A knowledgeable, personable, pleasant and chill composer sparking a bowl to enjoy The End and taking us along on the journey. A perfect start to my weekend, thank you, Doug.
The “fucks” were removed from the mix on the album version. They were restored for use in Apocalypse Now and the uncensored version is now far and away the most popular because it represents what they originally intended.
They weren't removed. If you turn the volume way up on the original album, you can just barely hear them buried in the mix. For Apocalypse, they were brought back up out of the background, but they were always there, far away in the distance.
It’s John Densmore who blows my mind on this track-and I’m a guitarist and aficionado of guitar. All those different percussive sounds, timed so perfectly. Also, I love how you said, ‘It’s like they’re waiting for Jim to do something.’ Oh, boy, ARE they ever. This song was written to hypnotise, to seduce the psyche, if you will, then to turn lose Jim’s Shadow upon the audience when they are most vulnerable. It’s really quite a violent thing to do to a person on psychedelics, who doesn’t know what to expect. The brilliance, though, is that the moment of shock turns into a chaotic celebration, and if you TRUST Jim to be your guide, and you DON’T try to maintain your ego, your control, whilst you’re riding with Jim’s Shadow, you’ll find your Shadow has also been liberated, and if you let yourself dance with it, you will integrate your Shadow and be healed. In the mid-90s till the early 2000s, I was a frequent user of LSD and psilocybin. On my university campus, I was called the ‘Acid King’, due to the heroic quantities I’d been known to consume, due to the enormous amounts I always had on hand, but also due to the fact that i was literally more comfortable under the influence of LSD than I was when ‘sober’ (by which I mean ‘not on psychedelics’. I don’t think I spent more than an hour TRULY sober from age 15 till age 28. I learned nearly everything I knew about navigating the psychedelic landscape from Jim Morrison, Ken Kesey, and Syd Barrett (the latter more a sort of a guide where not to step, when entering a psychological mine field.
"it's like they waiting around for Jimmy to do something" ... nailed it! I saw a doc once where Robby Krieger said that they never knew what Jimmy would do. they'd just keep playing.
Jim played this live while his mom was in the front row. He was a special individual. I was really into them for a long time in the late 70's. Amazing lyricist.
It might seem like oh my gosh he sang that with his mother there, but I suspect it might have basically just been copying Oedipus Rex and didn't mean much to him.
This is one of The Doors most iconic songs The middle section is a reductive take on Edipis Rex from the Greek story Jim did it for the first time at the Whiskey totally blitzed on 25 hits of acid It's legit info it was in both Ray's and John's books The entire album was recorded on a 4 track console with an auxiliary input and various mic placements Ray and Robby were on the same track when this was recorded maybe that's why you mentioned the instruments banging into each other Great break down and analysis 🧐🤘😎✌️ RIP JIM AND RAY 🙏
On an episode of The Simpsons Lisa is trying to explain to Homer about Oedipus. He thought about it for a moment and replied, Jeesh, who pays for that wedding? 😄
Thanks for sharing this reaction on the doors one of my favorite of the iconic 1960s successful rock bands. The doors actually broke on through to give us and beat progenitors of Prague rock, psych, jazz, rock, poetic folk, and rap. I mean, they just opened up the doors for so many different bands that we love that came in the 70s from England and United States. I love the one of the few of the big iconic bands. I didn’t see live. I was too young but thank you Doris Jimbo you live brother.
Thanks for the content as always. Always a fan of your analysis. Got one thing for you. The fact that i didnt find a video of you reacting to Gentle Giant saddens me but makes me excited for the possibility of it coming in the future 😉 if you're ready for possibly the most Prog band thats ever progged I'd highly recommend Provocation, the opening track of The Power and the Glory. That album, in my opinion, is them at their peak. But also their live videos are amazing. You'll have so much fun picking these geniuses musical brains apart. Also they collectively play around 30 instruments and their live performances are fun to watch and a musical spectacle to see. Thanks again for your content and knowledge!
Thank you so much for your support, I tremendously appreciate it. I reacted to Gentle Giant’s album Free Hand several years ago, but it is unfortunately blocked in the US and in Canada. I have posted that video on my Patreon: www.patreon.com/posts/112683501? Thank you for the reminder to do more Gentle Giant on my channel, it’s been WAY too long! And thanks again for your support, I am very honored and grateful for it.
Thanks for this. Over the years, I have introduced loads of people to this song. Normally in a very relaxed state. It's always a personal, introspective reaction. This song is just magical.
The song The End became iconic when it was used in the opening of the film Apocalypse Now (FF Coppola), masterfully used in the nightmares and alcoholic delirium of the character Cap. Willard. Speaking of Apocalypse Now, Coppola used the aria Ride of the Valkyries (Richard Wagner) in one of the most epic battle scenes in cinema.
@@jeffcullen6412 Same here in Canada, at least in the city of Kamloops, British Columbia, where I grew up. There was an institution outside of town called Tranquille, which housed mentally challenged people, as well as mentally ill, and they had blue buses that transported their patients into town for outings. A typical childhood school yard insult back then was "Go get on the blue bus". So when I first heard the line about the blue bus in The End, the Tranquille buses immediately came to mind, especially since Jim had sung about the children all being insane a few verses back. Which of course proves that we all bring our own thoughts and experiences to the table when trying to interpret lyrics.
Fucking John Densmore. One of the most underrated drummers ever. For about a year in high school, I don't think I listened to anything except this band.
The mix is the way it is in order to make sure that it still sounded good on mono audio systems. Stereo was pretty new at this point, and this mix converts down to mono very very well indeed. The same with "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" - The original mix, which I grew up with, had what I thought was a strange mix, until I put headphones on and switched the amp into mono. Every instrument came through perfectly, no weird phasing issues. Same thing with this album by The Doors.
What I like most about The Doors' music is their perspective on the end of stages, there are many endings, the end of childhood, the end of a romance or simply ending up accepting something, it gives me a perspective of why we strive to achieve certain things
OOoo I love "The End". One of two favourite lomg The Doors songs, "When The Music Over" is the other. Both delightfully long pieces. 11:41 and 11 minutes. (My absolute favourite 'The Doors' track is "An American Prayer" ( a 4 song piece) from the same named album. Incidentally my favourite album as well.) Highly recommended if you dont mind spoken words. Other good pieces from the album: A Feast Of Friends, Ghost Song (Extended)
This is a very, very, very special song. The Beatles, the Who, the Rolling Stones, nobody had this level of poetry and profundity. The Doors have fallen out of knowledge somehow, making them underrated. What a world we live in when the Doors are underrated! Well, listen and weep. Knowledge is king.
There is a Doors-like Canadian band called THE TEA PARTY from the mid-90s whose lead singer is very Morrison-like. SISTER AWAKE; TEMPTATION; ARMY ANTS; PULSE and ALARUM are the tracks to hear first.
Damn straight ! Long time follower of The Tea Party from 🇦🇺. A unique blend of The Doors, Led Zep and middle eastern influences. As I was listening to this song, I was thinking how incredible it would be for TTP to do a cover. Saw them live (again) a few weeks ago and they rocked the house down.
yes! TTP is an amazing band, not that known (criminally so!) i think the Much Music version of Psychpomp with the orchestra would be an amazing one for @Doug.Helvering to react to
All the instruments are playing different songs and overlayed with Jim's lyrics. You should watch the ONLY time they played on Ed Sullivan. Moonlight Drive was his first poem/song, he sang it to Ray Manzerik when he bumped into him walking down the beach. He wanted to make films but Ray talked him into creating a band. Do you know his history, his father was a Navy Commander during Vietnam which made him split. Jim was a crazy reader that's why his lyrics are so deep.
"She gets high... She gets high..." Ed: "You'll never play on this show again!!!!!" Like they cared... Good times. He wanted to be "Bigger than the band Love" He got his wish.
Great storyteller: Mark Knopfler. From 4 minute songs about making out down by the Thames in London to the sprawling, century-spanning gorgeousness of ‘Telegraph Road’, and the deeply emotional ‘Brothers In Arms’, he’s a master balladeer. Not to even mention his solo albums.
Me heart just dropped when you said Jim isn't here to talk about this anymore. You'd think I'd be over it by now. If you enjoyed the storytelling aspect, let me highly recommend the live in New York track "Celebration of the Lizard" for another loooong Doors track. Thanks as always for your insightful reactions!
"No matter how I struggle and strive, I'll never get out of this world alive." ~~~ Hank Williams, 1952 Both the Doors and Pink Floyd put out their first albums this same year, 1967. They sound so similar here, esp. the keyboards.
👍Seen them perform in 68 at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix. Only thing that came close that year was Iron Butterfly at the ASU activity center. 🚜🤠🐂
This was originally Jim's showcase number, where he would play with bits of his poetry and improvise on subjects he felt like using. It wasn't until they finally put it down on vinyl on their first album that it solidified into this particular shape.
Such a classic song. A group of us went camping for a week many years ago and there was a freight train line across the river from where we camped. I brought my CD player and a bunch of batteries. Over the week, every time The End came up in a mix, a long train would come by and shake the river valley. It was very surreal, though the weed, alcohol and Psilocybin definitely had a lot to do with the effects of that "trip." Good times. Out of curiosity Doug, when in September 2023 did you do this? I was in Paris in September of 23 with my wife for our 25th Anniversary and we visited Jim's grave. It still has a fair number of people visiting his grave after all these years. RiP Jim. RiP Ray
Masterpiece indeed, one of the great, haunting epics they came up with. Another is When The Music's Over, another amazing jam and more of Jim Morrison being his genius, eccentric self. Enjoy! 🔥🎵🎤🎹🎸🎶🔥
Excellent touch Doug, in lighting up to the very beginning of this epic, psychedelic virtuoso. As a die hard Doors fan, I’d lost track of how many times I’ve done the same ( occasionally with the addition of a whiskey and cola, naturally 😆). But the haunting music of this tune along with Jim’s voice and bizarre poetry is just mesmerizing. Great review of this legendary song 👏. And I’m sure others have told you, but seeing Apocalypse Now is an absolute must. I can tell you without question, ‘ The End ‘ is enough of a reason.
' Ray's organ, just noodling around in the background'. But, in this track I think it acts more like just a drone, as you'll find in various musics around the world.
Love your musical analysis more than anything. The way the chords and arrangements work. That's what I'm here for. That and you smoking that there pipe.
I was 13 when this came out, stereo was kinda new so lots of early stereo recordings were created from mono recordings so instruments were in L or R,. Many musicians preferred to listen to the mono recording.
Interesting to have listened to The End the week it came out and getting you are hearing it new 55 years later. It alters between D Doric and Ionian and Mix
This song is so much more impactful live. The simple sonic foundation allows for fantastic improvisation both lyrical and musically. For example, check out the live version on the 'In Concert' compilation.
I can practically see and smell the incense smoke floating up to the ceiling. 😆 They actually got fired from a club for singing the "real" words to this. I can't hear this without hearing parodies of it. Flo and Eddie riffing on the snake and the lake with The Mothers at the Fillmore East, and The Gizmos' "Chicken Queen" -- "Chicken? Yes, queen? I want to... buck-a-buck-a-baaawk! " 😂
If you were around in the late sixties in LA and went to The Whiskey, you could have actually watched The Doors compose 'The End' every night. It just got longer and longer as the year went on with Ray, Robby and John not knowing what Jim was going to sing or say next!!.. it finally got them fired on completion. The owner lost his mind when he heard what their nice little diddy 'The End' had turned into 😂
Ah this just takes me back. I think we're about the same age, I think I've got a couple of years on you. We used to take acid & smoke spliffs & bust out my mate's parent's vinyl & just get into it. Or we would go out in nature, sometimes take the boom box ha. I'm glad I have my psychonaut era to look back on
July 4th 1991. My best friend and i ended planned a bush party for the 4th of July. Plans fell through, and we ended up just hanging out by a natural spring a mile deep in the woods, dinking and listening to music. I wasn't a partier in high school and was pretty drunk. This song came on, and i gave him my interpretation of the lyrics, then it started raining. He was spooked and we packed it up and went home. I dont remember what i said, but our relationship changed that night. I miss him
I love the fact that you don't stop the music while commenting, unlike many others. I love that you took a hit of that thing there. Have you seen The Doors movie? Of course, the song lyric was edited for the "Mother, I want to f*** you!" One of the iconic songs of the 60's, no question. Great analysis, cool video.
A bold choice, Doc. I was never a huge Doors fan, but when they hit it, they really hit it. I never cared much for the radio hits, but the back streets stuff, "The Soft Parade", "Moonlight Drive", and this one. It always makes me think of the movie and how Jason Patric really should have played Morrison. Really glad to see this one come up. That'll shake up a few sleepyheads.
I have been listening to a lot of different music for 50 years. I admit my bias for Jim Morrison, however I think Jim's improvisational vamping, waxing poetic is in a stratosphere way above, or maybe from way down deep within than anybody else. The band's ability to create, compose improved, spontaneous music that captured the feelings expressed by Jim and his vamping is in the same stratosphere. They never had any idea when Jim would start vamping, what he was going to vamp, how long he was going to vamp, but they were able to sync to him in way I believe can only be spiritual. One epic from The Doors I would recommend is called "The Celebration of the Lizard." The piece is about 17 minutes. The greatest album of Jim and The Doors vamping is on an Album called "An American Prayer by Jim Morrison with Music by The Doors." I would highly recommend it if you really want to get a deep dive into Jim's psyche. Thanks Doug for your effort and experience.
Dunno if its been mentioned, but this is a remixed version, slightly different from the original mix. Mostly the double time "f*** me baby" part. That was mixed out originally in '66. Recorded to 4-track effectively by Bruce Botnick. Drums/Percussion, guitar, organ with keyboard bass & the vocals. No overdubs, but yes (apparently) edited from 2 takes. I love how the band used to just play and let Jim do his poetry, not knowing what he was going to say or do. The band is truly one entity, feeding off each other. Granted, this studio take was pretty well rehearsed and arranged, I still feel this was quite spontaneous. Check out the live version(s) from Hollywood Bowl 1968 & Felt Forum 1970. Both wonderful performances. And awesome video BTW Doug!!!!! Oedipus Rex... "a man with an odd complex, he appears in Freud's index, 'cos he LOVED his Mother.." (Tom Lehrer, 1965) .Peace.
I had the original album in 1967 when I was 14, long before Morrison became history and long before Apocalypse Now totally iconized this song. I wore that record out listening to it. All those F words were mixed out of the original release, but they have since been remastered back in.
Before I forget ...damn I forgot. Ahhh oh yeah after this more times than I can remember on the headphones when flying between ranches. But I'm now listening on the surround sound which makes up its own when it isn't pre-programmed. And yes it's drums are still on the Left Channel. When sound comes out of all speakers it's more like mono. I really like when they are actually able to place individualy in a room. That's excellent Sound Engineering in my opinion.lol I may be in my 70s, but I'm not dinged because I'm senile... lol Just mentally numb
This is more than just music, it is poetry, it is storytelling, it is art.
I was just saying the same thing to my significant other. It's almost more like performance art than rock n roll.
It is a theatrical experience.
Can’t hear this without thinking of the opening minutes of “Apocalypse Now”.
Same
I can't remember if I heard the song before seeing the movie. It must have been around the same time. Either way they are intertwined in memory.
absolutely!!!!!
The BLUE BUS, was sent by the army to collect draftees, every state had them. Folks always got a chill when they saw THE BLUE BUS.
An apocalyptic song. Perfect for the movie.
A knowledgeable, personable, pleasant and chill composer sparking a bowl to enjoy The End and taking us along on the journey. A perfect start to my weekend, thank you, Doug.
Happy you are here!
Well said!
@@Doug.Helvering groovy man
Seconded d4
John Densmores drumming on this track is fantastic.
Agreed,
It’s stunning!
The dynamics of the drums really jumps out. At times barely perceptible; at others he hammers them as hard as he can.
It sounds like a cross between Arabic & Indian drum styles. Very cool.
I'll say on the whoile album as well as someone said below dynamics and John's feeling and beating on the drumset, me loves it!
Phenomenal drummer
The “fucks” were removed from the mix on the album version. They were restored for use in Apocalypse Now and the uncensored version is now far and away the most popular because it represents what they originally intended.
I don't like the inclusion of the fucks. I liked it better when it was just suggested. Maybe that's because that's how I got to know it.
Many things were removed in that album back in the 60s
They weren't removed. If you turn the volume way up on the original album, you can just barely hear them buried in the mix. For Apocalypse, they were brought back up out of the background, but they were always there, far away in the distance.
@@Serai3 that's removed as far as I'm concerned.
Is there something like a remastered/restored version available, besides on streaming platforms?
“When the Music’s Over” is another Doors long song you’d like.
Search "Daily Doug Episode 743"
yes, live version
Celebration of the lizard.
Everyone always talk about Jim, but when I hear The Doors I always first think, damn, they are so tight! They were amazing band.
It’s John Densmore who blows my mind on this track-and I’m a guitarist and aficionado of guitar. All those different percussive sounds, timed so perfectly.
Also, I love how you said, ‘It’s like they’re waiting for Jim to do something.’ Oh, boy, ARE they ever. This song was written to hypnotise, to seduce the psyche, if you will, then to turn lose Jim’s Shadow upon the audience when they are most vulnerable. It’s really quite a violent thing to do to a person on psychedelics, who doesn’t know what to expect. The brilliance, though, is that the moment of shock turns into a chaotic celebration, and if you TRUST Jim to be your guide, and you DON’T try to maintain your ego, your control, whilst you’re riding with Jim’s Shadow, you’ll find your Shadow has also been liberated, and if you let yourself dance with it, you will integrate your Shadow and be healed.
In the mid-90s till the early 2000s, I was a frequent user of LSD and psilocybin. On my university campus, I was called the ‘Acid King’, due to the heroic quantities I’d been known to consume, due to the enormous amounts I always had on hand, but also due to the fact that i was literally more comfortable under the influence of LSD than I was when ‘sober’ (by which I mean ‘not on psychedelics’. I don’t think I spent more than an hour TRULY sober from age 15 till age 28.
I learned nearly everything I knew about navigating the psychedelic landscape from Jim Morrison, Ken Kesey, and Syd Barrett (the latter more a sort of a guide where not to step, when entering a psychological mine field.
Densmore is painting beautiful pillars of clouds in this track.
Young drummers would do well to pay close attention.
"it's like they waiting around for Jimmy to do something" ... nailed it! I saw a doc once where Robby Krieger said that they never knew what Jimmy would do. they'd just keep playing.
Jim played this live while his mom was in the front row. He was a special individual. I was really into them for a long time in the late 70's. Amazing lyricist.
😂 the mother’s face
Freudian slip
It might seem like oh my gosh he sang that with his mother there, but I suspect it might have basically just been copying Oedipus Rex and didn't mean much to him.
This is one of The Doors most iconic songs The middle section is a reductive take on Edipis Rex from the Greek story Jim did it for the first time at the Whiskey totally blitzed on 25 hits of acid It's legit info it was in both Ray's and John's books The entire album was recorded on a 4 track console with an auxiliary input and various mic placements Ray and Robby were on the same track when this was recorded maybe that's why you mentioned the instruments banging into each other Great break down and analysis 🧐🤘😎✌️ RIP JIM AND RAY 🙏
Oedipus
On an episode of The Simpsons Lisa is trying to explain to Homer about Oedipus.
He thought about it for a moment and replied,
Jeesh, who pays for that wedding? 😄
@@brentfreeland5834😂
Honestly one of my favorite albums of all time! Looking forward to this!
I really love the keyboard Indian raga that runs all over the song, takes me in another dimension
Has a definite voodoo or Native American Indian sound to me.
Thanks for sharing this reaction on the doors one of my favorite of the iconic 1960s successful rock bands. The doors actually broke on through to give us and beat progenitors of Prague rock, psych, jazz, rock, poetic folk, and rap. I mean, they just opened up the doors for so many different bands that we love that came in the 70s from England and United States. I love the one of the few of the big iconic bands. I didn’t see live. I was too young but thank you Doris Jimbo you live brother.
Whoops , that should of read’ THANKYOU , DOORS, JIMBO YOU LIVE, ,,not ‘DORIS’, LOL!
There could hardly be a more appropriate song for you to hit a bowl to.
Thanks for the content as always. Always a fan of your analysis.
Got one thing for you. The fact that i didnt find a video of you reacting to Gentle Giant saddens me but makes me excited for the possibility of it coming in the future 😉 if you're ready for possibly the most Prog band thats ever progged I'd highly recommend Provocation, the opening track of The Power and the Glory. That album, in my opinion, is them at their peak. But also their live videos are amazing. You'll have so much fun picking these geniuses musical brains apart. Also they collectively play around 30 instruments and their live performances are fun to watch and a musical spectacle to see.
Thanks again for your content and knowledge!
Thank you so much for your support, I tremendously appreciate it.
I reacted to Gentle Giant’s album Free Hand several years ago, but it is unfortunately blocked in the US and in Canada. I have posted that video on my Patreon: www.patreon.com/posts/112683501?
Thank you for the reminder to do more Gentle Giant on my channel, it’s been WAY too long! And thanks again for your support, I am very honored and grateful for it.
Thanks for this. Over the years, I have introduced loads of people to this song. Normally in a very relaxed state. It's always a personal, introspective reaction. This song is just magical.
I really love this song and Riders of the Storm, but the drums and guitar playing in this feels, like they're moving around you.
Yeah…Densmore is really good
The song The End became iconic when it was used in the opening of the film Apocalypse Now (FF Coppola), masterfully used in the nightmares and alcoholic delirium of the character Cap. Willard.
Speaking of Apocalypse Now, Coppola used the aria Ride of the Valkyries (Richard Wagner) in one of the most epic battle scenes in cinema.
The Blue Bus in the transit system in Santa Monica, CA, Also UCLA where Jim went to school.
Interesting. In Aus the blue bus was commonly used to transport severely physically and mentally disabled children.
@@jeffcullen6412 Same here in Canada, at least in the city of Kamloops, British Columbia, where I grew up. There was an institution outside of town called Tranquille, which housed mentally challenged people, as well as mentally ill, and they had blue buses that transported their patients into town for outings. A typical childhood school yard insult back then was "Go get on the blue bus". So when I first heard the line about the blue bus in The End, the Tranquille buses immediately came to mind, especially since Jim had sung about the children all being insane a few verses back. Which of course proves that we all bring our own thoughts and experiences to the table when trying to interpret lyrics.
Man, Robbie is such a talented guitarist. Does he get the recognition he deserves?
No he doesn't.
Love his outside note choices. Also, such a huge tone with such a clean sound.
Saw him live with the Robby Krieger Band in a small venue many moons ago. On the same ticket was Leon Russell. Helluva show!
Wasn’t he playing guitar for like 6 months when they recorded this ?
Fucking John Densmore. One of the most underrated drummers ever. For about a year in high school, I don't think I listened to anything except this band.
The mix is the way it is in order to make sure that it still sounded good on mono audio systems. Stereo was pretty new at this point, and this mix converts down to mono very very well indeed. The same with "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" - The original mix, which I grew up with, had what I thought was a strange mix, until I put headphones on and switched the amp into mono. Every instrument came through perfectly, no weird phasing issues. Same thing with this album by The Doors.
What I like most about The Doors' music is their perspective on the end of stages, there are many endings, the end of childhood, the end of a romance or simply ending up accepting something, it gives me a perspective of why we strive to achieve certain things
Love this song, I'm a bit late for the premier but you can bet it is all in when I get back from work!!!
OOoo I love "The End". One of two favourite lomg The Doors songs, "When The Music Over" is the other. Both delightfully long pieces. 11:41 and 11 minutes.
(My absolute favourite 'The Doors' track is "An American Prayer" ( a 4 song piece) from the same named album. Incidentally my favourite album as well.) Highly recommended if you dont mind spoken words. Other good pieces from the album: A Feast Of Friends, Ghost Song (Extended)
"When The Music's Over" is even better.
@@VielFart I agree. The lyrics isn't as good as The End, but i like the song more.
@@VielFart That one is "Daily Doug episode 743"
@@yeselpkrimson Thank you.
Doug’s face during the &&&& part 😂
This is a very, very, very special song. The Beatles, the Who, the Rolling Stones, nobody had this level of poetry and profundity. The Doors have fallen out of knowledge somehow, making them underrated. What a world we live in when the Doors are underrated! Well, listen and weep. Knowledge is king.
Hey man this should be a beauty... Hopefully we get to see the Shaker and one of your lovely glass pipes
There is a Doors-like Canadian band called THE TEA PARTY from the mid-90s whose lead singer is very Morrison-like.
SISTER AWAKE; TEMPTATION; ARMY ANTS; PULSE and ALARUM are the tracks to hear first.
Damn straight ! Long time follower of The Tea Party from 🇦🇺. A unique blend of The Doors, Led Zep and middle eastern influences. As I was listening to this song, I was thinking how incredible it would be for TTP to do a cover. Saw them live (again) a few weeks ago and they rocked the house down.
Thanks for this comment, I'm starting with your mini playlist and this is a great shout
yes! TTP is an amazing band, not that known (criminally so!)
i think the Much Music version of Psychpomp with the orchestra would be an amazing one for @Doug.Helvering to react to
The more it ages the more the song becomes spiritual timeless deep sex and death
The Doors. Incredible !!!
All the instruments are playing different songs and overlayed with Jim's lyrics. You should watch the ONLY time they played on Ed Sullivan.
Moonlight Drive was his first poem/song, he sang it to Ray Manzerik when he bumped into him walking down the beach. He wanted to make films but Ray talked him into creating a band.
Do you know his history, his father was a Navy Commander during Vietnam which made him split. Jim was a crazy reader that's why his lyrics are so deep.
"She gets high... She gets high..." Ed: "You'll never play on this show again!!!!!" Like they cared... Good times.
He wanted to be "Bigger than the band Love" He got his wish.
can u imagine listening to this in 1967, in between a Monkees number and a Beach Boy's ...?
Only played on FM underground stations at that time.
Even though I was a huge Doors fan in my younger age, I have never heard this version. Oh boy, what a ride.
Great storyteller: Mark Knopfler. From 4 minute songs about making out down by the Thames in London to the sprawling, century-spanning gorgeousness of ‘Telegraph Road’, and the deeply emotional ‘Brothers In Arms’, he’s a master balladeer. Not to even mention his solo albums.
Best song he did is "Calling Elvis"
The song is perfect for apocalypse now it emulates a journey into madness just like the movie
This is on my pre-planned funeral playlist.
Haha same
One of the greatest songs ever written. Nobody had ever heard anything like it before. The whole album is a masterpiece.
This song will be forever entwined with the opening scene of "Apocalypse Now". Perfect song for a complex movie.
Me heart just dropped when you said Jim isn't here to talk about this anymore. You'd think I'd be over it by now. If you enjoyed the storytelling aspect, let me highly recommend the live in New York track "Celebration of the Lizard" for another loooong Doors track. Thanks as always for your insightful reactions!
This song should be part of a masterclass for drummers on how to play cymbals.
He’s painting here.
I've done all the calculations and The Doors are my favorite band of all time.
Gram Parsons was a good story teller as well through his music and it was fantastic.
"No matter how I struggle and strive,
I'll never get out of this world alive."
~~~ Hank Williams, 1952
Both the Doors and Pink Floyd put out their first albums this same year, 1967.
They sound so similar here, esp. the keyboards.
👍Seen them perform in 68 at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix.
Only thing that came close that year was Iron Butterfly at the ASU activity center.
🚜🤠🐂
This was originally Jim's showcase number, where he would play with bits of his poetry and improvise on subjects he felt like using. It wasn't until they finally put it down on vinyl on their first album that it solidified into this particular shape.
"You set that 10 minutes ago"
Fantastic! I almost tossed my coffee ✌🏻😄
"Never get out of the boat!"
Such a classic song. A group of us went camping for a week many years ago and there was a freight train line across the river from where we camped. I brought my CD player and a bunch of batteries. Over the week, every time The End came up in a mix, a long train would come by and shake the river valley. It was very surreal, though the weed, alcohol and Psilocybin definitely had a lot to do with the effects of that "trip." Good times.
Out of curiosity Doug, when in September 2023 did you do this? I was in Paris in September of 23 with my wife for our 25th Anniversary and we visited Jim's grave. It still has a fair number of people visiting his grave after all these years. RiP Jim. RiP Ray
5 to 1 or unknown soldier are also very worth a listen
This is the ultimate Doors song. Nothing sets an atmosphere like this!
Masterpiece indeed, one of the great, haunting epics they came up with. Another is When The Music's Over, another amazing jam and more of Jim Morrison being his genius, eccentric self. Enjoy! 🔥🎵🎤🎹🎸🎶🔥
Search for "Daily Doug 743" for his reaction to that one.🎶
Excellent touch Doug, in lighting up to the very beginning of this epic, psychedelic virtuoso. As a die hard Doors fan, I’d lost track of how many times I’ve done the same ( occasionally with the addition of a whiskey and cola, naturally 😆). But the haunting music of this tune along with Jim’s voice and bizarre poetry is just mesmerizing. Great review of this legendary song 👏. And I’m sure others have told you, but seeing Apocalypse Now is an absolute must. I can tell you without question, ‘ The End ‘ is enough of a reason.
' Ray's organ, just noodling around in the background'. But, in this track I think it acts more like just a drone, as you'll find in various musics around the world.
Love your musical analysis more than anything. The way the chords and arrangements work. That's what I'm here for. That and you smoking that there pipe.
This song, used at the opening of Apocalypse Now, is the most perfect bend of movie and music ever created/
I was 13 when this came out, stereo was kinda new so lots of early stereo recordings were created from mono recordings so instruments were in L or R,. Many musicians preferred to listen to the mono recording.
Interesting to have listened to The End the week it came out and getting you are hearing it new 55 years later. It alters between D Doric and Ionian and Mix
The best American rock band.
35 years ago this was the last song one of my friends listened to. RIP, X. Maybe we'll meet again. I'd like that.
This song is so much more impactful live. The simple sonic foundation allows for fantastic improvisation both lyrical and musically. For example, check out the live version on the 'In Concert' compilation.
I can practically see and smell the incense smoke floating up to the ceiling. 😆
They actually got fired from a club for singing the "real" words to this.
I can't hear this without hearing parodies of it. Flo and Eddie riffing on the snake and the lake with The Mothers at the Fillmore East, and The Gizmos' "Chicken Queen" -- "Chicken? Yes, queen? I want to... buck-a-buck-a-baaawk! " 😂
If you were around in the late sixties in LA and went to The Whiskey, you could have actually watched The Doors compose 'The End' every night. It just got longer and longer as the year went on with Ray, Robby and John not knowing what Jim was going to sing or say next!!.. it finally got them fired on completion. The owner lost his mind when he heard what their nice little diddy 'The End' had turned into 😂
This is a special song. Mystical, completely new.
This song was also featured on the sound track of the classic movie "Apocalypses Now" .
Ah this just takes me back. I think we're about the same age, I think I've got a couple of years on you. We used to take acid & smoke spliffs & bust out my mate's parent's vinyl & just get into it. Or we would go out in nature, sometimes take the boom box ha.
I'm glad I have my psychonaut era to look back on
Doug, do you want a story-song? Here's a perfect Thanksgiving treat: "You can get anything you want at ALICE'S RESTAURANT" - Arlo Guthrie, 1967
Excepting Alice.
please do more doors tracks they will surprise you with their variety of styles
July 4th 1991. My best friend and i ended planned a bush party for the 4th of July. Plans fell through, and we ended up just hanging out by a natural spring a mile deep in the woods, dinking and listening to music. I wasn't a partier in high school and was pretty drunk. This song came on, and i gave him my interpretation of the lyrics, then it started raining. He was spooked and we packed it up and went home. I dont remember what i said, but our relationship changed that night. I miss him
LA County Metro busses were blue during the time Jim was singing.
"The Blue Bus is calling us" is an elegant way to say "let's catch a Bus!"
I love the fact that you don't stop the music while commenting, unlike many others. I love that you took a hit of that thing there. Have you seen The Doors movie? Of course, the song lyric was edited for the "Mother, I want to f*** you!" One of the iconic songs of the 60's, no question. Great analysis, cool video.
A bold choice, Doc. I was never a huge Doors fan, but when they hit it, they really hit it. I never cared much for the radio hits, but the back streets stuff, "The Soft Parade", "Moonlight Drive", and this one. It always makes me think of the movie and how Jason Patric really should have played Morrison. Really glad to see this one come up. That'll shake up a few sleepyheads.
First heard this and the Doors in my fav war movie of all time Apocalypse Now
Heard this magnificent song live, 69 in Cleveland 2nd row 5$ ticket best concert ever., pure sensuality, what ever happened to our music?
The Blue Bus I believe was the bus that took our boys to Vietnam.
1983.....2 am.....dim lit room.....this song on cassette listening through headphones.........while on acid😎😶🌫️
Such a groovy band, Cheers Doug 🍃
I have been listening to a lot of different music for 50 years. I admit my bias for Jim Morrison, however I think Jim's improvisational vamping, waxing poetic is in a stratosphere way above, or maybe from way down deep within than anybody else. The band's ability to create, compose improved, spontaneous music that captured the feelings expressed by Jim and his vamping is in the same stratosphere. They never had any idea when Jim would start vamping, what he was going to vamp, how long he was going to vamp, but they were able to sync to him in way I believe can only be spiritual. One epic from The Doors I would recommend is called "The Celebration of the Lizard." The piece is about 17 minutes. The greatest album of Jim and The Doors vamping is on an Album called "An American Prayer by Jim Morrison with Music by The Doors." I would highly recommend it if you really want to get a deep dive into Jim's psyche. Thanks Doug for your effort and experience.
Masterpiece. Absolute masterpiece.
Almost 58 years old like this song I was born in the summer of love 1967
Dunno if its been mentioned, but this is a remixed version, slightly different from the original mix. Mostly the double time "f*** me baby" part. That was mixed out originally in '66.
Recorded to 4-track effectively by Bruce Botnick. Drums/Percussion, guitar, organ with keyboard bass & the vocals. No overdubs, but yes (apparently) edited from 2 takes. I love how the band used to just play and let Jim do his poetry, not knowing what he was going to say or do. The band is truly one entity, feeding off each other. Granted, this studio take was pretty well rehearsed and arranged, I still feel this was quite spontaneous. Check out the live version(s) from Hollywood Bowl 1968 & Felt Forum 1970. Both wonderful performances. And awesome video BTW Doug!!!!! Oedipus Rex... "a man with an odd complex, he appears in Freud's index, 'cos he LOVED his Mother.." (Tom Lehrer, 1965) .Peace.
I had the original album in 1967 when I was 14, long before Morrison became history and long before Apocalypse Now totally iconized this song. I wore that record out listening to it. All those F words were mixed out of the original release, but they have since been remastered back in.
Hell yeah! Light it up and melt into the song!
One of the most epic songs of all time very underrated
Taking a few hits always take you to your happy place when you're playing the doors
It's cool that it sounds live.
For a song that doesn't move much musically, hanging on that D chord, it really kicks. Jim's Oedipal poetry telling a 'killer' story.
Dude I’m 39 how have you never heard this?
The king lizard is still being played and admired.
I think I've read that the "blue bus" reference relates to the Vietnam war conscription. Hence the reference in the song "driver where you takin' us?"
"Father?
Yes, son?
I want to kill you!"
Doug: That's direct... Pahahaha
The "scene" with the mother is very explicit if you look at the 1991 film (the Doors - Oliver Stone). The patron into the bar is disturbed too!
Here we go!!!
Before I forget ...damn I forgot.
Ahhh oh yeah after this more times than I can remember on the headphones when flying between ranches. But I'm now listening on the surround sound which makes up its own when it isn't pre-programmed. And yes it's drums are still on the Left Channel.
When sound comes out of all speakers it's more like mono. I really like when they are actually able to place individualy in a room.
That's excellent Sound Engineering in my opinion.lol
I may be in my 70s, but I'm not dinged because I'm senile... lol
Just mentally numb
Time to listen to the great Roy Harper "when an old cricketer leaves the crease" is a good place to start.
I did not expect a reference to Roy Harper!
My favorite:
ua-cam.com/video/Dz9dLmiJtCw/v-deo.html&start_radio=1
Yes!
Johnny Rivers was the house band previous to The Doors. ✌🏻
Un clásico, gracias. Más de Doors
Ray was a musical encyclopedia, if you find interviews with him on UA-cam he had so much musical knowledge.
When you sparked that bowl, I subbed! Doors 4-Ever 🤘