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The Doors!

Winslow Leach

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An absolute MUST for Doors fan is the excellent The Doors Collection, a DVD that contains everything you ever wanted to know about the group and more. It's absolutely invaluable.

To start things off, there's a nice video "Welcome" intro from Ray Manzarek, John Densmore and Robby Krieger, who introduce the disc, and tell you what to expect.

Then there are three full-length programs, originally produced for home video, each running over an hour.

Dance on Fire - this is a compilation of Doors performances taken from several sources. We get a promo film (early rock video) of the band performing Break on Through. This clip was produced by Elektra Records to promote the single. There's the infamous Ed Sullivan Show performance of "Light My Fire," and performances of the Doors from The Jonathan Winters Show, American Bandstand, Murray the K, and The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. This last clip is particularly interesting. The band performs "Touch Me," and Robbie clearly has a black eye. Apparently he had gotten into a fight the day before the show was to be taped. When he arrived at the studio, the make-up people insisted he cover up the wound, but Robbie refused, and went on national television with a black eye!

The Doors Live at the Hollywood Bowl - the complete concert of the group's Hollywood Bowl show, filmed by a camera crew on July 5, 1968.

The Soft Parade - this was produced by the Doors in response to the Stone film. The bulk of the material is a PBS Soundstage performance/interview session, with a bearded Morrison performing songs from "The Soft Parade" album, as well as several tunes that were never officially released on vinyl.

All three programs have optional commentaries by the Doors. These commentaries are fun, funny, informative and extremely entertaining to listen to. Plus, they are often very screen-specific, and tell you a little bit about the background of what you're seeing onscreen (that's how I learned about Robbie's black eye story).

Next, we get two complete, ultra-rare STUDENT FILMS by Ray Manzarek while he was a student at UCLA. These black and white short films are a fascinating look at Manzarek's directorial style. Their titles are Evergreen and Induction. I think one of them even won some kind of award, according to Ray. And if you look very closely at the party scene in Induction, you'll see a pudgy, short-haired young man with an angelic face...Jim Morrison!

There's a documentary on Doors memorabelia, which include original concert posters, ticket stubs, promo materials and other cool stuff.

There's a clip of John Densmore's one-man show, Riders on the Storm, in which the drummer reads excerpts from his book.

Finally, there's a new music video of "The End," performed by Robbie and other musicians.

All of this is contained on one, one-sided dual-layer DVD. It was put out by Universal Home Video around 1999, and may still be in print.

The commentaries and student films are worth the price alone.
 

Kiki

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Wow! Cool, fanks for the info! :smile: I have a few Doors DVD's but I think I'll haveta get The Doors Collection... it sounds awesome- I'll haveta keep my eyes peeled!! :excited:
Yeah, Oliver Stone's movie had loads of historical inaccuracies... and he calls himself a fan?! Most
parts are clearly Stone's vision and dramatization of those people and events. For example, when Morrison is asked to change the infamous lyric in Light My Fire for his appearance on the Ed Sulliven Show, he is depicted as blatantly ignoring their request because of his rebellious, anti-authority principles. In truth, the real Morrison insisted that it was an accident, that he meant to change the lyric but was so nervous about performing on live television that he forgot to change it when he was singing. The film suggests Morrison shouted the word "higher" into the TV camera, while, in fact, he highlighted "fire" during the performance.
(Sorry, I basically repeated what you just said)
I know this is a family-friendly forum, but I hadta point out yet another inaccurate bit from the movie:
One questionable scene featured Morrison and Courson getting into such a nasty argument that he tries to jump out the window and then throws the frightened, apologetic Courson on the bed and performs what looks like a near act of rape against her. Morrison is also depicted locking Courson in a closet and setting it on fire, which never happened. Dialogue that took place between Kennealy and Morrison is reassigned to Courson, and Courson is depicted as saying hostile things to Kennealy, when by all reports their interactions were polite. Morrison is further depicted as telling Kennealy he did not take their marriage seriously, another fabrication among the many in the film. Drummer John Densmore is also questionably portrayed as hating Morrison as Morrison's personal and drug problems begin to dominate his behavior.
Hey, and if you listen to the commentary track on the last scene of the movie, Stone calls the song they are recording ‘Roadhouse Blues’, but in fact, it’s actually ‘L.A. Woman’!
I really do not know how Stone got away with it... :grouchy:
 

Kiki

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Here are a few cool Morrison quotes:

A friend is someone who gives you total freedom to be yourself.

I see myself as a huge fiery comet, a shooting star. Everyone stops, points up and gasps, "oh look at that!" Then, whoosh, and I'm gone...and they'll never see anything like it ever again, and they won't be able to forget me--ever.

Expose yourself to your deepest fear. After that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free.

I think the highest and lowest points for a musician are the most important. Everything in between is, well...in between.
Those are awesome! :smile: Hey, here's s'more Morrison quotes:

"The most important kind of freedom is to be what you really are. You trade in your reality for a role. ...You give up your ability to feel, and in exchange, put on a mask."

"I am the lizard king. I can do anything."

"There are things known and there are things unknown and in between are the Doors. "

"Did you know freedom exists in a schoolbook?"

"Mankind still needs a savior such as you!"

"Love can not save you from your own fate "
 

Speed Tracer

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I'm only just getting into The Doors (I love love love 'em), but I do want to agree with Winslow's comment about Oliver Stone's film. The man has to be one of my least favorite directors.

I actually got The Doors Collection for my birthday a few weeks ago. I haven't had a chance to dig in just yet, but I will soon!
 

Kiki

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Hi Speed Racer! It's always great to meet a Doors fan! Just getting into them? That's okay. :smile: As for me, I've been a fan since... I can't remember! :zany: :wink:
 

mikebennidict

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I hate to nitpick, buuuuuuuuuut.....

The Doors actually formed in the summer of 1965. But '67 was the year of their debut album, the year when most people heard them for the first time.

Anyway, I'm a big fan of the Doors. I discovered them my freshman year in high school. Every week when I'd get my allowance, I'd run down to the record store and pick up one of their albums on cassette (in those days I couldn't afford CDs).

Although Jim Morrison was the front man, Ray Manzarek, Robbie Krieger and John Densmore were equally important. In fact, before concerts, Morrison would tell the announcer to introduce the group as "The Doors" and NOT "Jim Morrison and the Doors," as announcers would frequently intro them. If Morrison heard his name mentioned separately from the band, he would refuse to go on, until the "error" was changed.

I always tell newbies to the Doors (I'm not calling you a "newbie," Kiki, 'cause you're obviously a fan), DON'T judge Jim Morrison by Oliver Stone's historically inaccurate film. Stone presents Morrison in a one-dimensional, often negative way. From the various books, articles and interviews I have read, Morrison was far from the rather sociopathic madman Stone chose to portray him as. True, Jim Morrison had his share of problems and demons. But he was also highly intelligent (his IQ was said to be 149), funny, caring and generous to his fans.

Ray Manzarek despises the Stone film, and spends several pages in his autobiography, Light My Fire, separating fact from fiction.

And yes, Jim Morrison is one of those "is he still alive?" celebrities. Because he supposedly died of a "heart attack" at age 27, speculation has been raging since July 3, 1971, the day his body was found in a Paris bathtub, that Jim faked his death to live the life of an anonymous poet. That he was hastily buried without an autopsy or funeral of any kind has further fueled rumors that the Lizard King is alive and well. Unfortunately, the truth is Morrison's excessive lifestyle eventually caught up with him, and he is buried in Paris's Pere Lachaise cemetery, along with Oscar Wilde, Balzac and other artistic greats. He is also the only American to be buried there.

After Morrison's death, the three surviving Doors recorded two more albums, Other Voices and Full Circle, with Manzarek and Krieger handling the vocals. Around this time, the band considered hiring a new frontman. Believe it or not, Iggy Pop was seriously a contender! But in the end, the band decided to call it quits, reuniting in 1978 for An American Prayer, an album of spoken-word poems by Morrison set to music.

In 2002, Manzarek and Krieger started a new band, The Doors of the 21st Century. Drummer John Densmore was forced to quit, due to tinnitus. The new frontman was The Cult's Ian Astbury for a while, until he left for other projects.

Sadly Danny Sugerman, the Doors' second manager, who had been with the band since the age of 12 (answering their fan mail) passed away in 2005, due to lung cancer.

On a happier note, last month the Doors received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

I highly recommend three books about the Doors:

No One Here Gets Out Alive - Jerry Hopkins & Danny Sugerman. This was the first major Doors biography, published in 1980, just as the band was getting rediscovered by a new generation of fans, thanks to Coppola's use of "The End" in Apocalypse Now, and a new compilation album.

Riders on the Storm - drummer John Densmore's recollections of life with Morrison and Co., published around the time of the Stone movie.

Light My Fire - Ray Manzarek's autobiography. Unlike Densmore and Krieger, Manzarek knew Morrison the longest. They met as students at UCLA film school, went their separate ways, and later met by chance on the beach at Venice. It was there in July, 1965 that the two of them talked about forming a rock band.

It's not unusual for people to credit a band or artist to have begun in the year they released there 1st LPs but it's good one tell the right info.

The rock group Chicago released their 1st in 1969 but formed in Feb. of 1967 so this past Feb. marked that bands 40th aniversary.

I think the reason why Jim said introduce them as the DOORS and not JM and The Doors because somehow Jim got so much attention and I'm sure for many he was the Doors and probably would of had a great solo career if he hadn't passed on so early.

Look at Janis Jopolin.
her band was simply known as BIG BROTHER AND THE HOLDING COMPANY on the first LP and I guess she got so much attention the following LP I think was titled JJ and BIG BROTHER & THE HOLDING COMPANY and of course after that left them and did 2 more LP's on her own.
 

Winslow Leach

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Wow! Cool, fanks for the info! :smile: I have a few Doors DVD's but I think I'll haveta get The Doors Collection... it sounds awesome- I'll haveta keep my eyes peeled!! :excited:
Yeah, Oliver Stone's movie had loads of historical inaccuracies... and he calls himself a fan?! Most
parts are clearly Stone's vision and dramatization of those people and events. For example, when Morrison is asked to change the infamous lyric in Light My Fire for his appearance on the Ed Sulliven Show, he is depicted as blatantly ignoring their request because of his rebellious, anti-authority principles. In truth, the real Morrison insisted that it was an accident, that he meant to change the lyric but was so nervous about performing on live television that he forgot to change it when he was singing. The film suggests Morrison shouted the word "higher" into the TV camera, while, in fact, he highlighted "fire" during the performance.
(Sorry, I basically repeated what you just said)
I know this is a family-friendly forum, but I hadta point out yet another inaccurate bit from the movie:
One questionable scene featured Morrison and Courson getting into such a nasty argument that he tries to jump out the window and then throws the frightened, apologetic Courson on the bed and performs what looks like a near act of rape against her. Morrison is also depicted locking Courson in a closet and setting it on fire, which never happened. Dialogue that took place between Kennealy and Morrison is reassigned to Courson, and Courson is depicted as saying hostile things to Kennealy, when by all reports their interactions were polite. Morrison is further depicted as telling Kennealy he did not take their marriage seriously, another fabrication among the many in the film. Drummer John Densmore is also questionably portrayed as hating Morrison as Morrison's personal and drug problems begin to dominate his behavior.
Hey, and if you listen to the commentary track on the last scene of the movie, Stone calls the song they are recording ‘Roadhouse Blues’, but in fact, it’s actually ‘L.A. Woman’!
I really do not know how Stone got away with it... :grouchy:
Oh yeah, I forgot Stone confused "Roadhouse Blues" with "L.A. Woman." And he took the trouble to show Morrison recording the vocals in a bathroom, which in fact was true.

Actually, Pamela Courson's parents were upset over her portrayal in the film. And Patricia Kennealy was another "consultant" on the film whose ideas were mostly ignored. She too didn't like the fact that her character was a composite (she wasn't a reporter). Doesn't Stone say in his commentary he should have changed her name?

Jim did like to walk on building ledges and dangle from hotel windows. Not because he was suicidal. He just thought it was a kick.

The "Death" character who keeps popping up in the movie also annoys me. Honestly, when I first saw the film the character was so subtle, I barely noticed him. But Stone constantly points him out in the commentary almost every time he appears on screen, you can never miss him again.
 

Winslow Leach

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I'm only just getting into The Doors (I love love love 'em), but I do want to agree with Winslow's comment about Oliver Stone's film. The man has to be one of my least favorite directors.

I actually got The Doors Collection for my birthday a few weeks ago. I haven't had a chance to dig in just yet, but I will soon!
Cool! I hope you enjoy it. It really is a well-put together DVD. And the extras are amazing!
 

Winslow Leach

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Another faulty scene was Andy Warhol's party at The Factory.

In the film, Jim wants to stay, but the three other Doors are freaked out and leave. According to Ray in his book, they did attend a party by Warhol when they were in New York, but did not leave Jim. Ray said he and the other guys would never leave Jim behind anywhere at anytime. They were all too close. And really, would a band like the Doors seriously consider leaving a party thrown by Andy Warhol?

The gold phone presented to Jim by Andy is true, however, and Jim, depending on what book you read, either gave it away to a homeless person (as depicted in the film), or threw it out the window of his limo.

I know most film biographies take artistic license, but The Doors' real story is a case where the truth is much more strange and interesting than the fiction.
 

Kiki

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Thanks again for the info. :smile:
But how Stone could get away with all those historical inaccuracies I'll nver know. :mad:
 
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