First time hearing "The Crystal Ship" by The Doors. Diving into Jim Morrison's gorgeous vocals!

When one thinks of rare, special bands in music history it's hard not to include The Doors. Today we're listening to their song "The Crystal Ship" and talking about the unique sounds in Jim Morrison's delivery.
Watch the original video uninterrupted: • The Crystal Ship (2017...
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[@johnr.8275]

Another thing about this song (and the entire album) is that the vast majority of it was recorded in August of 1966. Who else sounded like this at the time? Absolutely _nobody_ else. This was a brand-new and extremely unique sound. Much like their contemporaries The Who and Creedence Clearwater Revival, when you hear The Doors, you know it's them. Even as their albums changed in style from jazzy to bluesy to everywhere in between (and beyond), The Doors' unique sound remained entirely their own. It's a shame they didn't get the chance to make yet more music, because who knows where they would - or could - have gone. This album was groundbreaking in every sense of the term; as pivotal a '60s album as 'Pet Sounds' or 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band', in my humble opinion.

[@Sadpotatoirl2010]

This album is uniquie in it's own, like VU banana album. I love Pink Floyd debut album too. 1967 is scarily good times.

[@johnr.8275]

@@Sadpotatoirl2010 I never got into the VU, but I understand the album's importance all the same. Floyd's debut is great (Astronomy Domine is amazing). The Grateful Dead released their debut in 1967 also, but it barely scratched the surface of the greatness to come. So many great singles and albums came out in 1967. The same thing could be said for '68 and '69. And - seemingly a world away in Jamaica - Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer were making some of the greatest music they'd ever make from 1967-1970.

[@Sadpotatoirl2010]

@@johnr.8275 just addition: The Doors literally dropped their first two albums in that year, wow!

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

Closest thing close to this album that preceded it was the band Love. Love kind of opened the door for them, so to speak ;)

[@brandonio_granger]

Actually Sean Bonniwell and The Music Machine were Jim's biggest influence as he was always attending their shows at Whiskey A-Go-Go before The Doors became a thing.

[@hullbarrett]

I never thought anyone would react/analyze this gem. What a pleasant surprise on a Monday morning. Thank you. *Blue Sunday* is another slow burn.

[@stevevar43]

She'll flip out on that one if she ever does it.

[@daveburns3886]

Altho I love energetic songs from them - he shines on the slower ballads like this- a unique band and a unique voice..

[@mikehawkins4752]

As a lifelong Doors fan, I've often wondered why this song isn't better known.

[@MattBargain]

True listeners know!

[@johnweimer3249]

One of my true favorites, I even got my grandmother to love it back in the 70s.

[@Dan-dg9pi]

Ray Manzarek is in the pantheon of great rock keyboard players. He was a maestro and a gentleman. Thank you for this insightful analysis.

[@SandraDeefan]

He was a wonderful storyteller ❤

[@rubengonzalez6656]

Jim Morrison's voice is surely one of the most special voices I´ve ever heard in my entire life and I´m a music lover who has been studying and listening to different kinds of music since I was 10 years old and I´m close to 40. He has a darkness and depth, but at the same time he caresses you, has aggression, envelops you. He can imbue you with the party spirit in an elegant way like on “Break On Through”, he can intoxicate you with a lysergic darkness like on “Not to Touch the Earth” or “When the Music is Over”, or take a space of contemporary music history and write in stone songs like “The End” or “Riders on the Storm”. There are so many nuances when you've been listening to The Doors for so many years...I've always thought that this song contains a very powerful message in an apparently simple lyric, but difficult to write. Something similar to “Yes, the River Knows” but for me “The Crystal Ship” is better. Anyway, to express so much with so little you must have Jimbo's talent. Ray, Robby and John are the perfect frame and quality in which to frame such an inimitable personality. Very nice analysis.

[@i.marchand4655]

Jim's voice was so sexy, when I'd sing along with him, I'd get laid, too.

[@RSimoes10]

The Crystal Ship is a masterpiece. The combination of Jim's voice with Ray's keyboards is dreamy.

[@franksullivan1873]

This was an anthem in my early teenage youth and my questions about growing up with it’s confusing finality could find a happy solace in it’s melody.

[@jude999]

Jim was a huge Sinatra fan, and used the same mic Sinatra used. His influence is evident here.

[@RedPillLife1966]

The “Crystal Ship” can be seen as a symbol of transcendence, freedom, and the pursuit of happiness. The lyrics also touch on the pain of separation, the desire for one more moment of intimacy, and the longing for freedom and adventure.

[@realityisiamthespoonthefor6735]

I always thought it represented a hypodermic needle being filled with crystal meth of course back then it was called p2p or phenol2propaline but it was clearly a crystal. I think both interpretations have an obvious overlap especially considering the pro-drug zietgest of the era. Think about the song mony mony and how it was about heroin. I don't buy the revisionist history that says it wasn't.

[@davidpartskhaladze8355]

I just realised I've been watching your reaction with a big and joyful smile on my face. ❤ Jim's voice is really unique and lyric for ''The Crystal Ship'' is absolutely captivating.

[@robertsonwilliams8650]

The whole album is a classic .

[@jaquestraw1]

Without doubt their most beautiful song and one of my favorites. Bought this, my first album, when it was first released. I was 10, approximately a million years ago

[@MrLilhauughh]

Anytime I hear The Doors, it always reminds me of Joe Hayes. As a middle schooler, he used to hang out with my older sister who was already in High School. He was always the nicest to me and would ask if I wanted to watch Apocalypse Now with him because of the opening song to the movie, The End. My God, Joe was amazing, and he was taken away from us before he could even see his 50's. RIP Joe. We love you brother.

[@axejokertv5336]

Great review,I have always loved this son cause it shows Morrison's versitility as a singer.......he usually screams,and nobody scream sings better but here he's so soft & tender,it's just fantastic! Your correct about how he sings,alot of the time he leaves out hard consonanets when he's singing and the words almost run together,but it works so well!

[@r.plante2916]

The Doors at their dreamiest and most psychedelic.

[@Kick278]

Love your gentle reaction :) Thank you for lightening up my monday morning!!

[@Orange-Jumpsuit-Time]

Back in the early eighties there was a sudden revival in Doors music from people that weren't familiar with them beforehand, so much so, that Rolling Stone Magazine put Jim Morrison on a issue cover with the tag line, "JIM MORRISON - HE'S HOT, HE'S SEXY AND HE'S DEAD". There was so much FM air play of Doors music during this time period that it was nearly impossible not to have heard their complete catalog at one time or another. Also, there was a Cover Band that went by the name Crystal Ship that played at all the clubs in the area.

[@peterglynn2128]

Jim Morrison. The Doors. Totally Unique !! R I P Jim and Ray.

[@JK-js2td]

At least Robbie and John are still around!

[@majordude]

Wow! When you said the title I too thought that I'd never heard this song before... but once it started it took me back to high school. Thanks for this!

[@dagmar.6954]

This is such a great song! The Doors were among the most controversial & influential rock acts of the 1960s, mostly due to Jim Morrison's lyrics & voice. "Riders On The Storm" is my favorite song by them but they had a lot of hits including "Roadhouse Blues", "Light My Fire", "Break On Through (To The Other Side)", "Love Me Two Times", "L.A. Woman", "Hello, I Love You", "Touch Me", "The Unknown Soldier", "Love Her Madly", "The End" etc. Sadly Jim Morrison died in 1971 at the age of only 27 but left a great legacy of music

[@michaelalfieri9703]

I had a 45 of this as a kid. I absolutely wore it out. Love this song! Thank you for the reaction!

[@arroyo284]

This song is such a great poem. Definitely one of my favorite Doors songs.

[@hjhelio]

If you notice the chords that play right before every defining word when Jim sings "the days are BRIGHT and filled with PAIN, ENCLOSE me in your GENTLE rain" you'll notice they match them perfectly.

[@stpetie7686]

Totally agree about his voice. He's always had, in my opinion, one of the nicest tones ever.

[@user-wy1ev4yq5d]

In 1967, I was a freshman in high school and I'd listen to this on the flip side of the 45, "Light My Fire.," late in evening on very low volume in my room. It became my favorite Doors song and preferred it to the A side, LMF. Much more presence, reflective and subjectively moving then the A side that still resonates as a 71 year old soul. Thank you very much for critiquing this. "The crystal ship is being filled A thousand girls, a thousand thrills A million ways to spend your time When we get back, I'll drop a line."

[@user-sw7my6kp7g]

This is now my favorite song because I just fell in love with Bethany.

[@curiousthecat]

"Another flashing chance at bliss" 🥰

[@dennisbrown6237]

Jim added poetry to rock

[@ericsaari2901]

This one has long been a favorite of mine. I rarely see it mentioned. Thanks for the reaction and insights Bethany!

[@DeepCuts101]

Lazy is a perfect way to describe Morrison's vocal style. One of the great poets of the 20th century. And he had the ability to relay the emotion in his words as a vocalist/performer as well. Genius.

[@johnfraser6013]

It a very unique song. I really love the occasional haunting chord changes, during the tune …. Awesome!

[@johnnyallen5736]

Great reaction---I have always loved this song. It is a masterpiece.Thanks!

[@MickReynoldsAug7]

I love this song. Love your breakdown. Thank you! 😊

[@Metalmaster87687]

You always give us such a fresh, refreshing view on the songs you review. Keep it up! This is a great example of a relatively unknown gem.

[@adamgreener3887]

“Refinement” what a beautiful, apt way to describe this song from The Doors. Thanks for the breakdown on this gem. 🙌🏼

[@robertserafin-uc3qn]

I got tired of hearing Light my Fire & The End . This is a magical debut album, ❤ this song Ray Manzarek was a genius organ musician who played bass on keyboards, piano & organ.He used the Bass pedals to give the deep sounds

[@Featuringtim]

The song you thought of was "This is Dedicated to the One I Love" by the Mamas & the Papas! I love the Doors. If you get the chance, Bethany, check out "Peace Frog" off of Morrison Hotel. Great reaction, as always.

[@kimj1741]

I love peace frog. The guitar riff gets me right at the start.

[@claviclenotch1876]

A masterpiece I NEVER thought I'd ever hear reacted to. Thank you!

[@rainydaydreamawy]

This short little one may be my fav Doors tune. Truly a mood I'd like to live inside more often.

[@absinthedream9668]

It took me a while to realize how good a singer this guy was his natural tone/timbre is very pleasing to the ear, although he was a singer by accident in the beginning I suspect he became aware of technique & relaxed delivery pretty quickly even if by intuition not instruction.

[@hughmanatee7657]

Morrison was a crooner in the tradition of Sinatra, who he could have heard at home in the '50s like most teenagers thanks to his parents. I believe he states somewhere that he liked Sinatra, whose precise diction he matches. Morrison wants people to hear the words of his texts. But it's more than that: his voice like Sinatra's is supple and agile and can convey the most fleeting emotions, even in the softer tones and lowered volumes. There are about a dozen songs of The Doors that I would qualify as "soft" (as opposed to "hard," bluesy, roadhouse songs)--songs like "Crystal Ship" and "Love Street" and "Hyacinth House" and others. His alcoholism--or whatever caused it--was one of the greatest losses to American popular music.

[@rb9628]

Sinatra, however, was not a fan of The Doors. There's a story that when "Light My Fire" was released in 1967 Sinatra heard the song while he was driving and promptly kicked the car's radio in disgust.

[@lauraheath3213]

​@@rb9628Sinatra was probably feigning disgust to cover up jealousy and fear that Jim's voice was, at least, as good as his.

[@vincentvancraig]

there is a jazzy snappiness to it with the drums...but other than that its super mellow & relaxing but somehow epic too:) great reaction

[@vincentvancraig]

yeah i sas gonna say dream, (kinda cliche) but *underwater* dreaminess is an awesome description:)

[@vincentvancraig]

jim had pipes for sure, but his voice was so rich, just a richness he could just call up whenever needed, for any kind of singing the song required...almost, he wasnt paul mccartney, but there was already a paul mccartney

[@danielmarone5757]

When Jim and I wrote that song we really leaned on each other to persuade others to follow along.

[@kimj1741]

You definitely need to hear “The End”. It’s a long one but amazing and is on Rolling Stone Magazine’s top 500 songs of all time. It’s complex and very dramatic and The Doors were ahead of their time with this song. People were up in arms over it at the time and there was nobody else doing anything like it. They had a sound all their own and nobody else was as artistic and fearless as they were at that time.

[@tedjung3700]

My older teenaged brother bought and played this album over and over when I was just 10 years old. I didn't realize at the time what a blessing it was to be immersed in music of such quality.

[@IgorBzovski]

"Another kiss... Another flashing chance..." at The Doors.😊 My favorite band. Thank you for this reaction and hello from Serbia 🇷🇸.

[@URnickel_MY2cents]

Always enjoy your reactions, very much ! 🙏🙏🙏

[@Eduardo-Ferreira1982]

"Each night before you go to bed, my baby" Dedicated to the One I Love, Mamas & The Papas

[@JohnJanuary]

Jim spent a good chunk of his formative years in Alexandria, Virginia, and with that in mind you can hear the drawl in his singing; it flavors certain words, it was part of Jim’s natural vocal effect. Then again, I was in a relationship with a singer from that area, so I’m a bit more attuned to it. But I can hear it all over the doors music, and in this song.

[@kelvinkloud]

Fla too… his father was born in ga… he had a southern slight tone in his voice, agree. Came out even more in his singing.

[@nellerue446]

I remember the summer day in 1977 listening to a special program about The Doors on the radio. I was entranced and excited to tell my brothers of my discovery.

[@MartijnHover]

"Dedicated to the one I love" is the song you were thinking about, by the Mamas and the Papas.

[@roberttaylor1656]

Jim sang this on the beach to Ray when he was proposing they start a band with himself as the writer. Ray convinced him to be the singer

[@rubroken]

This was my favorite song on their first album

[@JeremyWins]

You had a great poker face for the first minute or so, couldnt tell if you were into this song or not. So glad you enjoyed it.

[@Roddy1965]

Good God, it's such a beautiful piece.

[@scottski51]

If you were ... uh... slightly inebriated or, uh... in a smoke-filled haze... his voice was Hypnotic and oh-so-calming. Leaned back on that ancient, POS couch in college, black lights making those great posters glow, and just closing your eyes. It was beautiful, man. Just beautiful .

[@kevinlee3174]

... never get bored absorbing your reviews. I find the album "The Doors" by The Doors recorded in mid-1966 so advanced for its time. At that time not a lot of bands could push the artistic envelope differently (of course immediately comes to mind is The Beatles and perhaps Simon and Garfunkel). Great review.

[@garyspeed8961]

Pure Magic... most beautiful song of my life!

[@oscarhalpert5967]

The Doors always struck me as a band that would have been great at creating film scores, if desired. They had such a great appreciation for film in general and so easily borrowed from the motifs of other composers.

[@sanandaallsgood673]

Ray Manzanerk's composition for the intro of Light My Fire was a masterpiece and of course he just shot up from there! In my opinion, back in the late 60s and 70s, the Doors was a very talented band that ended way too soon due to Jim's leaving to Paris. The Crystal Ship has always been one of my favorites from them and I thank you for doing this take.

[@TysonNoNo]

Thanks for doing this song.

[@franksullivan1873]

Bethany,you can see Jim was primarily a Beat Poet in a Rock band but he also was aware of the absurdity of life and the futility of striving for this and that only to surrender it all in death.A revolving door for sure.

[@danahedenstad9829]

Bethany, You are so adorable! You can't be more than 35 or 36 years old. How were you listening to the Doors growing up,unless you had a very expansive musical palette. The Doors could have written a whole song about your beguiling smile. Thank you , as always!

[@cameronrycroft4635]

I'll take a wild guess,,, it was on the radio,lol,, you know those songs they pick out and thrash like pop songs😂✌️

[@matthewgoodA1206]

One of my favorite Doors’ songs. I have a soft spot for more low-key yet substantial ballads like this. Some rock groups don’t have it in them to write this kind of tune. And that’s fine if their style doesn’t allow any room for balladry. But I personally enjoy it when bands can tone it down yet keep things moving. And I find that much easier to sing.

[@cesarnarro6013]

Initially when i first started listening to the Doors in the late 60's this song wasn't on my top Doors song list, but all these decades later it's become my favorite from them.

[@tag_76]

I have had the privilege of being able to go to Jim's grave in Paris. As a lifelong Doors fan, it was truly amazing to see the love he still gets with the flowers and other gifts. Really cool

[@bryantursk7637]

Their first album. Poetry. Jim's shyness I think impacts his vocal style too. Great tune

[@loucastillo5680]

Love the Doors, just wished you could've done a live version and react to the way he sang. He definitely had a way when he sang. Great reaction!! ❤

[@Will.Peter.]

I love the way you fell the music.

[@debranelson1987]

That first intro of notes sounded like Dedicated to the one I love by The Mamas and the Papas.

[@sergioestevez8326]

The Crystal Ship (like The End) was written by Jim Morrison, about the breakup with his great love (along with Pamela Courson), a girl from Florida named Mary Werbelow.

[@oldmusicisbetter12]

It would be so cool if you could do a video about the absolutely iconic Simon and Garfunkel performance of Bridge Over Trouble Water in Central Park 1981 :) Art Garfunkel definitely delivered one of the best vocal performances ever!!

[@rayvestrayvene5376]

A beautiful song shared with a beautiful woman. Thank you so much.

[@KathleenGreer-hk6yl]

Jim Morrison was more than a musician and singer. He was a poet. So sad that so many of these amazing artists left us too soon. This is a very psychedelic vibe.

[@hamzahshamout6776]

More of the doors, please 🙏

[@mtbn7262]

Hi, good reaction vids. Thx for the effort. Colloseum live, I think u gonna love this album. Have a Wunder full day.

[@paganiriccardo]

The Doors are the weirdest band; they had no bass player, so Ray was playing the chords, the bass line, and very often a kind of duetto melody with the voice...

[@robertserafin-uc3qn]

Ray was playing the bass pedals on the organ

[@AntonyFleck]

Forty plus years ago my sister in law had an apartment two minutes walk from 'Jims' final resting place a beautiful old Paris cemetery!!...

[@charlesmarkley220]

That time period really was a golden age of music. 😊

[@phila3884]

This song always knocks me for a loop. Such unexpected magic on their very first album. We could just discuss the intro where he inadvertently(?) slips a key. Wouldn't change it for anything.

[@mottoth]

Thanks Bethany for reacting my favorite Doors song, I wasn't expecting anyone to react to this one. Also, thanks for the recent Brel reaction. May I suggest Scott Walker as future reaction material, mainly his late 60's era (Scott I to IV): not only he covered a bunch of Brel songs, but he was such a delicate and talented singer. Every of his song is so well crafted. I'd suggest "Montague terrace (in blue)", "Always coming back to you" or "Rosemary" as starter.

[@lesgrice4419]

As far as I understand The Crystal Ship is symbolic for The Doors themselves, its one of their first songs off their first album and Jim was trying to express how he saw themselves setting out on their journey and what he saw arounfd him, make the myths is what he said and this is making their own mythic story......Duran Duran did a version of it on their album Thankyou which is very good and a tribute to this song....and to The Doors

[@sunshine3914]

The world’s greatest hypnotist.

[@johndoe-gt6gp]

Ray was a classically trained pianist. As a matter of fact, the opening lines he plays on “Light My Fire” were influenced from a piece by Bach. Outstanding keyboardist. BTW, great hair day today. Looks hot. I like it.

[@20thanasi]

Awesome reaction/analysis

[@jamesdaniel3326]

I noticed on all their albums they never smiled, until Jim's death they made Other Voices (the remaining 3). Turn the album around...they're busting out in laughter!

[@davidpope2189]

Some of the music critics back in the 1960s pointed out that his style of singing was that of a crooner, such as Bing Crosby or Frank Sinatra. Morrison actually claimed his favorite singer in the late 60s had switched from Elvis to Sinatra.

[@seanbowring5021]

This is from one of the great albums. Jim and The Doors were an amazing band.

[@jeffneptune2922]

The Doors made some haunting tunes besides their huge 1971 hit "Riders on the Storm" and this is one of them. Thank You

[@silvanorossi6416]

There will never be any band like the Doors. Unmatched

[@jonsmith6982]

Jim was awesome 27 was far too young to die for a man with his talents ,i guess we were lucky to get as much of him as we did but will always wonder what his next chapter would have been .

[@masudashizue777]

I haven't heard this song in decades. The Doors were right up there with the Rolling Stones and The Who back in my high school days.

[@clintlandrum9498]

Morrison caresses this song.

[@bumperu]

Enclose me in your gentle rain. Pure poetry. You probably saw Ray in the Ed Sullivan show performance of Light My Fire. I remember that show.

[@ChrisDIYerOklahoma]

Grew up loving this song. It is not your "usual" Doors song -- it is a melody of love and poetic Morrison/Manzarek brilliance. John Densmore on drums...so underrated! Just listen to what he does in this song...amazing. Love you and your reviews ♥

[@JoeSchmo-u1d]

Mamas and The Papas song is what you're thinking of, yes? The title of the song is "This Is Dedicated To The One I Love".

[@aarrgghh]

the singing's restrained because the song is explicitly a lullaby and the person the narrator is singing to is perhaps already on the off-ramp to slumberland

[@alx1621]

I really enjoy so much your videos and your first time hearing different genres, artist, covers. I may suggest if you can do one dedicated to Martin Gretch - Open Heart Zoo (if not heard already). This is one of those special artist and songs that transport out of this realm. There are a few versions but the live one and the oldest one is my preferred. Would love to see what you think about it.

[@billyz5088]

This great Doors track is from the debut album - released in the first few days of 1967 - recorded in late summer of 1966 - the Doors spent the first half of 1966 just learning how to become the Doors - while the 2nd half was spent recording the record and preparing to tour in support of the debut. Morrison was known early on to be quite shy - so much so that he would have his back to the audience when singing - his confidence did increase by 1967 - as did his consumption of various substances - especially alcohol - which many people have used to try to deal with issues surrounding self-confidence. Just a few short years later Morrison would of course become a raging alcoholic - on a rare level approaching that of perhaps the worst one ever in rock music - Keith Moon .

[@janvanimpe8377]

jan van impe other dreamy songs : -yes,the river knows -end of the night -indian summer -blue sunday

[@vellaropedart9190]

This was Jim's "crooner" side. A huge departure from the primal side of him.