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TheCellarTapes · 06-23-2010, 02:00 AM

The Doors - Strange Days
(1967)

Tracks

1 Strange Days 3:09
2 You're Lost Little Girl 3:03
3 Love Me Two Times 3:16
4 Unhappy Girl 2:00
5 Horse Latitudes 1:35
6 Moonlight Drive 3:03
7 People Are Strange 2:12
8 My Eyes Have Seen You 2:29
9 I Can't See Your Face in My Mind 3:26
10 When the Music's Over 10:59

After launching themselves onto the world with their self titled debut in January 1967, Los Angeles’ very own The Doors were back in the studio in February of that year trying to create another marvellous impression on the West Coast scene. Previous to 1967, The Doors had spent a good couple of years homing their style and creating a serious amount of original material. This material in some ways was cherry picked for their debut as you might have expected, but despite this there was still enough for The Doors and Producer Paul A Rothchild to get their teeth stuck into for their second LP release.

Recorded once again at The Sunset Sound Recorders in Hollywood and released in September 1967 on Elektra, Strange Days is the second studio release by The Doors, and what a brilliant piece of work it is. Like with the debut, the reception given to this second outing only went towards enhancing the already high perceptions of this band, with yet another flawless piece of Psychedelic Blues infused Rock being issued with The Doors’ name on. It was not a massive seller back in the day, but did have two decent selling singles from it and did make the top three in the US album charts.

What better place to start than at the beginning, the opening track of any album often sets the standard for what is to follow with the rest of the record, and with Strange Days the song as the opener to this album, it certainly does not disappoint. The whole song manages to fit in every element of the album in just over three minutes, its incredibly trippy and spooky at points, but has an unmistakable Doorsesque heavy element to it combining with Jim Morrison’s pornish vocal style with splendid results.

There were two singles released from this album, the first of these was the opener to side two which was released around the same time as the album. Entitled People Are Strange, it peaked in the US at number 12, and justifiable so, it is by far the popiest song on the album but still remains firmly within the boundaries of Strange Days, its not too far out there mind and is quite charming in its own little way.

A follow up and final Strange Days single was released in November ’67. Called Love Me Two Times, the single reached the dizzy heights of position number 25 in America on release, but on this album it can be found on track number three. This song just so happens to be one of my favourite Doors’ songs ever, its incredibly bluesy and foot tappingly good, with Ray Manzarek giving a tremendous performance on the Clavinet.

The B-Side to Love Me Two Times was a song which also can be found on Strange Days at track number six, entitled Moonlight Drive, this song is said to be one of the first songs Jim Morrison ever put lyrics to. There are only a couple of things I can say about this song without gushing uncontrollable, it has a slide guitar and the lyrics are borderline, job done! Other highlights on the album include Unhappy Girl, My Eyes Have Seen You and the belting Your Lost Little Girl

We should probably end this review in the manner that the album ends too. The final song is a glorious creation going by the name of When The Music Is Over. Now at 11 minutes, granted we are dealing with attention levels throughout, but I think this song is enthralling from start to finish, certainly a song to play late in the evenings with the lava light on.

The Doors with this release only proved to the world that they were indeed a marvellous and wonderful band. Managing to merge sleaze and Psychedelia so gloriously, safe to say that Strange Days was an impeccable follow up to their self titled debut, and despite being a dish of just plain old leftovers from that previous release, here The Doors and Paul A Rothchild combine to make an album which is a strong contender for their best of the lot.

06-23-2010, 02:00 AM	#171 (permalink)
TheCellarTapes Music Addict Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 490	The Doors - Strange Days *(1967)* Tracks 1 Strange Days 3:09 2 You're Lost Little Girl 3:03 3 Love Me Two Times 3:16 4 Unhappy Girl 2:00 5 Horse Latitudes 1:35 6 Moonlight Drive 3:03 7 People Are Strange 2:12 8 My Eyes Have Seen You 2:29 9 I Can't See Your Face in My Mind 3:26 10 When the Music's Over 10:59 After launching themselves onto the world with their self titled debut in January 1967, Los Angeles’ very own The Doors were back in the studio in February of that year trying to create another marvellous impression on the West Coast scene. Previous to 1967, The Doors had spent a good couple of years homing their style and creating a serious amount of original material. This material in some ways was cherry picked for their debut as you might have expected, but despite this there was still enough for The Doors and Producer Paul A Rothchild to get their teeth stuck into for their second LP release. Recorded once again at The Sunset Sound Recorders in Hollywood and released in September 1967 on Elektra, Strange Days is the second studio release by The Doors, and what a brilliant piece of work it is. Like with the debut, the reception given to this second outing only went towards enhancing the already high perceptions of this band, with yet another flawless piece of Psychedelic Blues infused Rock being issued with The Doors’ name on. It was not a massive seller back in the day, but did have two decent selling singles from it and did make the top three in the US album charts. What better place to start than at the beginning, the opening track of any album often sets the standard for what is to follow with the rest of the record, and with Strange Days the song as the opener to this album, it certainly does not disappoint. The whole song manages to fit in every element of the album in just over three minutes, its incredibly trippy and spooky at points, but has an unmistakable Doorsesque heavy element to it combining with Jim Morrison’s pornish vocal style with splendid results. There were two singles released from this album, the first of these was the opener to side two which was released around the same time as the album. Entitled People Are Strange, it peaked in the US at number 12, and justifiable so, it is by far the popiest song on the album but still remains firmly within the boundaries of Strange Days, its not too far out there mind and is quite charming in its own little way. A follow up and final Strange Days single was released in November ’67. Called Love Me Two Times, the single reached the dizzy heights of position number 25 in America on release, but on this album it can be found on track number three. This song just so happens to be one of my favourite Doors’ songs ever, its incredibly bluesy and foot tappingly good, with Ray Manzarek giving a tremendous performance on the Clavinet. The B-Side to Love Me Two Times was a song which also can be found on Strange Days at track number six, entitled Moonlight Drive, this song is said to be one of the first songs Jim Morrison ever put lyrics to. There are only a couple of things I can say about this song without gushing uncontrollable, it has a slide guitar and the lyrics are borderline, job done! Other highlights on the album include Unhappy Girl, My Eyes Have Seen You and the belting Your Lost Little Girl We should probably end this review in the manner that the album ends too. The final song is a glorious creation going by the name of When The Music Is Over. Now at 11 minutes, granted we are dealing with attention levels throughout, but I think this song is enthralling from start to finish, certainly a song to play late in the evenings with the lava light on. The Doors with this release only proved to the world that they were indeed a marvellous and wonderful band. Managing to merge sleaze and Psychedelia so gloriously, safe to say that Strange Days was an impeccable follow up to their self titled debut, and despite being a dish of just plain old leftovers from that previous release, here The Doors and Paul A Rothchild combine to make an album which is a strong contender for their best of the lot.