Jim Morrison!

 50 years ago today was the summer between freshman and sophomore year in Catholic high school. I had been into music for a short period of time, the Beatles, The Monkees , Creedence, The Supremes and for some reason The Doors. Hendrix had died, Jani had died and anyone with any sense knew he was next. Except me. All I knew of Jim Morrison was I loved his voice, his songs and his weirdness. His dark lyrics. His screaming. I dont really know what it was, but he was the guy.

I wasnt really old enough to understand alcoholism, drug addiction and self destructive behavior. All I know is one day he was dead. It mad me sad. It still does,

I first heard Light My Fire in 1967 and it mesmerized me. The flair, the organ, the jazz drumming and the voice. I am of course referring to the radio version. When I discovered the local FM station and for the first time heard the longer version it sent me in to a frenzy. I begged my Mom to buy me the album. $2.98 mono $3.98 stereo. She did. $2.98 of course and I listened in my room. Wow!

What the hell was going on? Break on Through started it all with its psychedelia . Soul Kitchen made me sit up and take notice. I still love that song. The Crystal Ship, before you sink into unconsciousness. The poppy 20the Century Fox .The Whiskey Bar and then the full beautiful Light My Fire.

Side 2 started with Back Door Man with the primal scream. I Looked At You. End of the Night and Take It As It Comes. 

And then right before I was about to turn the record back over to listen to Light My Fire endlessly as kids do...... then The End started.

As it progressed and got weirder and weirder I became weirder and weirder. The song affected my mood. I had no idea what Jim was singing about as I was only 11 or so. But it did make me want to learn more. This remains my favorite Doors song to this day. It has the ability still to affect my mood to this day. Sometimes not to my benefit.

Anyway when Jim died I was crushed. I still wonder what would have become of him. What kind of new weird shit would come after his Paris sabbatical. But he never came back. So we will never know.

I miss the guy but have the albums and I listen regularly. It became kind of chic to criticize Morrison and his lyrics lately. I dont give a damn. Some of it may be dated, but as sa product of the time, it made me want to learn about things. Something Hello Goodbye never did

I miss ya Jim. Ya left too soon.