Artist: Doors, The
Label: Atlantic Records
Release: 1970
Rating: 4/5
The fifth studio album, “Morrison Hotel,” is without a doubt a return of the good old The Doors. No long-winded songs, no spoken-word recital, no revolutionary sagas. Instead, it serves up a raw blues rock sound that leaves the orchestral experimenting of the previous album “The Soft Parade” in the dust. This time around, all the lyrics are Jim Morrison’s masterpiece, tying together into one cohesive whole and carrying us off into the dream promises and nightmares of America at the time. Critics and fans alike welcomed the album with open arms, and it still counts as one of their finest masterpieces, since it heads back to their true roots.
“Roadhouse Blues” kicks off our journey on an optimistic note. Even though a fun adventure is guaranteed, we shouldn’t forget to keep a careful eye on the road and a firm grip on the wheel, because every adventure brings joy and danger in equal measure. While The Beatles were urging us to “let it be” and The Rolling Stones to “let it bleed,” Morrison’s advice was “let it roll.” It’s definitely one of the best-known tracks on the album, and there’s no shortage of covers of it. “Waiting fot the Sun” was actually written for their third studio album of the same name, but it only turns up on this record. It’s yet another classic The Doors track, serving up the mystique of their early years. The lyrics are said to hint at the so-called American Dream, which of course never comes true. “You Make Me Real” you could say expired a long time ago, since its verses sound like early Beatles, but the repeating chorus still reminds us to “roll, baby, roll.” “Peace Frog” is lifted from Morrison’s original “Abortion Stories” and is a dynamic mix of his personal history with a touch of political commentary. A funky guitar rhythm leads us into “Blue Sunday,” one of many love ballads. “Ship of Fools” and “Land Ho!” bring new adventures. “Ship of Fools” shows us the ultimate fate of a doomed race, while “Land Ho!” carries on with a depiction of the proud hopes and dreams of the pioneers who first reached America. The ships mentioned in the song most likely refer to the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria. The moody atmosphere that the piano and guitar build so well, along with Morrison’s vocal pauses in “The Spy,” reveals that we can’t hide our dreams, words and fears from anyone, because sooner or later people always find out about them. “Queen of The Highway” is dedicated to Morrison’s girlfriend Pamela, and it’s followed by the simple yet aesthetically polished ballad “Indian Summer.” The trip wraps up with the slow “Maggie M’Gill,” where the theme of the whole album, “roll on,” comes up once more – our job is to make the most of the life we live, no matter how bizarre or ordinary it is, and to try to have as much fun as we can along the way.
Lineup
Jim Morrison: vocals
Ray Manzarek: keyboards
Robby Krieger: guitar
John Densmore: drums
Production
Paul A. Rothchild
Tracklist
1.Roadhouse Blues
2.Waiting For The Sun
3.You Make Me Real
4.Peace Frog
5.Blues Sunday
6.Ship Of Fools
7.Land Ho!
8.The Spy
9.Queen Of The Highway
10.Indian Summer
11.Maggie M’Gill
Album length: 37.05
