Upon release in 1970, Morrison Hotel from The Doors was hailed as a return to form after two middling albums. The album is split with the Hard Rock Café first side and Morrison Hotel second side. “Roadhouse Blues” kicks off the album with a stellar guitar riff from Robby Krieger. Barroom blues played to excellence, over a rolling piano Jim Morrison belts out “I woke up this morning and I got myself a beer” before imploring the audience to “let it roll, baby, roll”.
“Waiting For The Sun” is a more atmospheric track that is zen like in the beginning but as it goes on, the Morrison mantra of the word “waiting” becomes harsher, more demanding. Closing out the first side, “Ship Of Fools” sounds lighthearted before Morrison sings the first line, “the human race was dyin’ out”. Side two gets is off to the races with “Land Ho!”, driven along by the drumming of John Densmore and organ of Ray Manzarek. “Queen Of The Highway” is notable for sounding like a track that could have been released in the 90s by a hip indie rock band with an organ.
One of the finest tracks on the album was never released as a single and seldom appears on compilation albums. Co-written between Morrison and Krieger, “Peace Frog” is instantly recognizable with it’s wah wah guitar. The funk boogie swing sounds like the ultimate party song until you tune into the lyrics with Morrison singing of blood in the streets of Chicago and New Haven. The track then segues into the crooning love song of “Blue Sunday”. Often played together, this passage is a highlight of their catalogue. The critics and fans 50+ years ago were correct, Morrison Hotel is an excellent return to form for The Doors.
9/10
The Light Appears 