The Doors After Jim Morrison: Other Voices and Full Circle (Music Monday)
Two more albums. Does Jim make a difference?
When Jim Morrison passed away in 1971, The Doors were left with a dilemma - what next?
Unlike other bands who might have called it quits, Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger, and John Densmore decided to soldier on, resulting in two often-overlooked albums: Other Voices (1971) and Full Circle (1972).
Other Voices hit the shelves just three months after Morrison's death. It's a bold move, releasing an album so soon after losing your iconic frontman. The band split vocal duties between Manzarek and Krieger, which gives the album an interesting dynamic. It's still recognizably The Doors, but there's an undeniable void where Morrison's presence used to be.
"In The Eye of the Sun" is the opening track from Other Voices. It's Ray Manzarek on lead vocals here, and you know what? It's not half bad. The song kicks off with that signature Doors sound - Manzarek's swirling keyboards, Krieger's hypnotic guitar work, and Densmore's steady beat. It's all there.
Close your eyes and imagine Jim Morrison singing this one. Can't you just hear him drawling out those lyrics? "In the eye of the sun, watching everyone"? It's not hard to picture Morrison prowling across the stage, microphone in hand, delivering those lines with his trademark intensity.
With Jim at the helm, this could've been another Doors classic. It's got all the ingredients - that psychedelic vibe, cryptic lyrics, and a groove that makes you want to sway. Heck, throw in one of Morrison's signature rants in the middle, and you've got yourself a contender for the next "The End" or "When the Music's Over."
"In The Eye of the Sun" is The Doors doing Doors things, just without Jim. It's a testament to the band's musicianship that they could still create that unmistakable Doors sound. But it also highlights just how much Morrison brought to the table. His presence, his charisma, his unpredictability - all those intangibles that turned good songs into great ones.
Manzarek does an admirable job. But it's like watching someone else wear Jim's leather pants - they might fit, but they just don't quite fill them out the same way.
In the end, "In The Eye of the Sun" feels like a postcard from an alternate universe. It's familiar, yet not quite right.
Full Circle followed in 1972, showing the band's attempt to evolve their sound. They incorporated more diverse influences, including some jazzy and funky elements.
Listening to these albums now, it's interesting to hear The Doors' sound without Morrison's distinctive vocals and lyrics. There are moments that hint at what could have been if they'd had more time to develop this new direction.
Ultimately, Other Voices and Full Circle serve as interesting footnotes in The Doors' discography. They're not bad albums by any means, but they do make you appreciate just how integral Morrison was to The Doors' signature sound.
Maybe they should have grabbed another singer. Decades later they grabbed Ian Astbury from the Cult. It’s a little Try-Hard, but OTOH it sounds enough like the Doors. Queen has made a nice living with Adam Lambert. That first INXS album with J.D. Fortune out front is pretty good, and sounds like INXS! Maybe the Doors should have tried to keep going.