The Doors album tracks series - #1: End of the Night

[fange]

The first of what I'd like be an on-going series -

'End of the Night' (The Doors, 1967)



I'm often reticent to use words like 'otherworldly' when it comes to music; so often the tune or band might come close, but some sound elements or the band's all-too-human playing don't just gel enough to get it to Nirvana levels. I have no such qualms when talking about 'EotN'. It is magical and simply otherworldly to me in every way, but what makes it even more special is the very earthy undercurrent of sensuality and the pleasures of the flesh that drip from its 2:50.

What do you think of it?

[trans-chigley express]

I’m not a fan but this one I like a lot. It just has a certain mood that they do well

[Goat Boy]

A personal fave.

I think they really captured something magical here.

[Rayge]

I used to skip this one, but Iistened to the clip. Fine work from Robbie as always, but the funereal tempo, the words and Jim's vocals add up to a whole heap of meh for me.
Sorry Ange

[fange]

No need to apologise!

I'm happy to hear some contrary opinions, even if they are wrong

[naughty boy]

There isn't a second on that album I don't enjoy.

This one - it's not exactly in my 'FUCKING HELL I LOVE THE DOORS' league, but it's one hell of an evocative piece.

What a band.

[Bent Fabric]

Love them, love the debut - this song has always seemed second tier to me until fairly recently. It really works in context (sandwiched between two poppier, uptempo numbers on Side Two) as a sort of "mood stabilizer".

[The Modernist]

It's one of the best things they ever did. Hypnotic and spellbinding. Kreiger's guitar makes it like a tonal poem, it's so beautiful.
And here's the thing, you won't find anything like it beforehand in 60s pop. The Doors have always been underrated as innovators.

[Bent Fabric]

And here's the thing, you won't find anything like it beforehand in 60s pop. The Doors have always been underrated as innovators.

I love them for any number of reasons - and this is a big one.

[Snarfyguy]

There isn't a second on that album I don't enjoy.

I could probably live without "20th Century Fox," but yeah, it's pretty solid.

Has anyone heard the speed-corrected version? Apparently the tape of the whole album was deliberately slowed down in mastering (or something), so the actual recordings run a bit faster. I wonder if those have ever been made available.

[Sneelock]

I'd be shocked if something recorded by the Doors was not made available during Ray Manzarek's lifetime but, you never know.

that album seemed to be in every stack during "the summer of love" but it's really not a hippy dippy sort of thing. it's always stood out - been it's own animal. I love the album and I love that track.

[never/ever]

I watched the Classic Album-episode and I completely agree with the idea that Morrison excelled when his creativity was underpinned by his knack for self-destruction. I think this song represents that very well, only surpassed by The End.

[Charlie O.]

Has anyone heard the speed-corrected version? Apparently the tape of the whole album was deliberately slowed down in mastering (or something), so the actual recordings run a bit faster. I wonder if those have ever been made available.

The most recent (50th anniversary) edition is at the right speed; maybe the remixed version from a few years before is, too (I would think it would be, but I haven't checked). I always knew the "Light My Fire" 45 was faster than the album version, but assumed it was a case of speeding the master up to make it poppier (a not-uncommon practice back then); I was stunned to learn that it was in fact the opposite scenario.

Anyway, great band, great album, great song.

I do hear some slight pre-echoes in this early Pretty Things track (the quiet bits), but that might be just me...

[pcqgod]

Better than okay but not quite great.

[toomanyhatz]

Possibly my least favorite song on the first album. Just shows what a great album that is, though. I don't dislike it by any means. I like the moodiness of it - particularly that dark, reverb-y guitar - it's just lyrically and musically a little ordinary compared to the rest of the album.

[fange]

Possibly my least favorite song on the first album. Just shows what a great album that is, though. I don't dislike it by any means.

This would be 'Take It As It Comes' for me. What as album.

[Charlie O.]

Possibly my least favorite song on the first album. Just shows what a great album that is, though. I don't dislike it by any means.

This would be 'Take It As It Comes' for me. What as album.

The one track I found substandard when I was growing up was "20th Century Fox". Which I love now. What an album, indeed.

[Belle Lettre]

I like it but not mad about it. He seems to have pinched some of William Blake's lines, too.

Every Morn and every Night Some are Born to sweet delight. Some are Born to sweet delight, Some are Born to Endless Night.