"LOVE ME TWO TIMES": THE WORK IN PROGRESS VERSION

 

The driving rock of "Love Me Two Times", the third track on The Doors' second album "Strange Days" (released in September 1967), is the result of the sound research carried out by the Californian group in both the recording studio and during concerts.

The LP was recorded between April and August 1967, with numerous historic live performances interspersed throughout those months. In this article, we will focus on the developments that "Love Me Two Times" underwent during the recording sessions.

There, the band members could experiment with new sounds and effects, devoting much more time to arranging than they had on their debut album, "The Doors" (January 1967).

In this context, 'Love Me Two Times' was carefully worked out, starting with a temporary version. Described as "Take 3" (link here), it hints at the song's intermediate stage, although it already features the main structure that will remain unchanged.

Let's analyze it briefly to better understand how it evolved during those musical, artistic and inspiring days of April and May '67.

First, let us highlight what was already complete in 'Take 3' and therefore remained unchanged on the vinyl track.

The riff was defined, as are the drums, electric bass and vocal lines. The order of the verse, chorus, and solo have also been finalized. Even the lyrics and the song's overall length were already in place.

While it seems like the tune is practically finished, there are some significant differences with the official version that are worth pointing out.

The first difference is the absence of Jim Morrison's shout with which he introduces Ray Manzarek's solo on the record (listen to the LP version at min. 1:25).

This absence suggests that Morrison may have included an unagreed vocal improvisation when recording the final take. This shows how both the studio sessions and the concerts were open to the singer's unpredictable and brilliant inspiration.

Another difference between 'Take 3' and the album track is that Ray Manzarek uses the electric organ instead of the harpsichord, which makes the song so distinctive on the LP. The electric organ was the keyboardist's instrument of choice, so it is unsurprising that he began the "Love Me Two Times" recordings playing that keyboard.

The more pervasive sound generated by the instrument in the "Work in Progress" version fits well with the rest of the arrangement. Indeed, it enhances the blues element of the tune with a carefully crafted rhythmic accompaniment.

However, the final decision to use the harpsichord was successful, adding a notable psychedelic quality that was as intriguing as it was essential to the coherence of the piece within the context of the album.

The final difference we want to highlight stems directly from the previous one: the solo in 'Take 3' is played on the organ instead of the harpsichord. This results in a more cautious and restrained solo compared to the wild and dashing succession of ringing notes that characterizes the solo in the official version.

Moreover, the electric organ solo maintains a strictly rock blues profile, denoting the less experimental and psychedelic approach that distinguishes 'Take 3'.

This alternative version of "Love Me Two Times" showcases the creative development The Doors underwent during those exceptional recording sessions.

Overall, it can be said with confidence that the group's interventions in the creation of the final version of the song were an unquestionable improvement on "Take 3". They made it more engaging, fully capturing the magical historical moment in which it was written by guitarist Robby Krieger.

"Love Me Two Times (Take 3)" is included in "Behind Closed Doors – The Rarities", alongside other intriguing tracks.

P.S.: My book "The Doors Through Strange Days"- The most comprehensive journey ever made through The Doors' second LP, is available on Amazon.com, .uk, .mx, .it, etc.

Here’s a link:

Amazon – “The Doors Through Strange Days”