The Doors

 Today in 1978 The Doors released the album An American Prayer

Los Angeles, California Psychedelic rock, blues rock, acid rock

Status:Split Up

Years active 1965–1973

The Doors, one of the most influential and controversial rock bands of the 1960s, were formed in Los Angeles in 1965 by UCLA film students Ray Manzarek, keyboards, and Jim Morrison, vocals; with drummer John Densmore and guitarist Robby Krieger. The group never added a bass player, and their sound was dominated by Manzarek's electric organ work and Morrison's deep, sonorous voice, with which he sang and intoned his highly poetic lyrics.

Elektra

1969 readings

Jim Morrison (R.I.P. 1971)– vocals, spoken word (recorded on March 1969)

1970 readings

Jim Morrison (R.I.P. 1971)– vocals, spoken word (recorded on December 8, 1970)

The Doors

Ray Manzarek(R.I.P. 2013) – keyboards, piano bass

Robby Krieger – guitar

John Densmore – drums

Additional personnel

Arthur Barrow – synthesizer programming on "The Movie"

Reinol Andino – percussion

Bob Glaub – bass on "Albinoni – Adagio"

Jerry Scheff – bass

Poetry, lyrics and stories by Jim Morrison; music by Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger, and John Densmore.

Side one

No. Title Length

1. "Awake

Ghost Song

Dawn's Highway

Newborn Awakening"

7:10

2. "To Come of Age

Black Polished Chrome

Latino Chrome

Angels and Sailors

Stoned Immaculate"

8:41

3. "The Poets Dreams

The Movie

Curses, Invocations"

3:28

Side two

No. Title Length

4. "World On Fire

American Night

Roadhouse Blues

Lament

The Hitchhiker"

11:59

5. "An American Prayer" 6:52

An American Prayer is the ninth and final studio album by the Doors. In 1978, seven years after lead singer Jim Morrison died and five years after the remaining members of the band broke up, Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger, and John Densmore reunited and recorded backing tracks over Morrison's poetry (originally recorded in 1969 and 1970). Other pieces of music and spoken word recorded by the Doors and Morrison were also used in the audio collage, such as dialogue from Morrison's film HWY: An American Pastoral and snippets from jam sessions.

The album also includes a composite live version of "Roadhouse Blues," splicing together performances at New York City's Felt Forum and Detroit's Cobo Hall, both captured during the Doors' 1970 Roadhouse Blues Tour. This version of the song later appeared on the In Concert compilation.