THE DOORS’ "STRANGE DAYS": THE COVERS PLAYED AT "THE MATRIX"

 

About a month before they began recording their second album, "Strange Days" (released September 1967), The Doors were recorded live at "The Matrix" in San Francisco (7–10 March 1967). Still relatively unknown outside of California at this time, the band's setlist included several covers of other artists' songs, reinterpreted according to their own sensibility.

Although only original songs appear on "Strange Days", it was customary for them to include covers in their concerts, which rarely followed the officialy released material in a linear fashion.

Therefore, it is not surprising that, of the 24 tracks that have survived from "The Matrix" concerts, nine are covers of other artists' songs. Most of these date from the second half of the 1950s and the early 1960s.

These covers predominantly belong to the realms of blues and rhythm and blues, which seems at odds with the psychedelic rock they would play a few weeks later in the "Strange Days" recordings. However, throughout the band's history, both in the studio and live, different genres have always co-existed.

The best of the covers recorded at 'The Matrix' is undoubtedly the version of "Gloria" (Them, 1964), which creates the signature interplay of muted sounds and electric explosions that defines the Californian group.

Of interest too is the slide technique used by Robby Krieger in "Money" (Barret Strong, 1959) and "I'm a King Bee" (Slim Harpo, 1957). As for Morrison's vocals, the most engaging performance besides the aforementioned "Gloria" is on "Who Do You Love" (Bo Diddley, 1956).

Among the curiosities of these live shows is 'Crawlin' King Snake' (Big Joe Williams, 1941), which predates the arrangement on the group's final LP ("L.A. Woman") by three and a half years. The harmonica, played sporadically by Morrison, appears here for a few seconds.

Another unusual feature of "The Matrix" tapes is the long instrumental version of the timeless 'Summertime', which features a protracted electric organ solo by Ray Manzarek.

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