The Doors- I Looked at You (First Listen)

[@dennismason3740]

In 1967 my friend Steve called me and said "get up here!" and I got on my Schwinn Stingray and rode up the hill off of Sunset Boulevard and he put the record on the turntable. Light My Fire had just been released to radio. I sat, mesmerized, for 46 minutes. Frikken' Doors, man. John Densmore's brother Jim was in a band with some friends of mine from Pali High. He played flute. He killed himself in 1972 and it wasn't in the papers. Friggin' Doors.

[@modmary1]

I feel that this song, could have easily been a typical 60’s pop beach boy type song, but Jim Morrison’s vocals always makes it deeper, darker and more interesting. 🖤🎵😎

[@lynnsmith3976]

Oh my Justin, I am always here for any Doors song. More Doors please, thanks for this.

[@tallykev6608]

Excellent deep cut. Haven't heard this in ..uh.. decades.

[@DavidB-2268]

Kind of reminds me of a Dave Clark Five song, somewhere between Having a Wild Weekend and Glad All Over.

[@mariosandri4010]

You're absolutely right, Glad All Over (1964) is a clear reference.

[@jamiegagnon6390]

Yeah, I get that. I wonder if it was intentional...

[@gaiaeternal5131]

Glad All Over aka Guardiola. it's amazing how many 60s songs are still used or adapted as football (soccer) fan chants in the UK & Europe. Is it the same in the US?

[@mariosandri4010]

@@jamiegagnon6390 It is normal for a debut album to be inspired by others. Just imagine if all songs were at the same level of The Crystal Ship, Light My Fire or The End...

[@bobbyg7102]

Time for the Soft Parade my friend! One of my favorites by the Doors

[@RGRG3232]

Thanks Justin...glad you're continuing this album. If you choose to do another album I'd recommend "Morrison Hotel". It's my favorite of their 6 albums.

[@827dusty]

I agree with you all the way on this song. This is almost a "made for radio" Dance tune you'd see on "Dick Clark's American Bandstand" show. It is a little step away, from the "Heavy" sound the Doors portrayed in most of their music catalogue. This was a "fun" little song, but still Morrison's gritty, and raw vocals are great.

[@blitztim6416]

I read Ray's book and he talked about doing background vocals. I never noticed them before. So it's Ray doing the backing vocals.

[@nickj5451]

Ohhhhhhh because it's a doooooor! Good little 60s psychedelic song! Not much to say, not much needs to be said.

[@dennispope1355]

Listening to this reaction, I remember a few music reactors saying that those of us who grew up during this time were very lucky. I think you mentioned that once. It's so very true. I really began buying albums around 1972. It was such a joy to open them up and play them the first time. Even though in many cases, I bought albums that were released several years earlier, I would put them on and still get many surprises over the next 40 min. This album was no exception. You'll see what I mean when you get to the last song (The End). Between 1972 and 1980 I amassed about a thousand lps.

[@JustJP]

It absolutely is true Dennis, to have the plethora of quality back in those days😃

[@mariosandri4010]

Not the most original song, very much 1965-66, but the delivery is typical Doors masterclass, and that's what makes it stand out.

[@gaiaeternal5131]

Afternoon, Justin. Dave from London, having a lazy day. Inertia Creeps. Question: what links I Looked At You with many other Doors songs like Riders on the Storm, Hello I Love You, Touch Me, Five To One, People Are Strange. Answer: the first words of the lyrics form the song title. I don't know any other artists or bands that do this so much. (Yes, I know, I should get out more!). I agree with you that there is a bit of a Beach Boys vibe to this song. It's a fairly routine rocker but there's so much drive and energy there. Brilliant band.

[@-davidolivares]

Nice observation.

[@JustJP]

Noce catch!

[@joemaurone7923]

Wow, a Doors song I haven't heard, so a first reaction for me as well. Had the same impression; first part sounded psychedelic/British Invasion, second part Beach Boys/"Surfin' USA...didn't feel like a "Doors" song proper until the 3rd part/ending...

[@-davidolivares]

Very groovy baby! Had me doing a hybrid of the Carlton body moves, a night at the Roxy head jerking and Woodstock free form, which says the ears may be fooled by this simple song, but the body don’t lie. It’s a party too early in the morning but what the hay. Simple song about the speed of love and transformation that’s occurring so sweetly. Peace and too late Music

[@benzinnecker7525]

Can't wait until you get to "the end"

[@jamiegagnon6390]

Why can't I give more likes to this...

[@linusfotograf]

Can’t wait til you get to their next album/s so you can hear the progression out of the typical 60’s sound and into their more original style

[@bobholtzmann]

Jim dubbed his voice over another take. It is hard for Jim Morrison to double track his voice when he shouts and screams - it becomes out of sync in those moments. But the ensuing chaos was part of Jim's world.

[@johnstorton]

The mention of musical chaos made me think of the wonderful chaos in their song, The Soft Parade, and the wild chaos in When the Music's Over. In When the music's over, I love how that wild chaos gracefully resolves itself back to harmony & unity.

[@jasonlocke9520]

"Strange Days" or "Not To Touch The Earth" please!

[@brucster99b2]

With it's catchy tempo, this would've made a pretty cool single.

[@mattharvey968]

Check out The Wasp by the Doors if ya haven’t already!✌️

[@linusfotograf]

It sounds like a bass guitar played with a pick to me but wiki says otherwise so...

[@vdggmouse9512]

For me it seems The Doors straddled The Kinks territory - as time later proved - perhaps a little too closely. kzbin.info/www/bejne/honPqWCahN2ArtU Does anyone see a connection here? I do - especially now that we know the 'Hello I Love You/All Day And All Of The Night' controversy.

[@HippoYnYrEira]

Hackett vs Phillips Oasis vs Blur Rush vs Budgie Beatles vs Stones Sabbath vs Purple a-Rockin vs a-Rollin Quo vs Foghat Joni vs James GG vs JT ELP vs Greenslade Mountain vs Grand Funk David Bowie vs VDGG and now Kinks vs The Doors Let the battles commence!

[@HippoYnYrEira]

oh yeah , Yes vs Yes

[@vdggmouse9512]

You may not know this HP - there was also three versions of two other famous bands - Gong vs Gong vs Gong AND Amon Duul vs Amon Duul vs Amon Duul !

[@edwardmeradith2419]

I think the bass was ‘reinforced’ (doubled) by an actual bass - played with a pick(!) nonetheless. Still conceived by Ray, (left hand triadic arpeggios) and yeah, I think Jim is double tracked

[@ComeOnIsSuchAJoy]

Playing the bass with a pick is hardly revolutionary. See: Paul McCartney, Chris Squire, and John Lodge, at the very least. Frankly, I think it looks far less ridiculous playing with a pick (especially in contrast with those 'chicken wing' bass players).

[@edwardmeradith2419]

Comeoissuchajoy! I love the name- about playing bass with a pick - It’s often indicative of being a guitarist initially (McCartney etc) - I’m coming at it from a point of view of being told (I’m also a bass player) that a “real” bass player doesn’t use a pick! - which is of course ridiculous - (a bit of snobbery)

[@edwardmeradith2419]

I suppose I mentioned it regard to this song because it’s easier to identify it as an actual bass because of the distinctive pick sound. Agreed tho - a lot of bass players especially from that era used a pick. (For instance the great Carol Kaye of the wrecking crew - but she also was originally a guitarist)

[@brucer2152]

JP you been watching the May Basho?

[@JustJP]

Oh absolutely! Looking forward to seeing Terunofuji reign, and Takayasu make a good showing

[@brucer2152]

@@JustJP takayasu is 3-0 The bear is off to a good start.

[@JustJP]

@@brucer2152 definitely, hoping to see Enho return but its not looking promising

[@jameswarner5809]

I thought Ray Manzarek played bass pedals, not bass keys.

[@gregdavis4978]

Yeah, this one always gave me images of riding in a convertible with the top down along the coast. Maybe the most innocuous song on the album, but it's Jim Morrison so.....maybe not.

[@ComeOnIsSuchAJoy]

I was wondering if/when you were going to get back to this album. Still also wondering about Simon & Garfunkel's _Bookends,_ Yes' _90125,_ Steely Dan's _Gaucho,_ and Peter Gabriel's self-titled fourth album 🤔 (again, I know you went ahead and listened to most - if not all - of the latter, but you can still do individual song reviews of each remaining track, à la _In the Court of the Crimson King_ ). Maybe a song review of "Come Together" as well to officially close out _Abbey Road_ ?

[@NotData]

Not to mention side 2 of ELP's Tarkus LP

[@ComeOnIsSuchAJoy]

@@NotData Yeah, I previously asked him about that as well. He did say he still plans on doing those tracks as well.

[@JustJP]

Currently working on Tarkus and 90125. We'll see about the others🙃

[@maruad7577]

Poor Justin needs a bigger plate, there is so much on his current one. :D

[@ComeOnIsSuchAJoy]

@@maruad7577 Indeed, I sometimes feel he takes on a bit too much.

[@jamespaivapaiva4460]

You opened the Door's to this nonsense! I looked at you,you looked at your drums, I listened for you, you would not play them!While waiting for you,I strummed my guitar some, Now on with the music,my rhymes are dumb!!! Peace.

[@-davidolivares]

It’s too late, too late.too laaaate.

[@markspooner1224]

Not my favourite off the album but still The Doors.

[@michaelhayes8019]

It's ray

[@jasontharp699]

To me it's the weakest song on the album, but their filler is better than most band's hits. Can't wait for the next song, with lyrics by William Blake, who also inspired the name of the band. I know you reacted to it already, but another great example of Jim doing his own backing vocals is the whispering in Riders On The Storm. It adds so much to the atmosphere.

[@snowdog87]

Ditto Jim's voice on this one Otherwise I can hear the Monkees doin this

[@maruad7577]

Basically pop rock of the era. Fairly generic.

[@alexalvarez2076]

Me waiting for "Duke's Travels/Duke's End" for 3 weeks: 😐

[@ComeOnIsSuchAJoy]

Yeah, I really wish he'd dropped it before his _Lamb_ reactions.

[@JustJP]

Lol, its coming in a few days