The MARK’S VINTAGE VINYL page features something from Mark’s collection of recordings from over the years. Most of it is on vinyl – hence the name – though there will be a few entries from his CDs (remember those?).
An American Prayer by Jim Morrison and The Doors
- Ninth studio album by The Doors, released in 1978.
- The Doors released six studio albums between 1967 and 1971, during which frontman/vocalist Jim Morrison evolved into an iconic, rebellious rock god. Morrison wrote the lyrics to their songs, and he also fancied himself as a poet. In 1969 and 1970, he was recorded reciting some of his poetry. He intended to release an album, with orchestral music set to his poetry. That dream ended when Morrison died mysteriously in Paris in 1971. The other bandmembers – Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger and John Densmore – released two albums after Morrison’s death, and then they split up in 1973. For more on The Doors, see my blog post of January 3, 2018.
- Five years after their split, they reunited to release their final album, taking the recordings of Morrison’s poetry and setting it to music. It wasn’t particularly popular – it reached #54 on the Billboard 200 album chart, though at the time it was the best selling spoken word album of all time, and it was certified platinum in 2001. It also received a Grammy nomination, in the Best Spoken Word Album category. No doubt that by 1978, the album would only appeal to fans of Morrison and The Doors (like me).
- I got hooked on The Doors in college, buying used copies of all six of their albums released before Morrison’s death, as well as a compilation double album, plus An American Prayer. An American Prayer certainly confirms that Morrison was the prototypical rock star: surly, sexy, scandalous, and mysterious. Though he wasn’t the greatest of poets! The surviving trio do an excellent job of backing him with a jazz-rock sound. Here’s a clip, the final track on the album, titled An American Prayer. Enjoy the poetry of “The Lizard King!”