You Love?".
Robbie's one of my heroes because he did it all without a pick.

[chet]

Originally Posted by stantheman

"Absolutely Live"............"Who Do You Love?".
Robbie's one of my heroes because he did it all without a pick.

It's strange that you single out that song. The band that played in the park Sunday in my other thread played the song with different lyrics and left out the tremelo part.

[Larry F]

Here's a memory and/or hearing test. Can anyone name the song that ended with the phrase "Stronger than dirt!" This line was from an Ajax commercial (I think; if not Ajax, some kind of cleanging project).

[Oster]

Originally Posted by Larry F

Here's a memory and/or hearing test. Can anyone name the song that ended with the phrase "Stronger than dirt!" This line was from an Ajax commercial (I think; if not Ajax, some kind of cleanging project).

Hearing test in my case since that song came out the same year I was born: "Touch Me".

And now that the part in question is running through my mind I'm anticipating the intro to 'Shaman's Blues'.

Yep, I've been listening to The Doors a lot lately.

[Skully]

i just can't get used to the uncensored Break on Through. Even live Jim often sang it as it was released (cut) and now all of a sudden it is "She gets high" instead of "She gets" which is so much better, rhythmically and otherwise. I would rather have the old one just for that reason alone.

I was going to post the same thing. I the the abbreviated "She get..." has more rhythmic punch. I held on to the original issue of the CD, so I could have a copy of the original censored version, but I always listen to the remasted instead. The only time I hear the "she get" version is when I watch "The Doors Collection" DVD, which, btw, is one of my favorites.

[BillyC]

I saw them live a couple of times in the old days,They sucked so bad I never had the desire to buy any of their records.

[Skully]

I saw them live a couple of times in the old days,They sucked so bad I never had the desire to buy any of their records.

Where? What year?

[BillyC]

Sometime in the Summer of 1967 at the Fillmore,and I think it was the Avalon a couple of weeks later.

[Skully]

Sometime in the Summer of 1967 at the Fillmore,and I think it was the Avalon a couple of weeks later.

Ah. I think there are some stories about Bill Graham struggling to get him to the Fillmore shows, but I'll have to check my books later.

Morrison and The Doors were very inconsistent live, unless the played outdoors or in Seattle. In those environments, they always sucked, according to the band members themselves.

Unfortunately, the only concert of there's that was competently filmed in its entirety is The Hollywood Bowl show. Unfortunately, Morrison was ripped on acid and extremely subdued. He's much more lively in footage shot at London's Roundhouse, but the film is grainy black & white and the band is not well covered by the camera crew.

And, Chet, Morrison most certainly did prance around when he was "on" for a show.

[chet]

They've released several live concert CD's and I only have the one where Jim's got a sparkler on the cover. Has anyone else heard the other live CD's?

Skully: Not like Jagger.

[stantheman]

The Doors were up against The Man 24/7/365 for sometime (67-69).
Jim was very human.
It was a great time and a terrifying time too.
I love the Music but I'd never want to go back ever period.
The 60's has been romanticized ad nauseum.
Most of it was too intense.
I like the Music for a little while and find myself not wanting to hear it for longer than a little while until next time.
Funny thing - Country like Buck Owens and Johnny Cash sounds right of "the moment" but feed me a little too much of my favorite 60's Rock and I barf it up. Most of the Folk Rock still sounds like the moment too as does the straight up Folk but too much 60's Rock......
It had it's time and place.

[chet]

I was too young to really know what was going on outside of my hometown.

The music itself stands on it's own as do the filmed performances. JMO

Jim Morrison was on the cover of Rolling Stone in the '90s. I think that like the Beatles younger people will discover thier music for themselves for years to come.

[Oster]

Originally Posted by chet

Jim Morrison was on the cover Rolling Stone in the '90s. I think that like the Beatles younger people will discover thier music for themselves for years to come.

That's the way it happened with me. They may as well have been an '80s band. Apocalypse Now. The red & white greatest hits album at the top of the charts. Half the cutting edge bands sounding like The Doors anyway (Echo and the Bunnymen, Teardrop Explodes, etc.).

They're not quite as popular these days (theories given above) but they will be again - you can count on it.

[Skully]

Jim Morrison was on the cover Rolling Stone in the '90s.

It was April 4th, 1991, in connection with Oliver Stone awful movie "The Doors." (BTW, at the time of the film's production, I had an office on the Sunset Strip overlooking The Whisky, etc., so I got to see them take the neighborhood back to 1967. It was really cool in person, but not much of it showed up in the movie.)

The best Morrison cover was the 12/17/81 issue with the caption "He's Hot. He's Sexy. He's Dead," which heralded The Doors revival sparked by the success of Jerry Hopkins and Danny Sugerman's biography "No One Here Gets Out Alive."

[DlxNashvilleLuvr]

I had the pleasure of seeing Robby Krieger play in a little bar here called the Brandy House back in about 2001 or `02. Whenever somebody says, "Guitar players' skills are bound to decline with age," I say, "Check out Robby Krieger." He plays John McLaughlin-type stuff these days and is virtually a different player than he was at his peak with the Doors. If you can find a jazz-fusiony CD he did called Door Jams you'll be blown away. He also sang some of Morrison's songs and captured the voice very well. I got to stand right in front of him and the old SG. Great show.

[rand z]

ive always been a big doors fan and have loved jim morrison's voice on all of those great tunes. imho he posessed a very mature voice many years beyond his actual age... perhaps he was someone out of time, and displaced here by tragic accident.

"im an old blues man..."

anyway, much has been written about him personally and to that all i can say is there are times in my life when some of the same could have been said about me. much of jim's social and professional low points were, imho alcohol driven.

david crosby, on a cpr album, wrote a beautiful song titled "morrison" and in it he says that he saw the movie and that's not the morrison that he knew. he said that jim was "mixed up and scared" and that he basically got a bad rap for it. perhaps much of it was self induced and indeed his own fault. but, i think jim was a victim of the times as much as anything... i saw a lot of people, back then, going down the same road. me too. some of us made it back, and others kinda made it back or never did come back. i often wonder where a lot of those people are now and whatever happened to them?

i still enjoy listening to those old songs and still think that there was something heartfelt and viable to them.

they surely were "strange days."

imho as always.


rand z tropicalsoul.net