Released - January 4, 1967 (Album), April 1967 (Single)
#1 for weeks of July 29 & August 5 and 12, 1967.
Oh yeah! I've been waiting anxiously to review this song. One of the downsides about reviewing songs that hit #1 on the Billboard pop charts is that there are far fewer songs on this list that we consider to be classic rock nowadays. For example, 1969 brought us Led Zeppelin's first two albums. These are absolutely relished today, yet in 1969, many didn't even pay attention to them as they just couldn't get enough of "Sugar Sugar". Blech! Yet occasionally, there were absolute rock classics that charted at #1, and in this case, it was a song by the band that I'd consider to be my favorite American group from the 1960's. The Doors.
One of the reasons The Doors have garnered such critical acclaim over the years is that each of their four members came from separate backgrounds. Drummer John Densmore was a jazz drummer, guitarist Robby Krieger studied Spanish flamenco guitar. Keyboardist Ray Manzarik was classically trained, and singer Jim Morrison was a poet. When all four of these brilliant minds came together in 1965, everything they produced was pure magic.
The quartet spent much of 1965 and 1966 writing new material as well as playing gigs on Los Angeles' Sunset Strip. Several songs from their debut album had been written as far back as 1965, including "Light My Fire". Most sources will say that the album was recorded in a mere six days in late August of 1966. However, the tape boxes from The Doors' sessions have been uncovered and show contradicting info. MildEquator.com, which has snapshots of several of these boxes, shows not only much of the recording being done in about 10 days in September, but the start and stop times for each session as well. Hence, I trust this latter source more.
"Light My Fire" is the magnificent centerpiece of this wholesomely good album. The song was mostly written by guitarist Robby Krieger, with all of the other three Doors contributing musically and lyrically. Although the song charted at #1 during the middle of the summer of love, "Light My Fire" and The Doors in particular, always represented the darker and mystical side of psychedelia.
John Densmore's opening drum hit acts as the cannonball that bursts through the doors of your mind. You are invited into this mysterious realm by Ray's haunting keyboard line, and Robby's moody guitar. The cavernous lead vocals, courtesy of Jim Morison invite you to take several steps further into the unknown. Whether you chose to take the lyrics literally, or chose to interpret them metaphorically, these words were miles ahead of what the other groups on the pop charts were singing about.
The solo section then follows and is divided into two sections. The first features Ray Manzarik on organ. I should mention that there was no bassist in The Doors lineup so the bassline you hear throughout is Ray playing a keyboard bass with his left hand, while simultaneously playing the organ leads with his right. And I must say that this solo section bassline remains one of my favorite subtle basslines of all time. Ray's legacy lives on especially in his intricate "Light My Fire" solo, and the fact that he could keep a steady bass rhythm while improving so impressively.
Robby Krieger also gives quite a stelar guitar solo after Ray finishes up. His solo may be played on an electric guitar, but there are so many Spanish and gypsy undertones in his solo that you could easily picture it being played on a classical guitar, under a night sky, in the middle of a field.
After this magnificent psychedelic journey is finished, the opening melody line returns and we are given one final "A" section of the song, led by an increasingly more powerful Jim. The final chorus in particular features Jim reaching higher and higher vocal dynamics, finally climaxing on "Try to set the night on fire". And with a final drum hit by John Densmore and a final refrain of the melody, the doors to this mystical realm the song creates are closed.
Now there is one major issue I have to point out. The version of "Light My Fire" that hit #1 was a butchered three minute single version. The thrilling solo section that the album version contains was drastically shortened, thus compromising the beauty of the song. So this is a case where if by some chance you haven't heard this song yet, don't seek out the single version. Listen to the full seven plus minute version instead.
Final Verdict - "Light My Fire" isn't just one of, if not the best songs released in 1967, I feel it is too good to be included on a chart list that has also included trite pop songs. It is such a thrilling journey of a song and I always appreciate hearing every chance I get. Don't just go out and buy this song, go buy all six classic Doors albums, and devote a night to each. Turn off all the lights, light some candles or incense, close your eyes, and just let the music and words take you away.
Coming Up Next - "All You Need Is Love" by The Beatles.
Until Next Time, I'm Dr. Rock, and "This is the end..." of this review -
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