"The Crystal Ship" is a song by the Doors from their 1967 debut album “The Doors”. It was featured as the B-side to their hit single "Light My Fire." Jim Morrison wrote the song as a love ballad dedicated to his first serious girlfriend, Mary Werbelow, after the end of their relationship.
Though some interpret the "Crystal Ship" as a drug metaphor, it is widely seen as a reflection of Morrison's lingering emotions for Werbelow. The song's lyrics explore Morrison's inability to let go, with lines like "another kiss" symbolizing his desire to relive moments with her. Phrases such as "The days are bright and filled with pain" suggest that, despite his new success, Morrison was still emotionally tied to Werbelow. Ultimately, the song is a bittersweet tribute to their past relationship, with Morrison acknowledging both the end of their time together and his continued connection to her.
"The Crystal Ship" is a lyrically ambiguous and dreamlike song, inviting a range of interpretations. While Morrison’s lyrics seem to express the longing and sorrow following his breakup with Mary Werbelow, critics argue that the song's imagery is purposefully vague, allowing for multiple meanings. Greil Marcus suggests the opening line might hint at themes of sleep, overdose, or even a dark pact, while James Perone points out that "the crystal ship" could represent either sleep or a drug experience—though in 1967, the drug interpretation was more prevalent. Authors David Luhrssen and Michael Larson add that the song's dreamlike quality could also reflect a sensual experience.
Jim Morrison, an avid reader, drew inspiration for the song from a Celtic legend in “The Book of the Dun Cow”, a manuscript of Irish stories compiled around the 9th century by monks, blending his personal experiences with ancient Celtic and poetic influences. The song title likely connects to William Blake's poem “The Crystal Cabinet”, one of many works by Blake that influenced Morrison's songwriting.
A music video for the song was later created by combining footage of the Doors performing on “American Bandstand” with scenes of Jim Morrison and his girlfriend, Pamela Courson, at Kern River near Bakersfield, California.
THE DOORS - PEACE FROG
Released: February 9, 1970
Album: Morrison Hotel
"Peace Frog" is a song by the Doors from their 1970 album “Morrison Hotel”. Guitarist Robby Krieger wrote and recorded the music first, with Jim Morrison later adding lyrics adapted from his poems. While not released as a single in the U.S., it was issued as the B-side to "You Make Me Real" in France.
"Peace Frog" features a complex, energetic groove driven by Robby Krieger's guitar riff and John Densmore's funk-inspired drumming. Ray Manzarek’s vibrant organ fills create a crowded soundscape, leaving minimal room for Jim Morrison's vocals, which he pushes into brief openings to heighten the song's intensity. The lyrics are drawn from Morrison's poems, including "Abortion Stories," which inspired the song's dark, vivid imagery.
"Peace Frog" was developed in the studio; with producer Paul Rothchild's encouragement, Morrison drew on his poetry notebooks to complete the song’s lyrics. Themes in the song include Morrison’s childhood memory of witnessing an accident involving Native Americans, which he believed left a lasting spiritual mark on him—a scene later depicted in Oliver Stone’s “The Doors” movie.
The line "Blood in the streets of the town of New Haven" references Jim Morrison's arrest in New Haven in 1967. Morrison recounted that he was with a girl before a show when a police officer interrupted them, eventually spraying Morrison in the eyes with a chemical. Despite his protests, Morrison was later arrested on stage for breach of the peace and resisting arrest. The arrest turned chaotic as Morrison struck a crucifixion pose on stage, leading some audience members to clash with the police. The line also appears in the song, referring to police violence during the 1968 Democratic National Convention, where officers clashed with anti-war protesters.
THE DOORS - ROADHOUSE BLUES
Publicació: Març de 1970
Llistes d'èxits: EUA: #50
"Roadhouse Blues" és la cançó d'obertura de l'àlbum “Morrison Hotel”, una peça inspirada en el blues que destaca pel seu homenatge al blues clàssic amb una energia crua i un treball de guitarra dinàmic. Publicada el 1970, la cançó es va incloure com a cara B de "You Make Me Real", que va arribar al número 50 del Billboard Hot 100 i al número 41 al Canadà. "Roadhouse Blues" també va tenir èxit per si sola a la llista de Cash Box Top 100, arribant al número 76.
Després de l'experimentació elaborada de “The Soft Parade”, “Morrison Hotel” va suposar el retorn de The Doors a les seves arrels de blues més pures. Com a tema principal de l'àlbum, "Roadhouse Blues" és una cançó blues directa i contundent, que mostra el so més autèntic i dur de la banda fins al moment. A diferència de “The Soft Parade”, que incorporava abundants instruments de corda i vents, “Morrison Hotel” simplificava la producció, una decisió impulsada en part pel desig de Jim Morrison de tornar a la senzillesa i per la seva limitada participació en l'àlbum anterior a causa del seu consum d'alcohol. Abans d'assolir la fama, The Doors havien perfeccionat el seu so de blues durant llargues actuacions en clubs, un estil que "Roadhouse Blues" reflecteix poderosament.
El títol “Morrison Hotel” es va inspirar en un hotel real al centre de Los Angeles que el teclista Ray Manzarek va veure mentre conduïa. La banda volia fer les fotos de l'àlbum allà, però el propietari de l'hotel els va negar l'entrada, sospitant que eren hippies. Sense defallir, s'hi van colar per fer ràpidament una foto, que va acabar convertint-se en la icònica portada de l'àlbum. Inicialment, "Roadhouse Blues" es va considerar com a títol de l'àlbum, ja que la cançó en si era el resultat de l'amor de Jim Morrison pel blues, sovint cantant-ne peces durant sessions d'improvisació quan estava begut.
Es creu que la cançó s'inspira en el Topanga Corral, un club llegendari sense finestres situat a Topanga Canyon, a prop d'on vivia Jim Morrison. Per arribar-hi calia recórrer el sinuós Topanga Canyon Boulevard, que coincideix amb la frase de Morrison, “keep your eyes on the road, your hand upon the wheel” (mantingues els ulls a la carretera, la mà al volant). Conegut per acollir grups com Little Feat i Canned Heat, i freqüentat per artistes com Linda Ronstadt, el Corral encarnava l'ambient contracultural que Morrison apreciava. Darrere del Corral hi havia una cabana que Morrison suposadament va comprar per a la seva xicota, Pamela Courson, fet que podria haver inspirat la frase “In back of the Roadhouse they got some bungalows” (Darrere del Roadhouse tenen alguns bungalows). El Corral es va incendiar el 1986, però el seu esperit viu a través de la cançó.
John Sebastian de Lovin' Spoonful va col·laborar tocant l'harmònica en aquesta peça, però va ser acreditat com a "G. Puglese" per evitar associar-se amb The Doors durant la polèmica per l'arrest de Jim Morrison el 1969 a Miami. Morrison havia estat acusat d'exhibició indecent en un concert, cosa que li va suposar una condemna de sis mesos de presó, que encara estava en apel·lació en el moment de la seva mort. Més de 40 anys després, el 2010, el governador de Florida Charlie Crist va concedir a Morrison un perdó pòstum, exonerant-lo oficialment dels càrrecs.
Alice Cooper va afirmar que ell va inspirar la frase “Woke up this morning and I got myself a beer” (Em vaig despertar aquest matí i vaig agafar una cervesa). Al seu programa de ràdio Planet Rock, Cooper va explicar una vegada que ell i Jim Morrison estaven bevent junts. Cooper va comentar casualment que havia començat el dia amb una cervesa, i Morrison, en escoltar-lo, va escriure la frase immediatament. Quan Cooper va escoltar aquesta frase a la cançó, es va sorprendre, adonant-se que Morrison havia incorporat el seu comentari espontani a “Roadhouse Blues.”
THE DOORS - ROADHOUSE BLUES
Released: March 1970
Charts: US: #50
"Roadhouse Blues," the opening track on “Morrison Hotel”, is a blues-inspired rocker that showcases The Doors’ homage to classic blues with raw energy and dynamic guitar work. Released in 1970, the song was the B-side to "You Make Me Real," which reached No. 50 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 41 in Canada. "Roadhouse Blues" also achieved independent chart success on the Cash Box Top 100, peaking at No. 76.
Following the elaborate experimentation of “The Soft Parade”, “Morrison Hotel” marked The Doors' return to their raw, blues roots. Leading the album, "Roadhouse Blues" is a gritty, straightforward blues track, showcasing the band's hardest and most authentic blues sound to date. Unlike “The Soft Parade”, which incorporated extensive strings and horns, “Morrison Hotel” stripped back to basics, a move partly driven by Jim Morrison's desire for simplicity and his limited involvement in the previous album due to his drinking. Before achieving fame, The Doors had honed their blues sound during long club performances, which "Roadhouse Blues" powerfully reflects.
The title “Morrison Hotel” was inspired by an actual hotel in downtown Los Angeles that keyboardist Ray Manzarek noticed while driving. The band wanted to take album photos there, but the hotel's owner refused to let them inside, suspecting they were hippies. Undeterred, they sneaked in for a quick photo, which became the album's iconic cover. Originally, "Roadhouse Blues" was considered for the album title, as the song itself was a result of Jim Morrison's love for the blues, often singing blues numbers during impromptu jam sessions when he was drunk.
The song was likely inspired by the Topanga Corral, a legendary, windowless club located in Topanga Canyon near where Jim Morrison lived. Reaching the Corral required navigating the winding Topanga Canyon Boulevard, which aligns with Morrison's line, “keep your eyes on the road, your hand upon the wheel.” Known for hosting acts like Little Feat and Canned Heat and frequented by artists like Linda Ronstadt, the Corral embodied the countercultural vibe Morrison cherished. Behind the Corral, a cabin that Morrison is said to have bought for his girlfriend, Pamela Courson, may have inspired the lyric, “In back of the Roadhouse they got some bungalows.” The Corral itself burned down in 1986, but its spirit lives on through the song.
John Sebastian of the Lovin' Spoonful contributed harmonica to the track but was credited as "G. Puglese" to avoid association with The Doors during the controversy surrounding Jim Morrison’s 1969 arrest in Miami. Morrison had been accused of indecent exposure at a concert, leading to a conviction and a six-month jail sentence, which was still under appeal at the time of his death. Over 40 years later, in 2010, Florida Governor Charlie Crist granted Morrison a posthumous pardon, officially clearing him of the charges.
Alice Cooper claimed he inspired the line "Woke up this morning and I got myself a beer". On his Planet Rock morning show, Cooper recounted a time when he and Jim Morrison were drinking together. Cooper mentioned casually that he had started his day with a beer, and Morrison, noting the line, wrote it down immediately. Later, when Cooper heard the line in the song, he was surprised, realizing that Morrison had taken his offhand comment and incorporated it into “Roadhouse Blues”.
19.11.24
HEART - DREAMBOAT ANNIE
Llançada: Novembre de 1976
Llistes: EUA: #42
"Dreamboat Annie", la cançó que dona títol a l'àlbum debut de Heart, es va llançar com a senzill el 1976, inicialment com a cara B de "Crazy on You". Amb un so més suau i acústic, va esdevenir la primera cançó de Heart a entrar a la llista nord-americana de música contemporània per a adults, arribant al número 17, i va assolir la posició 42 al Billboard Hot 100. Curiosament, va ser la cançó de Heart amb millor posició en aquesta llista fins que "These Dreams" va arribar-hi el 1986. "Dreamboat Annie" va ser una de les tres cançons que la banda va interpretar durant la seva inducció al Rock and Roll Hall of Fame el 2013.
L'àlbum “Dreamboat Annie” inclou tres versions diferents de la cançó, que desenvolupen un concepte al voltant d'un personatge anomenat Annie, que simbolitza la joventut i les seves possibilitats. Les versions apareixen com "Dreamboat Annie (Fantasy Child)", "Dreamboat Annie" i "Dreamboat Annie (Reprise)", i evolucionen des de la llibertat vora el mar fins a una vorera d'una ciutat bulliciosa i, finalment, una partida ambigua. La versió del senzill, lleugerament allargada a gairebé tres minuts amb una introducció de "Crazy on You", mai es va incloure a cap àlbum de Heart. Escrita per les germanes Ann i Nancy Wilson, destaca per la seva aura de somni i elements introspectius dins la narrativa de l'àlbum.
Cada una de les tres versions comença amb una escena tranquil·la en la qual Annie s'embarca "cap al sol" sobre "ones de diamant". La lletra estableix el viatge d'Annie, barrejant la llibertat amb una imatgeria somniadora. Les versions segona i de represa desenvolupen la seva història amb l'arribada d'Annie a la ciutat, on es perd entre la multitud i explora nous escenaris i possibilitats. Aquesta seqüència proporciona una subtil progressió en la narració lírica de Heart al llarg de l'àlbum.
“Dreamboat Annie” és l'àlbum d'estudi debut de Heart, gravat i llançat per primera vegada a Vancouver, Canadà, per Mushroom Records el setembre de 1975. Al Canadà, va arribar al número 20 a la llista Top Album de RPM i va aconseguir la certificació de doble platí. Llançat als Estats Units el 14 de febrer de 1976, l'àlbum va arribar al número set del Billboard 200.
“Dreamboat Annie” va suscitar polèmica quan el segell discogràfic de Heart, Mushroom Records, va publicar un anunci provocador de pàgina sencera a la revista Rolling Stone amb el titular "només era la seva primera vegada". L'anunci, fent referència a la portada de l'àlbum amb les germanes Ann i Nancy Wilson, insinuava de manera provocativa una relació sexualitzada entre elles, amb la intenció d'explotar la seva imatge. Aquesta campanya publicitària sexista va enfurismar la banda i va provocar la ruptura amb el segell discogràfic.
HEART - DREAMBOAT ANNIE
Released: November 1976
Charts: US: #42
"Dreamboat Annie," the title track from Heart's debut album, was released as a single in 1976, initially as the B-side to "Crazy on You." With a softer, more acoustic sound, it became Heart's first song to enter the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart, reaching #17, and peaked at #42 on the Billboard Hot 100. Notably, it remained Heart's highest-charting song on the AC chart until "These Dreams" in 1986. "Dreamboat Annie” was one of the three songs the band performed during their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2013.
The album “Dreamboat Annie” includes three distinct versions of the title track, which form a loose concept around a character named Annie, symbolizing youthful possibility. The different versions appear as "Dreamboat Annie (Fantasy Child)," "Dreamboat Annie," and "Dreamboat Annie (Reprise)," progressing from seaside freedom to a bustling city sidewalk, and finally, an ambiguous departure. The single version, slightly extended to nearly three minutes with an intro from "Crazy On You," was never included on any Heart album. This song, written by sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson, highlights the dreamlike and reflective elements of the album's narrative.
Each of the three versions starts with a serene scene of Annie setting out “into the sun” on “diamond waves.” The lyrics establish Annie’s journey, blending freedom with dreamlike imagery. The second and reprise versions develop her story further, introducing lyrics about her arrival in the city, where she becomes lost in the crowd, and explores new settings and possibilities. This sequence offers a subtle progression in Heart’s lyrical storytelling throughout the album.
“Dreamboat Annie” is the debut studio album Heart, recorded and first released in Vancouver, British Columbia, by local label Mushroom Records in September 1975. In Canada, it reached number 20 on RPM's Top Album chart and achieved double platinum certification. Released in the U.S. on February 14, 1976, the album peaked at number seven on the Billboard 200.
“Dreamboat Annie” stirred up controversy when Heart’s label, Mushroom Records, ran a provocative full-page ad in Rolling Stone with the caption "it was only their first time." The ad, referencing the album cover with sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson, tastelessly insinuated a sexualized relationship between the two, attempting to exploit their image. This sexist publicity stunt angered the band, leading to a rift with the label.
