The Doors live in New York, a review

 Courtesy of Rhino Records

After I became a Doors fan one of the first concerts I started hearing about was the Felt Forum shows. Not only did it sound like a great name for a 60’s venue, but the shows were said to be great and that you had to hear them. Until now I haven’t had the opportunity, so the anticipation has been building for 30 years. Rhino Records November 10^th release of these shows in their box set, The Doors Live In New York, is what fans have been looking for.

Recorded on two nights, January 17th and 18^th 1970. The Doors did four shows and each show is included in its entirety in this box set. Some of the songs have been included on other Doors live albums. You’ll hear When The Music’s Over that was on Absolutely Live, but just when you think you know the song, you realize there’s more. The Absolutely Live version was edited. For The Doors fan searching for something new, each CD contains a veritable plethora of previously unreleased versions of songs. It’s good to hear the songs in context with all the strengths and shortcomings The Doors had as a band. These recordings give the listener the full sense and feeling of the concert experience - the false starts, the band tuning up, Jim asking the audience what they want to hear, or the silences as the band consults amongst themselves what they want to play next. Jim Morrison seems to excise one of his demons, his ongoing struggle with lightmen. His, “Hey, Mr. light man!” rap that he did at many shows chiding the lightmen who never seem to do what he wants, seems to resolve itself as he compliments the lighting level at the show! The Doors were never a band to play the album version of songs, Morrison tinkers with the words of songs as well. This was before concerts became slick clones of each other, where the same thing happens at the same time in the concert, identical, from concert to concert, city to city. The Doors were stark theatre, a portrayal of reality through the songs like a novel is a portrayal through words, or a movie through film.

 The band opens each show with a couple of songs from Morrison Hotel. It’s cool to realize that as you’re listening to Roadhouse Blues or Peace Frog the audience is very likely hearing the songs for the very first time. It opens you up to that experience. The Doors also experimented with the songs. Who Do You Love was played at every show yet no two versions of the song are alike! Curiously, Peace Frog, easily one of Morrison’s most autobiographical songs, because of the Dawn’s Highway section, where Morrison recounts the mystical experience he had as a child of feeling as if the soul of an Indian had leaped into his, as performed at the Felt Forum most of the versions omit that part, only in the last show does he include that portion of the song.

The sound on the CDs is excellent. Bruce Botnik in a technical note says in parts that were missing from the 8-track master they inserted live 2-track and the sound might change in those parts, but I didn’t hear it. I listened to the CDs on a car CD player and in my computer. I didn’t hear any change of quality, in fact it seemed crystal clear. In one section you can clearly hear the maracas Morrison shakes.

The boxed set includes a beautiful 40 page booklet with an introduction by Jac Holzman, and Bruce Botnik provides background details about The Doors playing the Felt Forum. James Henke from the Rock “n’ Roll Hall of Fame and author of The Jim Morrison Scrapbook has also written an essay for the book. The book also includes about 15 high gloss photographs from the shows.

 Courtesy of Rhino Records

This is one of the last full blown tours of The Doors career. The next year would find the band finishing L.A. Woman, and Morrison planning his imminent departure to Paris. These shows are The Doors as they wanted be heard, in context and demonstrating the power of what a great rock band can be.

Live In New York goes on sale on November 10^th, at Rhino.com, or Amazon. If you

pre-order from thedoors.com different packages are available including a limited edition T-shirt.

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