STUDIO DATES & INFO: 1965-1972



Album & Studio Recordings

WORLD PACIFIC STUDIOS (1965):

The Doors record their first demo at this L.A. studio on what is said to be September 2nd, 1965. Originally scheduled as a Rick And The Ravens contract obligation, producer Richard Bock offers Ray Manzarek a demo session with The Doors as a replacement. A female bass player by the name of Patty Sullivan of Patty & The Esquires takes part in the recording session along with members of Rick and The Ravens, and Robby Krieger has not yet joined the band.

This session produces 12" acetates of 6 original songs, used by The Doors to shop for a record deal. Indian Summer is said to be attempted during this session, and although it may have been recorded, it was not included on the acetate. Moonlight Drive is later attempted in the studio for the first album sessions and again for Strange Days, but only End Of The Night will make the cut for the The Doors first Elektra release. My Eyes Have Seen You is re-recorded for Strange Days, and Hello, I Love You and Summer's Almost Gone are re-recorded for Waiting For The Sun. Insane, later renamed A Little Game, would go on to form a part of Jim Morrison's epic The Celebration of The Lizard. All of the tracks appear on later studio albums very similar in structure. The demo tracks from these first original acetates may be heard in their entirety on various bootleg releases and The Doors 1997 boxset.

Acetate Tracks:
Moonlight Drive
Hello, I Love You
Summer's Almost Gone
My Eyes Have Seen You
End Of The Night
Insane

Studio Location:
- World Pacific Studios - 8715 W. 3rd St. - Los Angeles, CA

Credits:
Jim Morrison - Vocals
Ray Manczarek - Piano & Vocals
John Densmore - Drums
Rick Manczarek - Guitar
Jim Manczarek - Harmonica
Patty Sullivan - Bass


RAMPART STUDIOS (1966):

In May 1966, The Doors have yet to sign a record deal, and are hired by Parthenon Pictures to provide a soundtrack to an employee training film for Ford Motor Company titled Love Thy Customer. At Rampart Studios in Los Angeles, The Doors generate musical accompaniment while watching the film on a monitor. Due to the instrumental nature of the soundtrack, Jim Morrison was most likely not required to parttake, with no evidence suggesting he was present during the session. Portions of the various musical passages resemble segments of I Looked At You and Build Me A Woman. Although the original studio tapes are now lost and the soundtrack to the film is approximately 15 minutes in length, this studio session likely took a few hours to complete. Click HERE for screenshots and more information on the film.

Studio Location:
- Rampart Studios - 2615 W. Temple St. - Los Angeles, CA



Venice Beach

THE DOORS (1966):

Release Date: January 4th, 1967

Side A:
Break On Through
Soul Kitchen
The Crystal Ship
Twentieth Century Fox
Alabama Song (Whisky Bar)
Light My Fire
Side B:
Back Door Man
I Looked At You
End Of The Night
Take It As It Comes
The End

The Doors enter a contractual agreement with Billy James at Columbia Records in October 1965, but are never scheduled to record. They re-sign with Elektra and their first album sessions take place at Sunset Sound Recorders in August 1966, following their dismissal as house band at the Whisky A Go Go. The first song they record is believed to be Moonlight Drive followed by Indian Summer, however The Doors are charged for three rolls of tape on this date and may have attempted to record other materials. Although Ray Manzarek is already using a piano bass, The Doors hire bassist Larry Knechtel to work with them during these sessions. All tracks are recorded by sound engineer Bruce Botnick using half-inch tape on a 4-track machine, completing the entire sessions in less than one month. The End is said to have been recorded in just two takes, however new data indicates there were more. In October 1966, The Doors head to New York to for mixing sessions at Elektra's east coast studio. During this time period, the band is captured on film by Elektra producer Mark Abramson to promote their first single Break On Through. The filmwork presents the band in a 'live' scenario lip sync'ing the song. In a letter dated December 28th 1966, Jac Holzman announces that the film is complete and ready for distribution. On January 4th 1967, The Doors first album is officially released.

Further analysis of the original release reveals a tape-speed error in which the tracks gradually run slower. In 2007, Bruce Botnick remasters the album for the 40th anniversary release on Perception, and the tape speed is corrected. Sound engineer Bruce Botnick comments: "What I determined was the following: when the album was mixed at Elektra studios in New York, either the 4-track playback recorder was running slow, or the stereo 2-track was running fast... What resulted is that the albums that are on the street, be they vinyl or CD, are playing back slow...so now, with the new mixes, you will hear the entire album at the correct speed and correct pitch."

Venice Beach
Recording Dates:
08/29/1966 - Moonlight Drive (18 Takes)
08/29/1966 - Indian Summer (12 Takes)
09/12/1966 - Break On Through (2:00pm-5:00pm)
09/13/1966 - Soul Kitchen (2:00pm-5:00pm)
09/14/1966 - End Of The Night (2:00pm-5:00pm)
09/14/1966 - Take It As It Comes (7:00pm-10:00pm)
09/15/1966 - Moonlight Drive (2:00pm-5:00pm)
09/15/1966 - The End (1 Take - 8:00pm-11:00pm)
09/16/1966 - The End (2 Takes - 7:00pm-10:00pm)
09/19/1966 - I Looked At You (29 Takes)
09/19/1966 - Indian Summer (2:00pm-5:00pm)
09/19/1966 - Light My Fire (8:00pm-11:00pm)
09/20/1966 - Alabama Song (3:00pm-6:00pm)
09/20/1966 - Light My Fire (2 Takes - 9:00pm-12:00am)
09/21/1966 - Twentieth Century Fox
09/22/1966 - Back Door Man, The Crystal Ship
09/23/1966 - I Looked At You, Light My Fire

Studio Location:
- Sunset Sound Recorders - 6650 Sunset Blvd. - Hollywood, CA

Released:
The End (Uncensored Mix - Mono)
Moonlight Drive (Version 1 - 08/29/66)
Moonlight Drive (Version 2 - 08/29/66)
Indian Summer (08/29/66)

The following original songs appear on later albums, but were written by the end of 1966. This listing is compiled from known studio and live recordings, and an unpublished manuscript by The Doors lawyer Max Fink:

Hello, I Love You
Indian Summer
Insane
Love Me Two Times
Moonlight Drive
My Eyes Have Seen You
Spanish Caravan
Strange Days
Summer's Almost Gone
Unhappy Girl
We Could Be So Good Together
When The Music's Over
You Make Me Real
You're Lost Little Girl



Moonlight Drive

STRANGE DAYS (1967):

Release Date: September 25th, 1967

Side A:
Strange Days
You're Lost Little Girl
Love Me Two Times
Unhappy Girl
Horse Latitudes
Moonlight Drive
Side B:
People Are Strange
My Eyes Have Seen You
I Can't See Your Face In My Mind
When The Music's Over

Only weeks after their first album is released, The Doors return to the studio begin recording new tracks for their next album at Sunset Sound Recorders. Since their first album sessions in Aug-Sep. 1966, the studio's equipment has been upgraded to a 3M 8-track machine using one-inch tape. Their first known sessions for this album take place on February 8th, 1967, recording My Eyes Have Seen You. After previous attempts to capture the song in the studio, Moonlight Drive makes its debut on this album in a newly recorded form. We Could Be So Good Together is originally set to be released on this album, however the finished track is pulled and later included on Waiting For The Sun, and is not a newly recorded version. Known studio reels also feature various takes of When The Music's Over with Jim Morrison on harmonica. The album is mixed and mastered by September 6th, and later in the month Strange Days is released with People Are Strange as the first single.


Moonlight Drive
Recording Dates:
02/08/1967 - My Eyes Have Seen You (3:00pm-6:00pm)
04/04/1967 - People Are Strange (29 Takes)
04/04/1967 - Love Me Two Times (3 Takes)
04/06/1967 - People Are Strange (2:00pm-6:00pm)
04/06/1967 - Love Me Two Times (9:00pm-12:00am)
04/18/1967 - People Are Strange (1:00pm-6:00pm)
04/19/1967 - Unknown Track - Recording
04/25/1967 - Moonlight Drive (14 Takes)
04/25/1967 - When The Music's Over (5+ Takes)
04/26/1967 - Strange Days (37 Takes)
05/23/1967 - I Can't See Your Face In My Mind
05/25/1967 - I Can't See Your Face In My Mind
05/25/1967 - Love Me Two Times (Multiple Takes)
07/10/1967 - You're Lost Little Girl
07/10/1967 - When The Music's Over
08/23/1967 - You're Lost Little Girl
08/23/1967 - Moonlight Drive
08/24/1967 - Unhappy Girl




Studio Location:
- Sunset Sound Recorders - 6650 Sunset Blvd. - Hollywood, CA

Released:
People Are Strange (False Starts & Dialogue)
Love Me Two Times (Take 3)
Unhappy Girl (Alt. Mix - Mono)




Waiting For The Sun

WAITING FOR THE SUN (1967-1968):

Release Date: July 12th, 1968

Side A:
Hello, I Love You
Love Street
Not To Touch The Earth
Summer's Almost Gone
Wintertime Love
The Unknown Soldier
Side B:
Spanish Caravan
My Wild Love
We Could Be So Good Together
Yes, The River Knows
Five To One

In November of 1967, The Doors record The Unknown Soldier at Sunset Sound Recorders, the first track to be finished following the release of Strange Days. In January of 1968, The Doors begin the actual recording sessions for Waiting For The Sun at Sunset Sound, and in February the sessions move to T.T.G Recording Studios.

Spanish Caravan is likely finished halfway through January, and may have originally featured an extended introduction by Robby Krieger on flamenco. A finished track leftover from the first two albums known as We Could Be So Good Together is brought forth and released on the album. Hello, I Love You and Summer's Almost Gone, written in 1965 and recorded for The Doors acetate demo, are re-recorded and officially released for the first time on this album. Easy Ride is recorded during these sessions and later included on The Soft Parade. An instrumental track known as Albinoni's Adagio In G Minor is said to be recorded during the sessions at T.T.G. studios with an orchestra put together by Bruce Botnick's father known as the La Cienega Symphony Strings.

Rough stereo mixes of the album are ready by April 18th 1968, and recording continues into May. Final mastering takes place with Bernie Grundman in June. Waiting For The Sun is completed and officially released on July 12th, 1968 in both stereo and mono formats. This is the final album in which a complete and original mono mix is produced and released in the U.S. In the 1980's, a CD version of the album is mastered using previously unused portions of vocals and music from the original recording sessions, notably on Wintertime Love and My Wild Love.

The Celebration Of The Lizard

Prior to the actual recording sessions for this album, Bruce Botnick takes The Doors into I.D. Sound Studios, the former Liberty Records studio, to practice recording the band's latest material where amongst other tracks, a demo is cut for a track now known as The Celebration Of The Lizard. Following its demoing, the second side of the upcoming LP is intended to be filled with the poetry compilation, however producer Paul Rothchild is unhappy with the results during the album sessions, and the track is cut down into partial form and released on the album as Not To Touch The Earth on Side 1. Later during live shows, The Doors perform the complete epic in its entirety throughout concerts until 1970. The band also includes portions of the track during other live performances of The Doors music, including A Little Game, a track stemming from The Doors original acetate, and The Hill Dwellers. While The Celebration Of The Lizard is never featured on a studio album by The Doors, a live version is recorded and released on Absolutely Live! in 1970.



TTG
Recording Dates:
11/xx/1967 - The Unknown Soldier - Recording
01/15/1968 - Spanish Caravan - Recording & Reduction
01/24/1968 - Unknown Track - Recording
01/25/1968 - Unknown Track - Recording
01/26/1968 - Unknown Track - Recording
02/19/1968 - The Celebration Of The Lizard - Rehearsal
02/20/1968 - The Celebration Of The Lizard - Recording
02/28/1968 - Wintertime Love (35 Takes)
02/28/1968 - Not To Touch The Earth (4 Takes)
03/xx/1968 - The Celebration Of The Lizard - Recording
03/03/1968 - Easy Ride (4:00pm-7:00pm)
03/07/1968 - Unknown Track (6:00pm-12:00am)
03/11/1968 - Not To Touch The Earth (14 Takes)
03/12/1968 - Not To Touch The Earth (14+ Takes)
03/13/1968 - Unknown Track (6:00pm-12:00am)
03/27/1968 - Unknown Track (7:00pm-11:00pm)
04/xx/1968 - Five To One - (Clap Track)
05/xx/1968 - Not To Touch The Earth - Recording




Schedule Of Recording Dates For April & May 1968, T.T.G. - Studio 1:
04/22/1968 - (1:00am-7:00am)
04/23/1968 - (12:00am-6:00am)
04/24/1968 - (12:00am-6:00am)
04/25/1968 - (1:00am-7:00am)
04/26/1968 - (1:00am-7:00am)
04/29/1968 - (12:00am-6:00am)
04/30/1968 - (12:00am-6:00am)
05/01/1968 - (12:00am-6:00am)
05/02/1968 - (12:00am-6:00am)
05/03/1968 - (12:00am-6:00am)


Studio Locations:
- I.D. Sound Studios - 1556 N. La Brea Ave. - Hollywood, CA
- Sunset Sound Recorders - 6650 Sunset Blvd. - Hollywood, CA
- T.T.G Recording Studios - 1441 N. McCadden Pl. - Los Angeles, CA

Released:
Hello, I Love You (Rough Mix)
Summer's Almost Gone (Rough Mix)
Yes, The River Knows (Rough Mix)
Spanish Caravan (Rough Mix)
Love Street (Rough Mix)
Wintertime Love (Rough Mix)
Not To Touch The Earth (Rough Mix)
Five To One (Rough Mix)
My Wild Love (Rough Mix)
Albinoni's Adagio In G Minor
Not To Touch The Earth (Dialogue)
Not To Touch The Earth (Take 1)
Not To Touch The Earth (Take 2)
The Celebration Of The Lizard (Rehearsal)
Wintertime Love (Alt. Vocals)



The Soft Parade

THE SOFT PARADE (1968-1969):

Release Date: July 18th, 1969

Side A:
Tell All The People
Touch Me
Shaman's Blues
Do It
Easy Ride
Side B:
Wild Child
Runnin' Blue
Wishful Sinful
The Soft Parade

After the release of Waiting For The Sun in early July 1968, The Doors are back in the studio to begin recording the majority of the music for what would become The Soft Parade album at the newly opened Elektra Sound Studios. Their first known session takes place on July 26th for the recording of Wild Child and Wishful Sinful. While Easy Ride appears on this album, it is recorded during an earlier March 3rd, 1968 session at T.T.G Studios for the Waiting For The Sun album. Other tracks from this album make a live debut prior to the album's release on both television and in concert, including Touch Me, Tell All The People, The Soft Parade and Who Scared You.

Various tracks recorded during these sessions are not included on the album, including Whiskey, Mystics and Men, and Queen Of The Highway. Who Scared You is also cut from the album, but is released in March of 1969 as the official B-Side to the Wishful Sinful 7" record single. Roadhouse Blues is in embryonic form during this recording period, with early attempts featuring Ray Manzarek on vocals. A blues track known from a B-Side recorded during the L.A. Woman sessions, (You Need Meat) Don't Go No Further is attempted by Ray, as well as an original composition known as I'm Your Doctor.

Numerous tracks on the album feature additional ochestral musicians at the direction of Paul Rothchild, along with The Doors go-to method of utilizing bass guitar players and other session musicians. Veteran studio bassist Doug Lubahn returns to take part in the recording process, and bassist Harvey Brooks is a new addition to the lineup who later joins the band on the road for two live performances featuring an orchestra in late 1968 and early 1969. To take part in the recording of Whiskey, Mystics And Men, Fritz Richmond of the Jim Kweskin Jug Band and mandolinist Jesse McReynolds are brought into the studio to record. Jesse McReynolds is also utilized to play mandolin on Runnin' Blue during this time period, along with Reinol Andino on conga, and Jimmy Buchanan on fiddle. The orchestral musicians include Curtis Amy on saxophone, who later takes part in The Doors live performance of Touch Me on The Smother Brothers show in late 1968, George Bohanon on trombone, and Champ Webb on English horn.

After almost a year of long and grueling studio sessions, the album is finally released in July of 1969. In 2007, a review of the master tapes by sound engineer Bruce Botnick reveals lost segments of vocals and instrumentation cut from the original release, including a previously unknown verse and musical introduction to The Soft Parade now known as I Am Troubled.


The Soft Parade - Master Tape
Recording Dates:
03/03/1968 - Easy Ride (4:00pm-7:00pm)
07/26/1968 - Wild Child (4:00pm-7:00pm)
07/26/1968 - Wishful Sinful (7:00pm-10:00pm)
11/12/1968 - Tell All The People (6:00pm-9:00pm - 34 Takes)
11/14/1968 - Touch Me (2:00pm-5:00pm - 16 Takes)
11/14/1968 - Who Scared You (6:00pm-9:00pm - 23 Takes)
11/14/1968 - Shaman's Blues (Unconfirmed)
11/15/1968 - Queen Of The Highway (44 Takes)
11/19/1968 - Do It (6:00pm-9:00pm)
11/20/1968 - Tell All The People (Horn overdubbing 12:00pm-3:30pm)
11/20/1968 - Wishful Sinful (Horn overdubbing 12:00pm-3:30pm)
11/20/1968 - Touch Me (Horn overdubbing 12:00pm-3:30pm)
11/20/1968 - Who Scared You (Horn overdubbing 12:00pm-3:30pm)
11/21/1968 - Touch Me (String overdubbing 6:00pm-9:00pm)
11/21/1968 - Wishful Sinful (String overdubbing 6:00pm-9:00pm)
12/30/1968 - Runnin' Blue (6:00pm-9:00pm w/overdubs possibly Jan. 6th 1969)
01/02/1969 - The Soft Parade Pt.1 (6:00pm-9:00pm)
01/14/1969 - The Soft Parade Pt.2 (4:00pm-7:00pm w/Conga overdubs 8:00pm-11:00pm)
01/15/1969 - The Soft Parade Pt.3 (5:00pm-8:00pm w/Conga overdubs 9:00pm-12:00am)
01/16/1969 - Queen Of The Highway (17 Takes)
01/16/1969 - Push Push
05/06/1969 - Roadhouse Blues (Ray On Vocals)
05/06/1969 - (You Need Meat) Don't Go No Further (Ray On Vocals)
05/06/1969 - I'm Your Doctor (Ray On Vocals)





Studio Location:
- Elektra Sound Studios - 962 N. La Cienega Blvd. - Los Angeles, CA

Released:
Chaos
I'm Your Doctor (Ray On Vocals)
Push Push
Roadhouse Blues (Ray On Vocals)
Rock Is Dead (Edit)
Rock Is Dead (Complete)
The Soft Parade (Extended Intro)
Touch Me (Dialogue)
Touch Me (Take 3)
Whisky, Mystics and Men (Version 1)
Whisky, Mystics and Men (Version 2)
Who Scared You (B-Side)
Who Scared You (B-Side - Edit)
Woman Is A Devil (Edit)
(You Need Meat) Don't Go No Further (Ray On Vocals)


Rock Is Dead

'ROCK IS DEAD' SESSION (1969):

Recorded on 8-track tape, the given date for this rehearsal session is February 25th, 1969 at Sunset Sound Recorders. The story goes that The Doors were out for Mexican food and a few drinks during The Soft Parade sessions, and upon returning to the studio, began this improvised session. Bootleg copies of the tapes feature overlays, and tracks that are not native to the sessions.

These are the only known recordings of Rock Is Dead, although Jim Morrison can be heard during the infamous Miami concert shouting similar verses. Also included is a take on Elvis Presley's Love Me Tender, and a version of Robert Johnson's Me & The Devil Blues, known to fans of The Doors as Woman Is A Devil. The Doors 1997 rarities boxset includes the track Rock Is Dead, a shorter version of the jam edited together from the master tapes, and Woman Is A Devil is featured as a bonus track on the single disc release Essential Rarities. Extra materials on the tape include a vocal fragment of Roadhouse Blues, and two takes from what may be another recording session altogether of Petition The Lord With Prayer. Another outtake known as Whisky, Mystics And Men is layered over the Petition session on bootleg copies, but can be heard without errors on the 2007 boxset Perception, proving that the master tapes are intact. While there are rumors that more materials from this session exist, a cut in the recording along with an original 8-track tape box reveal that collectors are already in possession of the materials found on the 2nd reel of tape.

Studio Location:
- Sunset Sound Recorders - 6650 Sunset Blvd. - Hollywood, CA

Tracklist:

Reel #1, Session #1 (Unknown Date):
Petition The Lord With Prayer (Unknown Take)
Petition The Lord With Prayer (Unknown Take)

Reel #1, Session #2 (Unknown Date):
Tuning / Studio Dialogue
Whisky, Mystics and Men (Version 2 - Unknown Take)

Reel #1, Session #3 (02/25/1969):
Love Me Tender
      "Gonna Save The Whole World"
Rock Is Dead >
      -Rock Me
Woman Is A Devil >
      "Let's Boogie!"
Rock Is Dead >
      "No Revolution"
      "Let's Sing The Blues"
      -Rock And Roll Woman
I Will Never Be Untrue
      -Queen Of The Magazines
      "You Think You Live Out There In Madison"

Reel #2, Session #3 cont'd (02/25/1969):
Pipeline / Wipeout (Instrumental)
      "I Like To Feel Alright"
Rock Me
Mystery Train >*
The Death of Rock Jam
      "A Little Piece"
      "I Could Not Help Myself"
      "Rock and Roll Is Dead!"
      "We Had Some Good Times"
      "No Revolution!"
      "The Death Of Rock Is The Death Of Me"
      -My Eyes Have Seen You Jam*
      "We Used To Talk About Rock And Roll"
      "Rock Is Dead"

*Featuring Jim Morrison on Harmonica



Morrison Hotel

MORRISON HOTEL (1969-1970):

Release Date: February 1st, 1970

Side A:
Roadhouse Blues
Waiting For The Sun
You Make Me Real
Peace Frog
Blue Sunday
Ship Of Fools
Side B:
Land Ho!
The Spy
Queen Of The Highway
Indian Summer
Maggie M'Gill

In early September 1969, The Doors enter the studio to begin rehearsing and recording new songs for what would become their 5th album, Morrison Hotel. On February 1st, 1970 the album is released. During these sessions, Lonnie Mack and John Sebastian join The Doors for a recording of Roadhouse Blues which had already made its live debut in partial form in the fall of 1969. The song is completed by November, and performed live in its entirety at the Felt Forum in New York. A vocal track for Indian Summer is recorded during these sessions, and overdubbed onto previously recorded music & vocals from the first album sessions. Towards the end of the recording process, The Doors look to Jim's notebooks for materials which may be put to use on the album. As a result, Peace Frog is a track with lyrics combined from two different poems. Waiting For The Sun, a track written for their third album is featured on this release. New data indicates an attempt to record Queen Of The Highway had taken place prior to these sessions during the recording of The Soft Parade and later picked up again, and Who Scared You, already an official 45rpm B-Side, is considered for release on this album.

Known and partially released session tapes give collectors an insight to the creative process of The Doors in the studio. Other known recordings which appear to be from these album sessions include the improvisation Smokey The Bear, Who Do You Love, and other tracks such as Universal Mind may have been recorded as well. A rough attempt of I Will Never Be Untrue also appears during the earlier attempts to record Queen Of The Highway. It appears that attempts were also made on Carol, a track only known to have been performed live. L'America, a track later released on L.A. woman is recorded prior to February 1970 for Michelangelo Antonioni's film Zabriskie Point. It is unknown as to whether or not the officially released version on L.A. Woman is the same final mix or recording of the track that would have been completed during the Morrison Hotel sessions.

Morrison Hotel

Recording Dates:
xx/xx/1969 - I Will Never Be Untrue (1 Take)
xx/xx/1969 - Queen Of The Highway (Multiple Takes)
xx/xx/1969 - Maggie M'Gill (1 Take)
xx/xx/1969 - The Spy (Multiple Takes)
xx/xx/1969 - Peace Frog/Blue Sunday (Multiple Takes)
11/04/1969 - Roadhouse Blues (Multiple Takes)
11/04/1969 - Carol (1 Take)
11/05/1969 - Roadhouse Blues (16 Takes)
11/xx/1969 - Roadhouse Blues (14 Takes)
12/xx/1969 - Ship Of Fools (16 Takes)
12/03/1969 - Maggie M'Gill
01/xx/1970 - Money
01/xx/1970 - Rock Me
01/xx/1970 - Roadhouse Blues (7 Takes)







Studio Location:
- Elektra Sound Studios - 962 N. La Cienega Blvd. - Los Angeles, CA

Released:
Blues For Lonnie (Instrumental)
I Will Never Be Untrue (Incomplete Take)
Carol (Segment - 11/04/1969)
Money (01/xx/1970)
Money Beats Soul (11/05/1969)
Peace Frog - Blue Sunday (Rehearsals & Dialogue)
Peace Frog - Blue Sunday (Take 4)
Peace Frog (Take 12)
Queen Of The Highway (Jazz Version)
Queen Of The Highway (Instrumental)
Queen Of The Highway (Take 1 - 11/15/1968)
Queen Of The Highway (Various Takes - 11/15/1968)
Queen Of The Highway (Take 44 - 11/15/1968)
Queen Of The Highway (Take 12 - 01/16/1969)
Queen Of The Highway (Take 14 - 01/16/1969)
Queen Of The Highway (Take 1 - Unknown Date)
Queen Of The Highway (Takes 5,6 & 9 - Unknown Date)
Queen Of The Highway (Take 14 - Unknown Date)
Queen Of The Highway (Unknown Take - Unknown Date)
Roadhouse Blues (Takes 1-3 - 11/04/1969)
Roadhouse Blues (Take 6 - 11/04/1969)
Roadhouse Blues (Take 1 - 11/05/1969)
Roadhouse Blues (Takes 13-15 - 11/05/1969)
Roadhouse Blues (Take 14 - Unknown Date)
Roadhouse Blues (Takes 6-7 - Unknown Date)
Roadhouse Blues (Takes 8 - Unknown Date)
Roadhouse Blues (Takes 1-2 - Unknown Date)
Roadhouse Blues (Takes 5, 6 & 14 - Unknown Date)
Rock Me (01/xx/1970>
Talking Blues
The Spy (Jazz Version)




Absolutely Live

ABSOLUTELY LIVE (1970):

Release Date: July-August, 1970
The Doors live performances at the Aquarius Theater in 1969 were originally recorded and intended for what was to become the band's official live album. With unsatisfactory results, The Doors set out to record numerous performances on their tour of the U.S. in mid-1970. Upon completion of the recordings, Paul Rothchild and Bruce Botnick begin the mixing & editing stages of The Doors new live album at Elektra Sound Studios. Recorded on a mobile 8-track machine, Paul examines the multi-track tapes for potential album material. Each album track becomes a composition of various takes of the songs edited and assembled into one, seamless track. The album is released in July 1970. All of the original Absolutely Live recordings have since been released as complete individual performances, and are available on CD & vinyl from Bright Midnight Archives.

Multi-track Recordings:
07/21/1969 - Aquarius Theater - CA
01/17/1970 - Felt Forum - NY
01/18/1970 - Felt Forum - NY
04/10/1970 - Boston Arena - MA
05/01/1970 - Philadelphia Spectrum - PA
05/02/1970 - Pittsburgh Civic Arena - PA
05/08/1970 - Detroit Cobo Arena - MI

^ Click on the above dates for complete tracklist information!




L.A. Woman

L.A. WOMAN (1970-1971):

Release Date: Late April, 1971

Side A:
The Changeling
Love Her Madly
Been Down So Long
Cars Hiss By My Window
L.A. Woman
Side B:
L'America
Hyacinth House
Crawling King Snake
The Wasp (Texas Radio & The Big Beat)
Riders On The Storm

In November of 1970, The Doors record a demo of their latest songs at Sunset Sound Recorders, and rehearse the new music for Paul Rothchild in the studio. He refuses to produce their new album, referring to it as "Cocktail Music", and sound engineer Bruce Botnick is quickly persuaded to co-produce the album along with the band themselves. Unhappy with their current workspace at Sunset Sound Recorders, Bruce moves recording gear into The Doors office and a makeshift studio is set up downstairs in their rehearsal space. Because the soundboard is to remain upstairs, Bruce Botnick also installs a talk-back system to communicate with the band. Elvis Presley's bass player Jerry Scheff, and guitarist Marc Benno are hired as session musicians to record the new music. On November 29th The Doors officially begin recording their new album at The Doors workshop. This is band's sixth and final studio album with Jim Morrison, and is said to have been recorded in a total of just 9 days.

In February of 1971, mixing takes place at Poppi Studios, and by mid-March 1971, Jim Morrison leaves for Paris, instructing the band to complete the mixing process themselves. Mastering is completed at Artisan Sound Recorders by March 17th, and the album is released in April with Robby Krieger's original composition Love Her Madly as the first single. Although a tour does not take place to promote this album, live performances of Riders On The Storm, The Changeling, Love Her Madly and L.A. Woman are given in Dallas in 1970, and more L.A. Woman tracks are performed live during The Doors final performance with Jim Morrison in New Orleans the following day. On another unknown date in December, The Doors are captured on film by an Australian television crew while performing Crawling King Snake in The Doors office for a 10 minute program known as GTK (Get To Know) airing on ABC.

During the recording sessions for this album, Jim Morrison is given 'Blues Day' as in incentive by the band to participate in the studio, and the group rehearses and records various blues songs, producing multiple blues tracks for the album, including Crawling King Snake, Been Down So Long, and Cars Hiss By My Window. Other non-album blues tracks are also recorded including Rock Me, Get Out Of My Life Woman, and a jam now known as She Smells So Nice. Another non-album blues track, (You Need Meat) Don't Go No Further featuring Ray Manzarek on vocals, is later included as the B-side on 7" vinyl copies of the Love Her Madly 45rpm single.

Prior to the recording sessions for the album, a demo track version of Hyacinth House is made by Robby Krieger at his home on his personal 4-track tape recorder, although the exact year and date of this recording is unknown. A track derived from different versions of a poem, L'America, is originally recorded in 1969 for Michelangelo Antonioni's film Zabriskie Point. The WASP (Texas Radio & The Big Beat), a track performed live since 1968 is also recorded for inclusion on the album. A live-only track known as Palace In The Canyon is performed during The Doors final performances in Dallas and New Orleans. In the midst of the L.A. Woman recording period, Jim Morrison also completes a three hour poetry session at The Village Recorder on December 8th, a session given to Jim as a birthday gift from Frank Lisciandro.

In July of 1997, following the recent recording of new material for 1995's reissue of An American Prayer, The Doors return to the studio to set new musical backing to an untitled Jim Morrison vocal & piano song idea recorded during his 1969 poetry session, and the result is a track known as Orange County Suite. This newly formed song is first released on the 1997 boxset, and later reused as a bonus track on future releases of the L.A. Woman album.

In 2011, The Doors and Bruce Botnick review session tapes for a 40th anniversary edition of L.A. Woman to be packaged together in various formats, and an extensive list of alternate takes of album tracks and previously undocumented non-album tracks are re-discovered and released. In 2021, the tapes are re-visited for a 50th anniversary release, and a long lost demo of Riders On The Storm recorded at Sunset Sound Studios is discovered on an unmarked reel.

Paris Blues

In November 2022, The Doors release a track from the L.A. Woman sessions now known as Paris Blues on an EP of the same title. Marc Benno, rhythm guitarist on the L.A. Woman album, has confirmed his presence on the recording. Analysis of the track reveals that certain lyrical passages printed in a 1992 guidebook are not present on the recording, and other passages not printed in the guidebook are present on the recording, indicating that multiple takes of the song may have been recorded during the original sessions. Due to the unknown whereabouts of the master tapes, a damaged cassette tape dub of at least one take of the song has survived and is repaired for the 2022 EP release. The original recording date for Paris Blues is currently unknown.

Jim Morrison's L.A. Woman Grocery List

In the 2022 release of Genesis Publications deluxe Jim Morrison package, A Guide To The Labyrinth, a previously undocumented list of songs handwritten by Jim Morrison is published, outlining a number of ideas for potential recording during the L.A. Woman sessions. Eleven songs are listed, including three that make it to the final album, and the remaining titles are songs previously rehearsed in the studio or performed live in concert. Two of the listed songs are completely unknown in any recorded form, and at the top of the list is 'Night + a Day', referring to Happy For A Night & A Day, discussed and explained by Ray Manzarek in a late 1971 interview. 'Deja Vu' is undocumented in any form, either by word, poetry publication, or recording. A third song listed as 'The Lizard' likely pertains to The Celebration Of The Lizard. See below for the complete list as written by Jim Morrison.


JIM MORRISON'S GROCERY LIST:

Album 6-7

Night + a Day
LAmerica
The Changeling
The Cars hiss by my Window
Deja Vu
Some day Soon
Away in India
<Push-Push>
Rock is Dead
The Lizard
I Will never be Untrue


SUNSET SOUND DEMOS:

L.A. Woman
Love Her Madly
Riders On The Storm

* NOTE: At present date, only Riders On The Storm has been confirmed from the Sunset Sound demos.


L.A. Woman
Recording Dates:
11/29/1970 - Unknown Tracks - Recording
11/30/1970 - The Changeling - Recording
12/01/1970 - The Changeling - Recording
12/01/1970 - Love Her Madly - Recording
12/02/1970 - Riders On The Storm - Recording
12/03/1970 - L.A. Woman - Recording
12/04/1970 - Crawling King Snake - Recording
12/04/1970 - Cars Hiss By My Window - Recording
12/05/1970 - Been Down So Long - Recording
12/06/1970 - Texas Radio & The Big Beat - Recording

L.A. Woman Studio Dates Courtesy Of TheDoors.ai









Studio Locations:
- Sunset Sound Recorders - 6650 Sunset Blvd. - Hollywood, CA
- The Doors Office - 8512 Santa Monica Blvd. - Hollywood, CA
- Poppi Studios (Mixing) - 7317 Romaine St. - Hollywood, CA
- Artisan Sound Recorders (Mastering) - 1600 N. Wilcox - Hollywood, CA


Released:

40th Anniversary:
The Changeling (Alternate)
Love Her Madly (Alternate - Take 8)
Cars Hiss By My Window (Alternate)
L.A. Woman (Alternate)
The WASP (Alternate)
Been Down So Long (Alternate)
The Dick Bills Show (Theme)
Rawhide
Riders On The Storm (False Start - Take 9)
Riders On The Storm (Take 10 Dialogue)
Riders On The Storm (Alternate)
She Smells So Nice
Rock Me > Mr. Mojo Risin'
L.A. Woman (Take 1)
Crawling King Snake (Run Through)
The Changeling (Take 9)
Love Her Madly (Take 1)



Other:
Cars Hiss By My Window (Extra Verse)
Crawling King Snake (GTK)
Hyacinth House (Demo)
L.A. Woman (Extended Intro)
Orange County Suite (1997)
Paris Blues
(You Need Meat) Don't Go No Further



50th Anniversary:
The Changeling (Take 1 - Incomplete)
The Changeling (Take 2)
The Changeling (Take 3)
The Changeling (Take 4 - Incomplete)
The Changeling (Take 5 - Incomplete)
The Changeling (Take 6 - No Take)
The Changeling (Take 7 - Incomplete)
The Changeling (Take 8 - Incomplete)
The Changeling (Take 9)*
The Changeling (Take 10 - Incomplete)
The Changeling (Take 11 - Incomplete)
The Changeling (Take 12 - Incomplete)
Love Her Madly (Take 1 - Incomplete)*
Love Her Madly (Take 2 - Incomplete)
Love Her Madly (Take 3 - Incomplete)
Love Her Madly (Take 4 - Incomplete)
Love Her Madly (Take 5)
Love Her Madly (Take 7 - Incomplete)
Love Her Madly (Take 8)*
Love Her Madly (Take 9)
Riders On The Storm (Take 5)
The Dick Bills Show (Theme)*
Rawhide*
Riders On The Storm (Take 6 - Incomplete)
Riders On The Storm (Take 9 - Incomplete)*
Riders On The Storm (Take 10 - Incomplete)
Riders On The Storm (Take 10 - Incomplete)
Riders On The Storm (Take 11 - Incomplete)
Riders On The Storm (Take 12 - Incomplete)
Arthritis On The Stone (Take 16 - Incomplete)



L.A. Woman (Run Through)
L.A. Woman (Take 1)*
L.A. Woman (Take 2 - Incomplete)
L.A. Woman (Take 3)*
Been Down So Long (Unknown Take)*
Been Down So Long (Take 1 - Incomplete)
Been Down So Long (Take 2 - Incomplete)
Been Down So Long (Take 4 - Incomplete)
Been Down So Long (Take 6)
Been Down So Long (Take 7)
Been Down So Long (Take 8 - Incomplete)
Been Down So Long (Take 9 - Incomplete)
Been Down So Long (Take 10 - Incomplete)
Been Down So Long (Take 11 - Incomplete)
Crawling King Snake (Take 1 - Incomplete)*
Crawling King Snake (Take 2 - Incomplete)*
Crawling King Snake (Take 3 - Incomplete)*
Crawling King Snake (Take 4 - Incomplete)*
The Bastard Son Of Jimmy & Mama Reed (Take 1 - Incomplete)*
The Bastard Son Of Jimmy & Mama Reed (Take 2 - Incomplete)*
Mystery Train (Take 1 - Incomplete)
The WASP (Unknown Take)
She Smells So Nice*
Rock Me > Mr. Mojo Risin'*
Baby, Please Don't Go (Instrumental)
Get Out Of My Life, Woman
Hyacinth House (Demo)*
Riders On The Storm (Sunset Sound Demo)

* Previously Released


THE DOORS OFFICE/WORKSHOP SESSIONS:


NOTE: The following list was posted online by The Doors Music Co. in 2011

THE CHANGELING (TAKE 1) [incomplete]
THE CHANGELING (TAKE 2)
THE CHANGELING (TAKE 3)
THE CHANGELING (TAKE 4) [incomplete]
THE CHANGELING (TAKE 5) [incomplete]
THE CHANGELING (TAKE 6) [no take]
THE CHANGELING (TAKE 7) [incomplete]
STUDIO DIALOGUE
THE CHANGELING (TAKE 8) [incomplete]
THE CHANGELING (TAKE 9)
STUDIO DIALOGUE
THE CHANGELING (TAKE 10) [incomplete]
STUDIO DIALOGUE

STUDIO DIALOGUE
THE CHANGELING (TAKE 11)
STUDIO DIALOGUE
THE CHANGELING (TAKE 12) [false start]
LOVE HER MADLY (TAKE 1) [incomplete]
LOVE HER MADLY (TAKE 2) [incomplete]
JAMMING
STUDIO DIALOGUE
TUNING
STUDIO DIALOGUE
LOVE HER MADLY (TAKE 5)
STUDIO DIALOGUE
LOVE HER MADLY (TAKE 7) [incomplete]
LOVE HER MADLY (TAKE 8)
STUDIO DIALOGUE

STUDIO DIALOGUE
RIDERS ON THE STORM (TAKE 5)
STUDIO DIALOGUE
THE DICK BILLS SHOW THEME
RAWHIDE
RIDERS ON THE STORM (TAKE 6) [incomplete]
STUDIO DIALOGUE
RIDERS ON THE STORM (TAKE 9) [false start]
RIDERS ON THE STORM (TAKE 10) [incomplete]
STUDIO DIALOGUE
RIDERS ON THE STORM (TAKE 11) [long false start]
RIDERS ON THE STORM (TAKE 12) [long false start]
STUDIO DIALOGUE
RIDERS ON THE STORM (TAKE 16) [long false start]
L.A. WOMAN [run through]
STUDIO DIALOGUE
STUDIO DIALOGUE
L.A. WOMAN (TAKE 1) [incomplete]
L.A. WOMAN (TAKE 2) [incomplete]
JAMMING
L.A. WOMAN (TAKE 3)
STUDIO DIALOGUE
STUDIO DIALOGUE
L.A. WOMAN (TAKE 4) [false start]
STUDIO DIALOGUE
L.A. WOMAN (TAKE 7) [incomplete]
STUDIO DIALOGUE
L.A. WOMAN (TAKE 8) [incomplete]
STUDIO DIALOGUE
L.A. WOMAN (TAKE 10) [incomplete]
STUDIO DIALOGUE
L.A. WOMAN (TAKE 11)
CRAWLING KING SNAKE (TAKE 1) [incomplete]
STUDIO DIALOGUE

STUDIO DIALOGUE
BEEN DOWN SO LONG (TAKE 1) [incomplete]
STUDIO DIALOGUE
BEEN DOWN SO LONG (TAKE 4) [incomplete]
STUDIO DIALOGUE
BEEN DOWN SO LONG (TAKE 6)
STUDIO DIALOGUE
BEEN DOWN SO LONG (TAKE 7)
JAMMING
BEEN DOWN SO LONG (TAKE 8) [false start]
BEEN DOWN SO LONG (TAKE 9) [false start]
BEEN DOWN SO LONG (TAKE 10) [incomplete]
BEEN DOWN SO LONG (TAKE 11) [incomplete]
JAMMING
THE WASP (TEXAS RADIO AND THE BIG BEAT) (TAKE 1) [incomplete]
THE WASP (TEXAS RADIO AND THE BIG BEAT) (TAKE 2) [incomplete]
JAMMING
THE WASP (TEXAS RADIO AND THE BIG BEAT) (TAKE 3) [incomplete]
THE WASP (TEXAS RADIO AND THE BIG BEAT) (TAKE 4) [incomplate]
JAMMING
THE WASP (TEXAS RADIO AND THE BIG BEAT) (TAKE 5)
STUDIO DIALOGUE
THE WASP (TEXAS RADIO AND THE BIG BEAT) (TAKE 6)
STUDIO DIALOGUE
THE WASP (TEXAS RADIO AND THE BIG BEAT) (TAKE 7) [incomplete]
THE WASP (TEXAS RADIO AND THE BIG BEAT) (TAKE 8)



OTHER VOICES - FULL CIRCLE (1971-1972):

While Jim resides in Paris, The Doors begin rehearsing new materials. Whether or not the band rehearsed with a new singer prior to July is unclear, however the decision is made to complete an album despite the death of Jim Morrison. Various musicians take part in these sessions, including Elvis Presley's bass player Jerry Scheff, Jack Conrad, and Ray Neapolitan, and Bruce Botnick returns as sound engineer and co-producer. Recording begins in September at The Doors office. Other Voices is released the same month, and a tour follows in November.

In February 1972, the band begins recording what would become their final Elektra album as the group known as The Doors. These recording sessions take place at A & M Recording Studios in Hollywood with sound engineer Henry Lewy. The Doors again produce their own album, and Full Circle is released in May. A track known as Treetrunk is released as a B-side to the Get Up And Dance single.

Studio Locations:
- The Doors Office - 8512 Santa Monica Blvd. - Hollywood, CA
- A & M Recording Studios - 1416 N. LaBrea Ave. - Hollywood, CA



An American Prayer

AN AMERICAN PRAYER (1977-1978):

Release Date: November 14th, 1978

Side A:
AWAKE
Ghost Song
Dawn's Highway
Newborn Awakening
TO COME OF AGE
Black Polished Chrome
Latino Chrome
Angels And Sailors
Stoned Immaculate
THE POET'S DREAMS
The Movie
Curses, Invocations
Side B:
WORLD ON FIRE
American Night
Roadhouse Blues
The World On Fire
Lament
The Hitchhiker
AN AMERICAN PRAYER
Hour For Magic
Freedom Exists
A Feast Of Friends

In late 1977 the surviving members of The Doors rejoin at Hollywood Sound Recorders to record musical backing to Jim Morrison's poetry recordings. Accompanying The Doors in the studio are producer and sound engineer John Haeny, assistant engineer Paul Black, and musicians Bob Glaub and Jerry Scheff on bass, Reinol Andino on percussion, and Arthur Barrow for synthesizer programming. Longtime friend of Jim Morrison, Frank Lisciandro takes on a role in the project as co-producer, lending a hand in the structure and design of the album. Other contributors include Paul Ferrara and Babe Hill. Mixing and mastering takes place at Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles in March of 1978, and the album is released in November as An American Prayer.

Along with the new music recorded for the project, additional tracks previously recorded by The Doors are used in the production, including Riders On The Storm, The WASP, and a new live edit of Roadhouse Blues is crafted by John Haeny to take the place of an originally intended live recording of Gloria. Whiskey, Mystics And Men, a track recorded by The Doors in 1969, is brought into the sessions for overdubbing but does not make the cut for the album. Another previously unreleased track recorded at T.T.G. Studios in 1968 is Albinoni's Adagio In G Minor, and The Doors are persuaded by their producer to arrange and record a new version with Jerry Scheff on bass for use as the final track on the album. The poetry tapes themselves are provided by John Haeny who records the two original sessions on February 9th, 1969, and December 8th, 1970. Studio outtakes from these 1978 recording sessions have not been released at the current date, however tape boxes from these sessions indicate that alternate versions of The Ghost Song still exist from the original sessions, and the overdubbed version of Whiskey, Mystics And Men is released on The Doors 1997 boxset.

In their attempt to broaden the scope of recordings available for use in the project, co-producer Frank Lisciandro provides a live recording of Jim Morrison and Robby Krieger performing obscure songs and poetical bits at Cinematheque 16 in Los Angeles on May 31st 1969, and the previously unreleased I Will Never Be Untrue becomes the chosen cut for the album. Frank also provides a selection from a set of tapes known as the Endless Night tapes, an all-night motel drinking session and conversation between Jim Morrison and his friends. In order to meet the standards for sound quality, the Endless Night tapes are taken to Soundstream Inc. in Salt Lake City for audio restoration by Dr. Thomas Stockham to remove the sound of the air conditioner present in the motel room. Audio tape recordings made on a Nagra during the filming of Jim Morrison's HWY are also previewed for the album and a small portion is used.

In early 1995 a plan to reissue the album featuring a remaster by Paul Rothchild and Bruce Botnick is in place, and once again The Doors enter the studio to produce new music for the release. Recording takes place at Ocean Way Recording and mixing is completed at Post Logic Studios. This is the first time all three surviving members of the band are in the studio together since the original recording sessions for this album. By the beginning of April, the new cuts ready to be featured in the remastered edition include Babylon Fading, Bird Of Prey, and a new version of The Ghost Song. Along with a full release on vinyl and CD, The Doors offer a CD maxi-single of The Ghost Song, featuring the live cut of Roadhouse Blues, a live version of Love Me Two Times, and an interview with The Doors recorded at the Fillmore Auditorium in July of 1967 by Lennart Wretlind. A music video of the track is also filmed in March for promotion on television. The remastered edition of the album is released on May 23rd, 1995.

Studio Locations:
- Hollywood Sound Recorders - 6367 Selma Avenue - Hollywood, CA
- Cherokee Studios - 751 N. Fairfax Avenue - Los Angeles, CA
- Ocean Way Recording - 6050 Sunset Blvd. - Hollywood, CA (1995)
- Post Logic Studios - 1800 N. Vine St. - Hollywood, CA (1995)


1995 Bonus Tracks:
Babylon Fading
Bird Of Prey
The Ghost Song

Released:
Roadhouse Blues (Live - Stereo & Mono Edit)
The Ghost Song (Promotional Video)
Whiskey, Mystics And Men (1997 Boxset)

Unreleased:
The Ghost Song (1978 Alternate Takes)