Fans of ‘60s rockers the Doors must be feeling their mojo risin’ these days.
What else could explain the announcement on Monday that the band has just released their first new song (“She Smells So Nice” – listen to it here) featuring all four founding members in over 40 years?
Ok, the explanation probably has more to do with the 40th anniversary edition of the group’s 1971 album L.A. Woman than anything related to the raising of the dead. But still, who thought the words The Doors and new music could be uttered in 2012 and also actually ring true? Maybe we should back up first before we get ahead of ourselves.
You see, upon its initial release in April of 1971, no one in the listening public was aware that L.A. Woman would become the last album the Doors recorded while lead singer Jim Morrison was still alive.
Morrison, of course, infamously passed away in Paris, France in 1971 at the age of 27, mere months after the record was made available to the public. And perhaps owing to this morbid connection, L.A. Woman received some of the strongest reviews the Doors had seen in years.
Critics gushed over the album’s authentic blues rock approach, with some even signaling it as a return to form for the group, and hit singles “Love Her Madly” and “Riders on the Storm” climbed the charts.
Sadly, the band wouldn’t be able to reap the success of their material live as a tour behind L.A. Woman stalled after only two performances, one of which reportedly featured a “nervous breakdown” by Morrison on stage in New Orleans, La.
Now though the vaults have finally been cleared and fans have the opportunity to listen to and appreciate the record like never before. Not only will a two-CD reissue of the original album be available, but so will a two LP vinyl set featuring unreleased takes, studio chatter and other previously unheard cuts. In addition, a documentary on the making of L.A. Woman will also be hitting stores both in DVD form and on Blue-ray.
Watch the trailer for the documentary “Mr. Mojo Risin’: The Story of L.A. Woman” here:
The Lizard King lives again. But then again, for many he never left in the first place.
For more information on The Doors please visit www.thedoors.com.
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