The Doors (album)

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The Doors is the debut studio album by the American rock band the Doors. It was released on January 4, 1967, by Elektra Records. The album was recorded in August 1966 at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, California, and produced by Paul A. Rothchild with engineer Bruce Botnick.

Background
- The Doors formed in 1965–1966 after Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger, John Densmore, and Jim Morrison came together following local music work and live gigs in Los Angeles. They built a following at venues like Whisky a Go Go on the Sunset Strip.
- Elektra Records signed the band in 1966 after producer Jac Holzman and others saw them perform. The debut album was planned for release in late 1966 but came out in early 1967 to capitalize on the growing success of the band.

Recording and sound
- Recording took place over about a week at Sunset Sound Studios. The process used a four‑track machine, with three main tracks (bass/drums, guitar/organ, and Morrison’s vocals) and a fourth for overdubs.
- Bass parts were sometimes filled by session players (notably Larry Knechtel) to add punch on some tracks, while Robby Krieger played bass on a couple of others. Ray Manzarek played keyboard bass and organ, and Krieger contributed guitar and occasional backing vocals.
- The album mixed many styles—psychedelic rock, blues, jazz, classical, pop, and R&B—anchored by rock. The record had a raw, exploratory edge and often used an echo chamber for distinct effects.
- The group recorded most of the material from live performances and refined it in the studio. Some songs were shortened or altered for radio play, notably Light My Fire and Break On Through, to fit AM radio formats.

Content and notable songs
- The Doors features some of the band’s best‑known material, including Break On Through (To the Other Side), Soul Kitchen, The Crystal Ship, Twentieth Century Fox, Alabama Song (Whisky Bar), Light My Fire, Back Door Man, I Looked at You, End of the Night, Take It as It Comes, and The End.
- Break On Through was the debut single (relatively modest at first), while Light My Fire became a major hit in the US. The End closes the album with an extended, improvised section that has been widely discussed for its provocative imagery.
- The album includes two cover songs: Alabama Song (a Brecht/Weill piece) and Back Door Man (a Howlin’ Wolf/Bill Dixon blues composition). Morrison’s lyrics often explored grand, universal themes and were complemented by the band’s eclectic musical approach.

Release and reception
- The Doors debuted January 4, 1967, on Elektra Records. The cover photo was taken by Joel Brodsky; the release helped establish the Doors as major players in 1960s rock.
- In the United States, the album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard chart, helped by an edited single version of Light My Fire. The album later became one of the best‑selling records by the Doors, with sales surpassing 13 million copies worldwide (as of 2015).
- The album has been widely recognized as a landmark in psychedelic and broader rock history. It has appeared on numerous “greatest albums” lists and is often cited as the Doors’ finest work. It has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and the National Recording Registry for its cultural significance.

Reissues and formats
- The Doors has been reissued many times since the 1980s:
- 1981: Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab half‑speed master on vinyl.
- 1988: Digital remastering from the original master tapes.
- 1992: 24‑karat gold CD and 180‑gram vinyl reissues.
- 1999: Reissued in 96k/24‑bit for The Complete Studio Recordings box set.
- 2006: DVD‑Audio version as part of the Perception set.
- 2007: 40th‑anniversary edition with a stereo remix and bonus tracks.
- 2009: Original mono version released on 180‑gram vinyl.
- 2011: Hybrid SACD release in Japan; later SACD reissues and surround mixes.
- 2017: Deluxe 50th‑anniversary edition with original stereo and mono mixes plus live material from The Matrix (San Francisco, 1967).

Track listing (original album)
Side one
- Break On Through (To the Other Side) – 2:25
- Soul Kitchen – 3:30
- The Crystal Ship – 2:30
- Twentieth Century Fox – 2:30
- Alabama Song (Whisky Bar) – 3:15
- Light My Fire – 7:06

Side two
- Back Door Man – 3:30
- I Looked at You – 2:18
- End of the Night – 2:49
- Take It as It Comes – 2:13
- The End – 11:35

Legacy
- The Doors is widely regarded as a defining debut that helped shape psychedelic and hard rock in the late 1960s. It established the Doors as a major force in rock and remains a critical and popular favorite. The band’s early work, including this album, is often cited for its bold experimentation, poetic lyrics, and fusion of diverse musical styles.

Personnel (basic)
- Jim Morrison – vocals
- Ray Manzarek – keyboards, organ, keyboard bass; backing vocals
- Robby Krieger – guitar; bass on some tracks; backing vocals
- John Densmore – drums; backing vocals on Alabama Song
- Additional bass on some tracks by Larry Knechtel
- Producer: Paul A. Rothchild
- Engineer: Bruce Botnick
- Cover photography: Joel Brodsky

The Doors (album) helped launch a legendary rock group and remains a touchstone for fans of 1960s rock and psychedelic music.