Actually met Jim Morrison in about 1967. I was 4 years old, touring a radio station with my brother's Cub Scout den. The Doors were doing an in station appearance. Jim Morrison saw the Cub Scouts out in the lobby, and decided he wanted to meet them. He came out, and first thing he did was pick me up in his arms, and held me while he greeted the others. I have only vague memories of it, but story was told to me by my Mom and brothers. 20 years later, I worked with the DJ who was on the air when it happened, and he confirmed it from his side
sounds legit.... a misnomer about morrison, esp early in '67, was that he was a 24/7 wildman. on stage, yes he was unpredictable & even dangerous. but esp early in his career, when sober (wh/ he was moreso then common thought) he was actually a charismatic & friendly person. Your story illuminates that. thx for the insight.
I only ever saw him playing a Vox Continental organ with a Fender Rhodes bass laying on the top left from early clips I've seen, but maybe he switched to other keyboards/organs later, or played different keyboards when recording?
What is really astounding is a classically trained keyboard player, a flamenco guitarist, jazz drummer and a frontman who had never sung or played in a band became the best L.A. band of all time, IMHO.
Because they were MK Ultra and when Jim left music he changed his name using his poetry influencers Arthur Rimbaugh Jim became Rush Limbaugh. Google you tube it picture by Ken Levine.
Something rarely mentioned- listen closely (headphones help) there is a whisper track in the mix…Jim whispered the lyrics on a separate track that plays underneath the main vocal track. It adds an extra creepy touch to the song. Once you hear it, you’ll always hear it!
@@iwantschepurnoj1372 The same lyrics. I've heard this song countless times and I've never heard the whisper track before. It was really obvious, so I need to check my CD. *It is much stronger in this mix, but is present on other versions. I assume it was just harder to notice when listening in a car or when singing along.
Riders on the Storm is actually a great late night driving song, it sets a relaxed mood so you dont rush and enjoy the rainy weather.. I guess the newer generation doesnt have the attention span and introspection to get into it like we did back then, life was slower, you enjoyed every moment, you were present in the moment.
The Doors would bring in a bass player during recordings, but in concert Ray would play the bass line with one hand and on a separate organ simultaneously play the piano section. He was insanely talented, as were Robbie and John - the perfect accompaniment for Jim's moody, brooding and chaotic poetry.
@@AlexanderisgreatThey had bass on every album. Larry Knechtel played bass on their first album for a number of songs including Light My Fire for instance. Robby Krieger also played bass on a number of tracks. Doug Luhban played bass on their second and third album. Kerry Magness on their third album. Harvey Brooks on their fourth album... I mean yeah.
Some of the members of The 27 Club: 1. Jimi Hendrix 2. Janis Joplin 3. Jim Morrison 4. Brian Jones 5. Kurt Cobain 6. Amy Winehouse 7. Ron “Pigpen” McKernan 8. Dave Alexander 9. Pete de Freitas 10. D. Boon 11. Kristen Pfaff 12. Richey Edwards 13. Jeremy Michael Ward 14. Robert Johnson 15. Rudy Lewis 16. Alan Wilson 17. Jesse Belvin 18. Dickie Pride 19. Malcolm Hale 20. Jean-Michel Basquiat
Back in the days when people mostly played songs on a turntable, they were kind of committed to listening to the whole album once they put the needle down.
I was born in Phoenix, Arizona . Growing up in Arizona, there was time rain was only once a year for me. So when it would rain, all of the local radio stations would play this song. To this day, even as I live in Kansas now. I love playing this when it rains.
Absolutely right about social media. I would also say the Voice and the Got Talent shows have changed music and not for the better. God I miss musicians who can play and singers who aren’t perfect.
Also no need to learn to play an instrument when a computer can do it so most 'music' is just a background beat for the lyrics and no problem if you can't hold tune just use autoutune.
Don't you think most modern "music" just repeats the same song over and over? I agree about social media. The attention span of people has reduced substantially, meaning there is no time for actual music played by actual musicians.
Read " No One Here Gets Out Alive " his autobiography . Eye opener to him . He actually had stage fright when they first performed . Even had his back to the audience at some shows .Incredible performer and band .
Since you featured the Doors at the end of their career withthis reaction, you might want to show her Jim Morrison on the Ed Sullivan Show making their big splash in color on national television in 1967 with LIGHT MY FIRE. Earlier in the year, the Doors appeared on American Bandstand and played it along with CRYSTAL SHIP. But it was the Sullivan Show appearance that shot them to international fame. I think your daughter is about to become the next receiver of a postcard from the past that makes her a fan of this group and their amazing catalog of songs and their rich, dynamic, chaotic, poetic, and controversial history and legendary status. Songs for her waiting ears include 5 to 1, BREAK ON THROUGH (TO THE OTHER SIDE). L.A. WOMAN, MOONLIGHT DRIVE, and the 4:58 video of LOVE ME TWO TIMES, which features a quick poetic opening line before unleashing a rare show of explosive firepower. The stories from the comment section are coming for your daughter. Get ready and enjoy
Ray Manzarek played a Vox Continental Combo Organ which was a popular instrument at the time. He also used a Gibson G-101 transistorized organ along with a Fender Rhodes piano keyboard bass.
People are Strange, L.A. Woman, Road house Blues, Back Door Man, Touch Me, Love Me Two Times, Five to One, are a few of there great songs. There are so many great songs.....oh for all those who need me to state, Break on Through and Light My Fire. In a short career with Jim the Doors were solid gold.
Yes they are, just some reactions for them. Me, I liked the entire L.A. Woman Album. Wild Child and Crystal ship was great as well. They has great songs in a short time. @@stj971
This song was ASMR before ASMR was a thing. The bass groove on this song makes it for me and since The Doors didn't have a bass player, they employed a session bassist named Jerry Scheff for this song and album. It's also crazy that so many great musicians died when they were 27 years old, like Morrison. Some of The Doors deeper cuts are great, but L.A. Woman and Roadhouse Blues would be a couple to react to. ✌️
Thanks for mentioning the Val Kilmer movie, The Doors. not all accurate, but Val was amazing in it and sang the songs. He should have been considered for an award. for his performance. Second best performance as Doc Holiday in Tombstone for sure.
How strange this is, I just put this tune down among others, as one of the greatest tunes ever. I was cruising for the tune and found you both just did this. Thank you for a fabulous reaction. Peace On Ya The first "Bad Boy" with an IQ of 143 I think. He was different
Riders on the Storm is one of my favorite Doors songs, mostly due to the hypnotic, jazzy quality of Manazrek's keyboard and Robbie Krieger's guitar, but you really need at least three Doors songs in rapid succession if you want to get a feel for the band. They were not at all connected to any one musical genre, so there is no one song that epitomizes their style. If you're looking for a fairly easy entry to their amazing and often challenging world, I'd recommend Soul Kitchen next, followed by Touch Me or Love Me Two Times. Follow those with Roadhouse Blues. The latter three are just great songs, while Soul Kitchen is another of my favorites. It's earlier in their career. Morrison's voice is gorgeous and croony. The lyrics are very Morrisonian - trippy and poetic. It's a poem about his favorite late-night restaurant. When you're ready to get psychedelic, poetic, and experimental, go for Soft Parade, which is an amazing musical compilation of Morrison's short poetry.
You should read Jim Morris’s biography “ no one gets out alive” I read it and it was wild. It describes his life from childhood with his brother until his death.
I haven't read it yet but have read drummer John Densmore's autobiography "Riders on the Storm" and he goes into depth about Jim's personality and wild eccentricities to put it mildly.
@@steveullrich7737 in his biography it talks about when he was a little boy and him, and his little brother would go sledding in the winter time on a steep hill behind their house, and Jim Morrison and his brother would be on a toboggan together, and go flying down the hill toward the trees, and then Jim Morrison would dive off of the sled, and let his little brother, go speeding toward the trees by himself. I guess he was very vindictive and an early age.
@@steveullrich7737 I have read that one as well, still have it my collection of books. Also read one that was written by one of his girlfriend Patricia Kennely I think was her name. Jim was a complicated personality,
Growing up in the UK in the 60s/70s, all I heard was mainstream pop from my older sisters. But I was given a crystal radio set (doesn't need a battery) and in bed at night I'd stick the bakelite headphones on (painful) and turn the dial. And found this song. Mind blown. Incredible I just couldn't believe what I was hearing. I had tuned into the pirate radio station Radio Caroline - the film The Boat That Rocked. I discovered so much amazing music from there.
I like how Jim softly whispers the vocal line too. Gives it a more ethereal feel. Check out Since I’ve Been Loving You by Led Zeppelin. Both the live and studio versions are great!
Love the song. Thanks for the review. Technically, this is going back to the 70s as this song came out in 1971 - released about 3 months before Jim died.
First time viewer, really like you guys vibe, just chilling on the couch talking about music and you sir seem to know a lot of music history, I'll probably learn much things if i keep watching you guys, subscribed.
Riders was such a big hit here in Australia at the time...every radio station played it whenever they could. I bought LA Woman and other doors LPs and wore them out. 👍🤗 Music like that has stood the tear of time, and will remain so.
Man, major flashback to my high school cafeteria, where this played at least once every lunch on the jukebox. This and Maggie May. The stereo separation on headphones is awesome. Thanks for reminding me of this great song.
Hey guys, great reaction to an all time classic! You talked about modern music not giving this vibe but there is one quite modern song that really brings back this style that immediately comes to mind. It is a song but The Pretty Reckless named The Devils Back. It is really worth giving a listen, especially with Riders On The Storm in the back of your head. There is still great music around, next to these brilliant masterpieces of the past.
Great pick and analysis, gotta love the doors 🙂 I think Break On Through would be a cool one to do next as it shows them at the start of their journey and has a much more immediate and upbeat feel to it
Oh so many memories! My kids got a tshirt for me at least 20 years ago with a picture of Jim Morrison and the caption "An American Poet". Just let the sound wash over you, and you get it.
He loved stage theatrics, so true. That's one of the reasons (alongside mastery of word) he and Alice Cooper liked each other so much. (suggested listening AC's "Desperado"). People here often mention "the end" as a must hear. It's one of very few songs from the band that I acutally dislike. But I love the "I'm a spy" "break on through" "Spanish caravan" "Cars hiss by my window"(this one is definitely a must hear), "Love her madly" or "LA woman". Hyacinth house with the Chopin solo there leaves me confused.
Can't go wrong with the Doors. Also remember when Oliver Stone's movie The Doors came out as a teenager. Absolutely obsessed with it. Val Kilmer crushed the roll just like he did as Doc Holliday in Tombstone.
Great song and reaction. I liked the Robbie Krieger's guitar sound. There's a control on the amp called tremelo which gives the guitar that sort of fast echo sound. Perfect for that song.
Right before my father was shipped off to Vietnam he was sitting in bar in Michigan suddenly saw the doors come on stage. Never new they was so posed to be playing there.
I am pretty sure they had been listening to Tim Buckley's love from Room 109 at the Islander (On Pacific Coast Highway) which has very similar sounds like the sea breeze/waves. Buckley released the album it was on the year before they recorded this.
Fender rhodes mark1 suitcase model with another smaller fender rhodes bass. So Ray played both the keys and key-bass simultaniously in most of there songs.
Jim Morrison was a brilliant poet, but a deeply disturbed man. His lyrics ranged from peppy and happy, to dark and wicked, to gentle and loving. The song "The End" was an absolute masterpiece, but man... the lyrics toward the end are downright evil...and it's still one of my top 10 classic rock songs of all time.
SAW JIM`S GRAVE IN PERE LACHAISE WHILST IN PARIS 2018. THERE WERE 3 AMERICANS SAT AROUND IT SMOKING WEED AND DRINKING BREW CHILLIN`. MAN THEY WERE OUT OF IT AT 2.0 PM IN THE AFTERNOON.
53 year old Australian here! I do like The Doors very much. Thing is, at my age, I've learned to like a lot of stuff, even modern electronic music. In amongst all that I listen to there's an Israeli duo called Infected Mushroom. They did a brilliant remix of Riders On The Storm that I think you should listen to.
The instrument was a Vox Continental combo organ, an instrument used by many other psychedelic rock bands of the era.[23] He also used a Gibson G-101 Kalamazoo combo organ (which looks like a Farfisa) for the band's later albums.[24]
And don't forget that The Doors had no bassist. The keyboardist (Ray Manzarek) played the bass line with his left hand while doing the other lines and solos with his right.
@@timothyforce1949 - just basing this on what I heard Ray Manzarek say here - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-3deQXzV-qTk.html&ab_channel=EliasIak2011 , and a couple of other sites online.
Morrison is the American Poet not only the first for looks and stage behavior but the first of such high intellect . He was a lot more than what the myth holds. Long live Mr Mojo Risin 🎚️🎤🎭
Your American Poet was influenced by French Poet Arthur Rimbaugh And when Jim left MK Ultra he changed his name to Rush Limbaugh faked his death. Google you tube it.
That keyboard noise would be specifically by ear: The vibraphone setting of a model SK 708 Yamaha Synthesizer (The second analogue version of that line) I believe. :)
Manzarek is playing a Rhodes piano. Wiki - "The Rhodes piano (also known as the Fender Rhodes piano) is an electric piano invented by Harold Rhodes, which became popular in the 1970s. Like a conventional piano, the Rhodes generates sound with keys and hammers, but instead of strings, the hammers strike thin metal tines, which vibrate next to an electromagnetic pickup. The signal is then sent through a cable to an external keyboard amplifier and speaker."......"Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek began using Rhodes instruments when the group formed in 1965. He played basslines on a Piano Bass with his left hand, while playing organ with his right.[34] He also played a full-sized Rhodes in the studio, such as a Mark I Stage 73 on "Riders on the Storm".[35] According to Manzarek, "If Mr. Rhodes hadn't created the keyboard bass, the Doors would never have existed."[36] "
I was born in 1965 and L.A. Woman was released in 1971 at the height of the flower power movement, free love and LSD. Still light up a scoob for this song. Would be cool on shrooms as they no doubt did in 1971. The ladies wore flower printed skin tight white jeans and painted flowers on their faces as the tripped away. This song is mellow as.
Jim Morrison was a fan of the beat poet Allen Ginsberg if you listen you can hear Ginberg's influence on him. Ginsberg's epic poem Howl (1956) is considered to be one of the most significant products of the Beat movement.
My favorite Doors song. 👍😊 Burch, we're the same generation. My Mom went to see The Doors. She said he was so wasted he was "playing with himself" on stage and he didn't even know it. 🤦 What a thing to hear from your mom.😄 From what I understand, at least part of the song is about Jim's experience as a kid. His family drove by a family on the highway and they had all been brutally murdered. Witnessing that would have a permanent mark on your life. Great show, guys!👍😁
Sometimes I forget how old these songs are. 52 years. 52 years before this came out was 1919 and to 20-year-old me at the time that was ancient history.
13:31 That was a great analysis. True, I did not realize bands back then dedicated segments to the instruments while today is more lyrical. Great point. Means they had to be better musicians in order to add good instrumental content. I also appreciated the Social Media point.
A true classic! In the early 1970's people would purchase records and invite their friends over for dinner to listen to the entire LP record after dinner. The album cover was an integral part of the experience and everyone spent some time in investigating every minute detail. This changed with CD's to be followed by downloaded MP3's on a USB drive. Today music has so little cultural value that people don't even bother downloading and saving anymore where they skip to the next song on a streaming service after listening for perhaps as much as thirty seconds.
The Lizard King (Jim) was a poet first then singer ✌️🙂 Doors fan since 71' .... I remember riding in a car with my sister & her boyfriend through the white mountains of New Hampshire (East coast of U.S) in the rain when i first heard this. Then found the rest of their catalog and i was hooked !
Fuun fact about Jim M. He was a swimmer at Alameda High School. His specialty swim stroke was the butterfly. Every time I swim in that pool I think wow jim swam here. Look it up ¿
I thought for sure a Moog Synthesizer would have been used to get this fabulous sound, but the i-net says it was only the standards: guitar, drums, piano. The Moog WAS mentioned as an instrument used on another cut, but I don’t remember which one.
Most of today's popular music is constructed around just 4 chords and pre-dates social media. Nearly all best-selling songs use these "magical" 4 chords. If you listen carefully you will end up saying "that sounds familiar" even though you haven't heard the song before.
The Fender Rhodes is an electric piano that uses tuning forks instead of strings. It produces a unique sound and as I understand, it never requires tuning like a typical piano..
Love The Doors. Love Jim Morrison and the other band members. I was an au pair in Westport Ct in 1967 and 68. I dated a local guy, he went to the University of Miami. We dated casually for 3 sommers. In 1969 we were both living in New York City, and reconnected more as friends. When I read the book "No one get out of here alive", I noticed the picture of Jim with a baby lamb. The caption underneath read Jeff Simon, that was the name of the guy I dated and knew, first I didn't think anything of it, since it is a fairly common name. However, several yeas back I googled some information, and found out that was my friend, he was at the famed Miami concert (he went on to be a very accomplished cinemaphotographer) took the picture and later was a witness in the Jim Morrison trial.
They used a number of different session players for their studio albums (notably the late Doug Luhban, who played on three of them - others included Larry Knechtel, Kerry Magness, Lonnie Mack and Harvey Brooks), but for live performances, Ray Manzarek played the bass parts on either a Fender Rhodes keyboard bass or a Gibson key bass.
