Strange Days (album)
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| Strange Days | |||||
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| Studio album by The Doors | |||||
| Released | September 25, 1967 | ||||
| Recorded | May and August 1967 | ||||
| Genre | Acid rock, Blues-rock, Hard rock, Pop rock, Psychedelic rock | ||||
| Length | 35:00 | ||||
| Label | Elektra | ||||
| Producer | Paul A. Rothchild | ||||
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| The Doors chronology | |||||
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Strange Days is the second album released by American rock band The Doors in late September 1967. The album earned a gold record and reached No. 3 in the billboard album charts, but its producer, Paul Rothchild however, considered it a commercial failure, even if it was an artistic triumph. "We all thought it was the best album. Significantly, it was also the one with the weakest sales. We were confident it was going to be bigger than anything The Beatles had done. But, there was no single. The record died on us." he said. Against this view, one could argue that the album still sold well, managing two top 30 hits, a top 3 placing on the US charts and a platinum certification. "Strange Days" certainly did nothing to derail the overall success of the Doors, as demonstrated the next year by their chart-topping Waiting for the Sun album.
"Strange Days" partially consists of songs that did not make it onto their debut album. This album imposes an eerie, bizarre feeling, containing some of The Doors' most psychedelic songs. It includes songs such as "Strange Days", "People Are Strange", "Love Me Two Times" and "When the Music's Over". The latter is an epic poem that is comparable to the famous "The End".
The album also includes "Moonlight Drive", which was one of the first songs written by Jim Morrison for The Doors. The song was recorded in 1965 (demo) and 1966 (intended for their first album). In 1967 a final version was recorded and released on this album.
The album was #3 in the US in 1967, and is #407 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. "People Are Strange" shot to #12 on the US chart, and "Love Me Two Times" followed it, going to a, for a second single, more than respectable #25, thus proving The Doors' staying power after the runaway success of their debut.
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[edit] Cover
The cover photo was taken in Sniffen Court, a small residential mews in New York City. Jim Morrison refused to appear on the cover, so photographer Joel Brodsky decided to use a circus-like photograph for the cover image. However, most carnivals were out on summer tours so it was a struggle for Brodsky to find professional circus performers. The acrobats were the only ones he could find; the dwarf Lester Janus and his younger brother (not twins) Stanley Janus (who appeared on the back cover) were hired from an acting firm; the juggler was Brodsky's own assistant; the trumpet player was a taxi driver; and the strongman was a doorman at a club. On another note, the back cover depicts a robed man standing in one of the house doorways looking down at one of the dwarf brothers. This robed man was a friend of Joel Brodsky's wife. In addition to this, the original idea for the front cover was a reflection of the group in a mirror which the dwarves would carry. Jim Morrison stated that he did not want to be on the cover at all, so a poster of the band members was discretely shown on the right end of the sleeve.[1]
A re-created music video was shot in the eighties for the title track, and featured a still of the cover photo. The dwarf, juggler and acrobat (female for the video) came to life and moved out of the photo, while the other three performers remained where they were. The circus trio then explore New York City and join various crowds. This is mixed with footage for the original music video of the song "Strange Days". At the end of the video, the dwarf, juggler and acrobat move back into the photo and resume the poses that are seen on the cover photo. The video can be viewed here.
[edit] Track listing
All songs written by Jim Morrison, Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek, and John Densmore.
- "Strange Days" – 3:11
- "You're Lost Little Girl" – 3:03
- "Love Me Two Times" – 3:18
- "Unhappy Girl" – 2:02
- "Horse Latitudes" – 1:37
- "Moonlight Drive" – 3:05
- "People Are Strange" – 2:13
- "My Eyes Have Seen You" – 2:32
- "I Can't See Your Face in My Mind" – 3:26
- "When the Music's Over" – 10:58
[edit] 2006 CD re-issue bonus tracks
- "People Are Strange" (false starts and dialogue)
- "Love Me Two Times" (take 3)
[edit] Personnel
- Jim Morrison – vocals
- Ray Manzarek – keyboards, marimba, bass
- Robby Krieger – guitars
- John Densmore – drums
- Douglas Lubahn – bass guitar on tracks 2,8
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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