THE DOORS’ LIVE AT "THE MATRIX" (MARCH 1967): "PEOPLE ARE STRANGE"

"People Are Strange" was the first single released from The Doors' second LP, "Strange Days". Released around twenty days before the album in early September 1967, it did not enjoy the chart success that the band had hoped for (#12 in the US), especially given the previous chart-topping “Light My Fire”.

Nevertheless, it remains one of the group's most popular songs and is now one of the most-listened-to tracks by The Doors on Spotify.

One of the few existing live versions of the song was recorded at "The Matrix" in San Francisco in early March 1967 (link here). At the time, the band was preparing to record their aforementioned second album, and 'People Are Strange' would open its B-side.

This live performance shows how the final version of the song was completed six months before its official release.

In fact, the structure, arrangement and even Robby Krieger's electric guitar solo remained unchanged from this live version. This is a clear indication of how The Doors used live performances as a substitute for studio rehearsals, especially in their early days.

Just a few weeks of gigs in California had passed between the composition of the song and its final version.

Unlike other songs from that period, such as 'When the Music's Over', which required months of changes accumulated through close contact with the audience, 'People Are Strange' was finalized rather quickly.

The only difference between the version featured in The Matrix tapes and the one on the "Strange Days" album is the part played by Ray Manzarek on the electric organ. In the studio, he overdubs the modified piano (tack piano) in addition to the electric organ he usually plays.

The piano solo we can hear on the album, is played at "The Matrix" by the electric organ (listen from 1:31 to 1:46).

While this discrepancy does not substantially alter the performance, it does change the musicality of the solo through the broader and softer chords that the electric organ allows compared to the piano.

Additionally, Manzarek adds brief improvisational variations to the short solo that will be absent from the LP track.

The final version of 'People Are Strange' performed live at 'The Matrix' is very similar to the version on "Strange Days", including Jim Morrison's vocals.

Without diminishing its innate charm, this makes the track one of The Doors' least interesting compositions played at the San Francisco venue in March '67, at least from an experimental point of view.

Nevertheless, this live performance is important due to its rarity. In fact, "People Are Strange" was performed live several times (almost all of them during 1967), but only four of these performances were recorded.

Unfortunately, two of these recordings are of poor sound quality. This adds to the historical and musical importance of this performance at 'The Matrix', offering an interesting insight into the work in progress of 'Strange Days' six months before its official release.

At the time, the band was preparing to record their aforementioned second album, and 'People Are Strange' would open its B-side.

This live performance shows how the final version of the song was completed six months before its official release.

In fact, the structure, arrangement and even Robby Krieger's electric guitar solo remained unchanged from this live version. This is a clear indication of how The Doors used live performances as a substitute for studio rehearsals, especially in their early days.

Just a few weeks of gigs in California had passed between the composition of the song and its final version.

Unlike other songs from that period, such as 'When the Music's Over', which required months of changes accumulated through close contact with the audience, 'People Are Strange' was finalized rather quickly.

The only difference between the version featured in The Matrix tapes and the one on the "Strange Days" album is the part played by Ray Manzarek on the electric organ. In the studio, he overdubs the modified piano (tack piano) in addition to the electric organ he usually plays.

The piano solo we can hear on the album, is played at "The Matrix" by the electric organ (listen from 1:31 to 1:46).

While this discrepancy does not substantially alter the performance, it does change the musicality of the solo through the broader and softer chords that the electric organ allows compared to the piano.

Additionally, Manzarek adds brief improvisational variations to the short solo that will be absent from the LP track.

The final version of 'People Are Strange' performed live at 'The Matrix' is very similar to the version on "Strange Days", including Jim Morrison's vocals.

Without diminishing its innate charm, this makes the track one of The Doors' least interesting compositions played at the San Francisco venue in March '67, at least from an experimental point of view.

Nevertheless, this live performance is important due to its rarity. In fact, "People Are Strange" was performed live several times (almost all of them during 1967), but only four of these performances were recorded.

Unfortunately, two of these recordings are of poor sound quality. This adds to the historical and musical importance of this performance at 'The Matrix', offering an interesting insight into the work in progress of 'Strange Days' six months before its official release.

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”