Roadhouse Blues

The song "Roadhouse Blues" by The Doors, featured on their 1970 album Morrison Hotel, is a raw, bluesy anthem that captures the band’s return to their gritty roots. One fascinating story about the song comes from guitarist Robby Krieger, who shared in a 2020 Rolling Stone interview that before recording the first take, Jim Morrison set the scene with vivid imagery: “Now the subject of this song is something that all of you have seen at one time or another, it’s an old roadhouse… We’re down in the South or in the Midwest or maybe on the way to Bakersfield, and we’re driving in a ’57 Chevy… We’ve got a six-pack of beer in the car, and a few joints.” This monologue, included in the 50th-anniversary box set, shows Morrison’s knack for storytelling, painting a picture of a carefree, rebellious drive to a bar. Krieger also noted that the real inspiration was a bar near their studio, where Morrison often hung out with his drinking buddies, giving the song a personal edge.

Another piece of trivia involves the recording process, which took place over two days, November 4-5, 1969. The session saw an unexpected guest when blues guitarist Lonnie Mack, then an Elektra Records A&R rep, stepped in to play bass because the regular session bassist, Ray Neapolitan, was stuck in traffic. Mack’s contribution added a distinctive groove, though he clarified he only played bass, not the guitar solo, which was all Krieger’s work. Additionally, ex-Lovin’ Spoonful frontman John Sebastian lent his harmonica skills under the pseudonym “G. Puglese” due to contractual reasons. Sound engineer Bruce Botnick called “Roadhouse Blues” the “all-time American bar band song,” a sentiment echoed by its enduring presence on classic rock radio and its ranking as the 11th best rock song by Time Out.

The song also had a cultural ripple effect. British band Status Quo, while touring in Germany in 1970, heard “Roadhouse Blues” in a club and were inspired to shift their sound from psychedelic pop to a bluesier, 12-bar shuffle style, using it as a template for their future work. The track’s live performances were legendary, with a notable version featuring Morrison’s spoken-word interlude on the posthumous album An American Prayer. In 2020, Miley Cyrus joined Robby Krieger for a searing cover at a Morrison Hotel 50th-anniversary event, hosted by Morrison Hotel Gallery, showcasing the song’s timeless appeal.

The Doors formed in Los Angeles in 1965, sparked by a chance meeting between Jim Morrison and Ray Manzarek, both UCLA film students. Morrison, a poet with a penchant for blues and literature, shared his lyrics with Manzarek, a classically trained keyboardist. Impressed, Manzarek recruited guitarist Robby Krieger and drummer John Densmore, and the quartet began jamming in Venice Beach, honing their sound in local clubs like the Whisky a Go Go. Their name, inspired by Aldous Huxley’s The Doors of Perception, reflected their aim to push boundaries. By 1966, they signed with Elektra Records, and their 1967 debut album, featuring “Light My Fire,” catapulted them to fame, blending psychedelic rock with Morrison’s charismatic, often provocative stage presence.

Fans can connect with The Doors through their official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts, where updates on reissues, merchandise, and tributes are shared. For deeper engagement, fans can explore the Morrison Hotel Gallery, which sells iconic band photography, including Henry Diltz’s Morrison Hotel cover shots. The Doors Fans Facebook group is a vibrant community where Zoo Freaks can swap stories, vinyl finds, and concert memories, keeping the band’s legacy alive.