AUM - AMERICA'S UNDERTHIRTY MAGAZINE - MAY 1969

Contributed By: MildEquator.com

In the May 1969 issue of AUM (America's Underthirty Magazine), a large portion of Jim Morrison's private poetry compilation The Lords is published for a mainstream audience. Previously known as TEENSET, this reinvention of the magazine technically features Jim on the cover, shown on the cover of a previous issue of TEENSET held by the GTO's in the cover photo taken by Ed Caraeff. While three of the original poems from The Lords did not make it into Simon & Schuster's 1970 publication The Lords and The New Creatures, one of the three missing poems is included here. This is the first known nationwide publication of The Lords, and is published within a month of the private edition.

US MAGAZINE - FIRST ISSUE - JUNE 1969

Contributed By: MildEquator.com

This is the first issue of US Magazine (June 1969), featuring five poems selected by Jim Morrison that were previously included in his private publication of The New Creatures. Richard Goldstein is editor, and Robert R. Crumb provides cover artwork for this inaugural issue. The magazine features contributions from various other counterparts of the 1960's, including rock critic Michael Lydon, Rolling Stone contributor Jon Landau, and former editor of Crawdaddy! magazine Paul Williams. Jim Morrison is said to have been flattered by his inclusion in this magazine.

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KING SCRIPT NOTEBOOK

Contributed By: Angela Bucchi Silvers

In July of 1969, Jim Morrison begins writing Ode to L.A. while thinking Of Brian Jones, Deceased in what is known as the King Script Notebook, following the death of Brian Jones on July 3rd. Later in 1970, the notebook disappears from Jim Morrison's satchel and comes into the possession of Peggy Green, who auctions off the book in 1996. This original 6" x 9" notebook features seven pages of writings and two pages of drawings, and is the original source material for the Ode To L.A. pamphlets printed and distributed at The Doors Aquarius Theater performances on July 21st, 1969. Also included are lyrical passages to an unfinished musical piece known as Queen Of The Magazines.

INSIDE:

ODE TO L.A. WHILE THINKING OF BRIAN JONES, DECEASED

Contributed By: Rainer Moddemann

Size: 9.44" x 6.10"

Brian Jones of The Rolling Stones is deceased on July 3rd, 1969. As a tribute to the artist, these pamphlets featuring an original poetic composition are written and privately printed by Jim Morrison and distributed amongst the audience at the Aquarius Theater on July 21st, 1969. Later in the year, the poetry receives mainstream publication in magazines such as Datebook. Many of these original printings are left behind or tossed in the trash after The Doors performances and only a small number exist today.

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THE IMAGE - OCTOBER 1969

Contributed By: RecordMecca

In the October 3rd-16th issue of The Image, a Los Angeles based newspaper-style magazine, Jim Morrison's original composition Dry Water receives a partial first printing, and is the earliest known formal printing of the work. While the complete work consists of 9 original poems, only 3 are included in the magazine, and a comparison with the final version reveals that Jim Morrison has not finalized the work at the time of this publication. The extent or reasoning for Jim Morrison's involvement with this publication is currently unknown, however poet and acquaintance Michael C. Ford is a staff member of The Image. At present date, copies of this magazine are rare and hard to come by, however segments of Dry Water are subsequently reprinted in various magazines and books including the February 2nd, 1970 issue of ROCK magazine, the January 1971 issue of Circus, the 1988 two volume set of The Lost Writings Of Jim Morrison, and the composition is printed in its entirety in 2021's release of The Collected Works Of Jim Morrison.

DATEBOOK - NOVEMBER 1969

Contributed By: MildEquator.com

In the November 1969 issue of Datebook, Jim Morrison's privately printed poem Ode to L.A. while thinking Of Brian Jones, Deceased is published for mainstream media in the U.S.A and Canada. While other instances of its printing are known, this magazine features the only known cover announcement, followed by a three page spread to highlight the poem solely and exclusively. As noted in the article, Jim Morrison provides the poem to Datebook.

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ROCK - FEBRUARY 1970

Contributed By: MildEquator.com

The February 2nd, 1970 issue of ROCK magazine features a small selection of poems from Jim Morrison's original poetry compositions Dry Water, and The Lords - Notes On Vision. Two poems from Dry Water are chosen, and this is the first instance of a fourth poem printed from Dry Water, a selection not previously included in the 1969 printing in The Image. Alongside the poetry, there are two brief articles on The Doors performances at the Felt Forum in New York. There are currently no known details on the extent of Jim Morrison's involvement in the feature. The previously unpublished poem from Dry Water featured in this magazine re-appears in the January 1971 issue of Circus Magazine (See Below), and the complete nine poem composition is featured in 2021's release of The Collected Works Of Jim Morrison.

SELECTIONS FROM DRY WATER:

AN AMERICAN PRAYER

Contributed By: T.E. Breitenbach

Size: 4.87" x 4.15"

In mid-1970, Jim Morrison prints his third private poetry compilation as a pocket-sized book known as An American Prayer. He can be heard reading the finished work in a 1970 studio recording session of his own written poetry. Unlike his previously published private works, he does not use his full name of James Douglas Morrison to produce this publication. Numbering approximately 250 copies, the book contains 5 poems printed over 16 pages, and were in many cases personalized and signed by Jim. This copy was mailed to artist T.E. Breitenbach during a time period when Jim was seeking artwork for a planned upcoming poetry album. A full mainstream publication of An American Prayer can be found in 2021's release of The Collected Works Of Jim Morrison.

INSIDE:

FIRST PAGE:

Do you know the warm progress
                            under the stars?
Do you know we exist?
Have you forgotten the keys
        to the Kingdom?
Have you been borne yet?
                          & are you alive?


Let's reinvent the gods, all the myths
                                        of the ages
Celebrate symbols from deep elder forests
[Have you forgotten the lessons
                                 of the acient war]


We need great golden copulations


The fathers are crackling in the trees of the forest
Our mother is dead in the sea


Do you know we are being led to
      slaughters by placid admirals
& that fat slow generals are getting
      obscene on young blood

Copyright © 1970 Jim Morrison

JAZZ & POP - SEPTEMBER 1970

Contributed By: MildEquator.com

The September 1970 issue of Jazz & Pop magazine features a unique composition written by Jim Morrison known as The Anatomy Of Rock, spread over two pages and accompanied by photographs taken by Susan Hyman. This is the only known North American publication of The Anatomy Of Rock until it was reprinted in 2021's The Collected Works Of Jim Morrison. Liner notes in the book indicate that the piece is "a memory of a 1950's teenage passion for the electric music that would galvanize and brand a generation."

CIRCUS - JANUARY 1971

Contributed By: MildEquator.com

In October of 1970, Jim Morrison sits down with Circus magazine reporter Salli Stevenson, and later asks that a single poem from his nine poem composition Dry Water be published alongside his interview. While previously featured in the February 2nd, 1970 issue of ROCK magazine, this representation of the poem shows that no changes have been made. This instance of a published poem from Dry Water is featured in the January 1971 issue of Circus, a two-part interview series for the magazine. No further poetry is published in the second, February 1971 issue of Circus. Jim Morrison's complete nine poem composition Dry Water is printed in 2021's release of The Collected Works Of Jim Morrison.

SELECTION FROM DRY WATER:

PARIS JOURNAL #1

Contributed By: RecordMecca

While in Paris in 1971, Jim Morrison continued to write poetry, and more than one of those notebooks have survived. This example of one of the many known journals in the hand of Jim Morrison appears to be a finished draft of 15 pages, and was originally found within the contents of the '127 Fascination Box', a collection of personal items and journals brought back to America by Pamela Courson after Jim Morrison's passing. In later years, the discovery of an audience recording of one of The Doors live performances in Dallas in late 1970, revealed that a poem contained in this journal, now known as Palace In The Canyon, had become a standalone musical track sung by Jim Morrison and performed by The Doors during their final live shows. This journal is currently available for purchase by memorabilia dealer and contributor to the MildEquator site, Jeff Gold of RecordMecca.com

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THE MT. ALVERNO REVIEW - JUNE 1971

Scans By: MildEquator.com

Shortly before the death of Jim Morrison, the Mt. Alverno Review is published as an anthology of West Coast verse in tribute to poet Kenneth Patchen. Edited and compiled by Michael C. Ford, the book includes an original Jim Morrison poem selected from The Lords & The New Creatures, and sells for $3.00 to benefit a medical fund for the poet in tribute. The booklet contains 11 other works, including a poem by Charles Bukowski and Michael C. Ford himself. On January 8th, 1972 Kenneth Patchen passes away. This original copy of the Mt. Alverno Review is owned by MildEquator.com.

POEM:

Jackall, we sniff after the survivors of caravans
We reap bloody crops on war fields
No meat of any corpse deprives our lean bellies
Hunger drives us on scented wings
Stranger, traveller,
peer into our eyes & translate
the horrible barking of ancient dogs

Copyright © 1969 Jim Morrison