Though The Doors did not last very long as a band, their music has had a lasting impact on music listeners for over half a century. Jim Morrison’s antics and his rebellious attitude attracted many fans during their short tenure. Their first album, The Doors, showcased the band and remains their best-selling album. I will be reviewing this album and giving my opinions on each of the songs.
Break On Through (To the Other Side)
The Doors’ first song is one of their most popular. Though it’s only around two minutes and thirty seconds, it’s a powerful song and combines what The Doors are all about. The high energy and rebellious feel, and Jim Morrison’s vocals, carry the weight of this song even more. It’s a great introduction to the band and the album. I give it a 9/10.
Soul Kitchen
This song introduces the iconic organ riff that many people recognize. Ray Manzarek was the mastermind behind the organ and remains an iconic piece of the band. Morrison attributed this song to an eatery that he loved to spend time at. Once again, a high-energy song and another great song. This is my personal favorite song on the album, so with that, I give it a 10/10.
Crystal Ship
This song is much slower than the first two, but it delivers a deeper meaning. Jim Morrison’s vocals are slow and meaningful. Along with Manzarek’s organ, it creates a haunting, soothing feeling. Like “Break on Through,” it’s a shorter song, but within that time, the song’s message is very clear and is another great song. I give this song a 9/10.
Twentieth Century Fox
Another shorter song, the combination of Morrison and Manzarek once again carries the song. It’s very bluesy and combines the high-energy and slower rock we’ve heard before. Not much to say about this song. It’s solid, but nothing new we’ve heard before. I give it an 8/10.
Alabama Song (Whisky Bar)
This is a very unique song. The organ once again makes this song feel haunting, and Morrison’s vocals are very “wacky” and create a sort of dark tone to the song. The Doors make a lot of creepy or haunting songs, but this one takes the top spot in terms of the dark tone. With that, I also give this song an 8/10.
Light My Fire
This was The Doors’ first big hit and also their first longer song, lasting over 7 minutes. This song is most famous for appearing on the Ed Sullivan show in 1967, when the show wanted to replace the word “higher.” But Morrison did not listen and did anyway, leading to the band being banned from the show. This showed the band’s rebellious attitude. But the song itself is a masterpiece. It is more upbeat than the previous three, and Morrison nails it with his vocals, and once again, the famous organ carries the weight of the song on its shoulders. This is also one of my favorite songs on the album, so I give it a 10/10.
Back Door Man
This is perhaps Morrison’s best song when it comes to showing off his vocals. His range is incredible, and it is shown here. Along with the organ, it creates an upbeat tone and delivers a powerful message. Overall, the song is powerful and upbeat, and it’s a good song to start the end of the album. Overall, this song is a 9/10.
I Looked at You
Another short, upbeat song is a common theme on this album. Robby Krieger also creates a strong sound. This has the most energy out of any song on this album, and it fits right into the album. Though he is not as popular as Morrison and Manzarek, he is just as important to the sound of The Doors. Overall, another good song. This deserves an 8/10.
End of The Night
This song is a complete flip of the previous song. It goes back to the more haunting, dark tone of the songs like “Crystal Ship.” Once again, it’s another short song, but the tone is extremely intense. Morrison adds to the tone with his powerful vocals, and once again, there is not a bad song on this album. This song is a solid 9/10.
Take It as It Comes
The shortest and the final high-energy song in the album. As it comes to an end, this song to me is a build-up to the final song. I could talk more about it, but I would be repeating myself. So I’ll get right to the rating. 8/10.
The End
As the song states, this is the end of the album. This song can get overlooked simply because it’s nearly 12 minutes long, but people who truly appreciate music know how good this song is. In my opinion, this is Morrison’s best song. His haunting lyrics deliver a haunting tone throughout the song. The organ once again gives the iconic sound, and if you listen to the song fully, you will see how good this song is. It deserves a 10/10
This album showcased everything the Doors are about. From the haunting energy to the high energy, the doors have it all. This debut album is one of the best albums ever made. The influence it had on the music community was incredible, and though they’ve made great albums since, none really capture the brilliance of this album. I’m going to give this album a 9/10.
