The Doors

Morrison Hotel is the fifth studio album by American rock band The Doors, released by Elektra Records on February 9, 1970.

With Jim Morrison front and center, this album was a welcome return to The Door’s associated blues rock sound. After the use of brass and string arrangements recommended by producer Paul A. Rothchild on The Soft Parade, the Doors returned to their blues-rock style and this album was largely seen as a return to form for the band. Blues rock guitar pioneers Lonnie Mack and Ray Neapolitan contributed to the album as session bassists also.

“Roadhouse Blues” – Marks the album’s popularity with Morrison’s poetic imagery evoking an American West highway with the lines “Keep your eyes on the road/ Your hand upon the wheel” before entering a boozy roadhouse sound. Krieger’s fat, distorted guitar riff leads the drive of “Roadhouse Blues”, the pure rocker which opens the album. The nicely locked guitar and bass riff is accompanied by Manzarek’s barrelhouse piano and the ever-present harmonica of The Lovin’ Spoonful’s John Sebastian. Morrison leads the way with his party-ready lyrics in a manner like a manifestation of a night of drinking, moving through the various moods. It’s like listening to an old blues tune with an upbeat feel.

“Waiting for the Sun” – This is one of two tracks that peeks back to the earlier sound of the Doors. A leftover from the album of the same name, this track was recorded in early 1968 and features a superior organ sound and an overall dark and moody vibe throughout. I feel the song didn’t get enough recognition. It’s also one of my favorite tracks off the album.

“You Make Me Real” – Driven by Manzarek’s piano roll and the frantic drumming of John Densmore. The song also showcases Morrison’s ability to rise above his normally laid-back crooner style towards the vocal frenzy. Krieger adds a couple of excellent leads. Ray Neapolitan also adds his bass work to this track. Definitely an upbeat song, that makes you feel like moving. The album isn’t without its warmer regions. ‘You Make Me Real’, the album’s only single, was written as a rather intense declaration of Morrison’s love for his girlfriend, Pamela Courson. Returning to the hoedown energy that pervades much of the record, he passionately screams, “I really want you/ Really do/ Really need you, baby/ God knows I do. The lyrics incorporate sexual innuendo such as the line “So let me slide in your tender sunken sea.” In the refrain Morrison sings “You make me real, you make me feel, like lovers feel, you make me throw away mistaken misery, make me free, love, make me free” and the song ends with Morrison loudly exclaiming “Make me free”. In my opinion, their love wasn’t perfect, but she inspired him and hearing that craving in his voice. You can definitely feel the lyrics. Another favorite on this album.

“Peace Frog”/”Blue Sunday” – This is one of the more unforgettable tracks from the album, with pure funk throughout with Morrison’s vocals simultaneously singing two lines. Krieger’s main riff is nicely distorted with a percussive “Wah-wah” effect. The song’s mid-section includes a line from Morrison’s poem “Newborn Awakening” later released in full on his posthumous solo album An American Prayer.
The song medleys with “Blue Sunday”, a pure ballad with light organ and simple guitar backing in a very short but pleasant track. “Blue Sunday” pairs so well with “Peace Frog”, not many realize they are 2 separate tracks but played together as one. Sort of like you need to hear Pink Floyd’s “Brain Damage” and “Eclipse” as one track!

“Ship of Fools” – Morrison continues a political angle in ‘Ship of Fools’ as he opens on a cheery note, he sings, “The human race was dyin’ out/ No one left to scream and shout/ People walkin’ on the moon/ Smog will get you pretty soon”. Now there is a book by Katherine Anne Porter called “Ship of Fools” in 1962 (with a film later in 1965) but I am not sure if his inspiration was from that or if it was a recent events theory that inspired him?

“Land Ho!” – This is a wild, joyous, and rock tune about sailors and adventures. After the second verse, the song eases into a moderate tone until Morrison screams “LAND HO!” and launches the partially carefree but totally fun outro. Morrison’s father and his grandfather were both naval men. Jim Morrison probably adapted the lyrics from a modified poem of his.

“The Spy” – This track goes to the jazz nightclub scene and is different than anything else The Doors have ever recorded. Morrison’s vocals are reserved but potent, as are the lyrics which border on the fine line between true love and total manipulation. The song’s lyrics are about the problems in Morrison’s relationship with Pamela Courson. Morrison sings about the mistrust in what she was doing, even reaching the point of manipulating her. The song is based on the Anaïs Nin novel, “A Spy in the House of Love”. Which, Jim Morrison initially called the song “The Spy in the House of Love”. I believe he was truly a bookworm.

“Queen of the Highway” – One of the more underrated songs. Features Manzarek’s incredible electric piano and makes you feel that there is so much more packed into this less-than-three-minute track, all guided by Densmore’s powerful drumming. Another Pamela Courson inspired track; I am sure? Lyrics like: ” He was a monster, Black dressed in leather”, referring to himself. Maybe he didn’t treat her kindly, but it was a “free” relationship with no doubt he completely loved her. Cosmic love perhaps?

“Indian Summer” – According to Robby Krieger, “This was the very first song The Doors ever recorded; they did it for a demo they made in 1965. They did not release it until 1970 because they didn’t feel the recording quality was up to standard”. In reality, ‘Indian Summer’ is a love song—short, sweet, and with an understatement that fans of The Doors might not expect from Morrison. As with much of their work, the apparent simplicity and deeper meaning, one which require a peeling back of layers to fully appreciate. Maybe he’s singing to his lover, maybe it’s just something replaying in his head, or maybe it was the spark of a poem. Either way, this track leaves you feeling he’s telling his “lover” she’s the best and his devotion to her is for her. He loves her the best!

“Maggie M’Gill” – As it begins, Morrison Hotel ends with a blues-tinged rocker. Krieger leads the way musically on this song with his double-tracked, twangy guitar riffs throughout while Morrison waxes poetic. The song is brain-picking. It could be his poetry; it could be a made of story about a woman of the night. or maybe even him as the drunk and the what-ifs of a child born that he left nothing to? If you have watched Oliver Stone’s The Doors (Movie), it is referenced that he had Patricia Kennealy (on the side). There is a scene in which a High Priestess (played by Patricia herself in the movie) marries the Jim and Patricia characters with later in the movie her telling him she was carrying his child. To his reply saying get rid of it. I know she was an advisor for the movie but has been quoted as saying “Stone’s portrayal of Morrison, herself, and others depicted for the fictionalized drama, saying the film bore little or no resemblance to the people she had known or the events they lived through”. What do you think?

On a side note: The cover photo for the album was taken by Henry Diltz at the Morrison Hotel on South Hope Street in Downtown Los Angeles. The band was not permitted to photograph, so they did it while the clerk was called away from the desk. The band jumped right behind the windows and hit their places without shuffling as Diltz snapped the picture. The rear cover features a photograph of the Hard Rock Café at nearby 300 East 5th Street. The building is now home to a convenience store. It has been vacant for years. However, a new development plan to restore the building was announced back in 2018. In early 1983, thirteen years after the album’s release, parts of Michael Jackson’s music video for the song “Beat It” were filmed inside the former Hard Rock Café on 5th Street. Then unfortunately December 26, 2024, the former Morrison Hotel building was severely damaged by fire. The cause is still currently unknown.