🚪 The Doors’ Debut: Psychedelia, Fire Extinguishers, and a Rock Revolution | Classic Albums That Don’t Suck #1 🎸🔥

🎧 Welcome to the Dark Side of the Studio

The Songs That Don’t Suck podcast branches into new territory with the long-promised spinoff: Classic Albums That Don’t Suck. First up? The Doors’ self-titled debut album—a record that didn’t just introduce a band, but redefined what a debut could be.

Mark kicks off with some band history:

Formed in 1965 by Jim Morrison & Ray Manzarek, UCLA film students
Original lineup included Manzarek’s brothers before the classic lineup solidified with Robbie Krieger and John Densmore
Signed to Elektra Records after a residency at LA’s Whisky a Go Go
Album produced by Paul A. Rothchild, engineered by Bruce Botnick, and recorded at Sunset Sound Recorders

Oh, and Jim Morrison nearly destroyed the whole thing while on LSD—spraying down the studio with a fire extinguisher after mistaking the red work light for flames. He even left his shoes stuck in the fence.

📀 Track-by-Track Breakdown: The Doors (1967)

1. 🎤 Break On Through (To the Other Side)

First single, didn’t chart initially
Latin-inspired drums + haunting vocals = Doors signature sound

“Maybe one of the best debut album openers ever.”

2. 🍽 Soul Kitchen

Inspired by Morrison’s favorite Venice Beach diner, Olivia’s Place

“A laid-back groove meets sultry vocals and bursty choruses.”

3. 💔 The Crystal Ship

A breakup song, not a drug reference
Composed while high, staring at offshore oil rig lights

“Pure vocal beauty. Jim’s voice in the spotlight.”

4. 🎞 20th Century Fox

Witty, dreamy ode to a woman out of Morrison’s league
Cool note: they stomped on wooden planks during the chorus

“Early studio ingenuity that just works.”

5. 🥃 Alabama Song (Whisky Bar)

Cover of a 1927 German poem by Brecht
Retains Bavarian oompa feel + Doors chaos

“Weird, theatrical, haunting—and brilliant.”

6. 🔥 Light My Fire

Krieger-penned, went to #1
Album version: 7+ minutes; single: edited & sanitized

“The song of the Summer of Love. The Doors’ rocket launch.”

🎵 Side 2: Deep Cuts & Sonic Experiments

7. 🚪 Back Door Man (Howlin’ Wolf cover)

Doors rewrote it into a 12-bar blues

“A rare cover that outshines the original.”

8. 👀 I Looked at You

Pop-inflected, feels out of place

“Feels like filler—just not their vibe.”

9. 🌌 End of the Night

Minor tuning + creepy slide guitar = psychedelic perfection

“Slide guitar sets the atmosphere. Dreamy and dangerous.”

10. 🧘‍♂️ Take It as It Comes

Inspired by the Maharishi & transcendental meditation
Classical influence in the organ solo

“Not a fave—but that organ solo, though.”

11. ☠️ The End

Iconic, sprawling, controversial
Allegedly recorded by candlelight, spliced from two takes

“The most dissected song in rock history—and for good reason.”

🧪 Behind the Music: Production Details

Recorded on 4-track analog tape
→ Track 1: Bass & drums
→ Track 2: Guitar & organ
→ Track 3: Vocals
→ Track 4: Overdubs
Larry Knechtel (of Wrecking Crew fame) added bass to a few tracks—uncredited
Recorded in just 6 days, mixed in October ’66, released January 4, 1967

“This album was made in chaos. That makes its tightness even more impressive.”

🌟 Accolades & Legacy

Certified 4× platinum, over 100 million albums sold worldwide
Peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200 (blocked by Sgt. Pepper’s)
Included in the National Recording Registry
Ranked #42 by Rolling Stone (before being demoted to #86 🙄)

“Rolling Stone? Chasing clicks, not facts.”

💬 Mark’s Personal Connection

Fell in love with The Doors via the 1991 Val Kilmer biopic
Went full-on Morrison mode in high school (yes, even wore a bead-for-bead replica necklace)

“It’s trance music for me. I can disappear into these songs.”

🎯 Final Score: A Rock Debut for the Ages

Rating: 9/10
“A few missteps—but this album defined a sound, a scene, and a legacy. It’s damn near perfect.”

🌐 Want More Classic Albums That Don’t Suck?

💻 SongsThatDontSuck.net
→ Stream full episodes
→ Dive into curated playlists
→ Request future album deep dives
→ Grab some merch and support the mission

📲 Social: Instagram & BlueSky
🚫 No Threads. No Facebook. No hype machine.

🎨 …and I quote…

❝ The Doors didn’t just break through—they blew the walls off what a debut could be. ❞
— Mark Bradbourne 🎙️

Episode 115 Recap