The Doors will release an expanded, deluxe 50th anniversary edition of “Morrison Hotel” on October 9.
The 2CD/1LP package will include the band’s original fifth studio album – newly remastered by Bruce Botnick – alongside a bonus disc of unreleased studio outtakes, and the original album on 180-gram virgin vinyl.
Released in February 1970, the project – which took its name from the Skid Row hotel in downtown Los Angeles that’s featured in the iconic cover photo taken by Henry Diltz – featured classic tracks like “Roadhouse Blues” and “Waiting For The Sun.”
“Morrison Hotel” reached No. 4 on the US Billboard while going on to sell a million copies in the region.
The 50th anniversary package delivers more than an hour of unreleased recordings taken from the original sessions, giving fans an inside look at the making of the album.
“There are many takes, different arrangements, false starts, and insightful studio conversations between the band – who were in the studio – and producer Paul Rothchild – who was in the control room,” says Botnick. “It’s like being a fly on the wall.”
Several of these unheard recordings spotlight how “Queen Of The Highway” and “Roadhouse Blues” evolved, with multiple takes of the latter featuring a variety of bass players – including Harvey Brooks and guitar legend Lonnie Mack, as well as outtakes of the band jamming on cover versions of the Motown classic “Money (That’s What I Want)” and B.B. King’s “Rock Me.”
The 50th anniversary edition of “Morrison Hotel” is being previewed with an unreleased take of “Peace Frog/Blue Sunday.”
The Doors
“Morrison Hotel” 50th anniversary deluxe edition
Release date: October 9
The Original Album
01. “Roadhouse Blues”
02. “Waiting for the Sun”
03. “You Make Me Real”
04. “Peace Frog”
05. “Blue Sunday”
06. “Ship of Fools”
07. “Land Ho!”
08. “The Spy”
09. “Queen of the Highway”
10. “Indian Summer”
11. “Maggie M’Gill”
Disc Two: Mysterious Union
Black Dressed In Leather (Queen of the Highway Sessions)
First Session (11/15/68)
01. “Queen of the Highway” (Take 1, She Was a Princess) *
02. “Queen of the Highway” (Various Takes) *
03. “Queen of the Highway” (Take 44, He Was A Monster) *
Second Session (1/16/69)
04. “Queen of the Highway” (Take 12, No One Could Save Her) *
05. “Queen of the Highway” (Take 14, Save the Blind Tiger) *
Third Session (Date Unknown)
06. “Queen of the Highway” (Take 1, American Boy – American Girl) *
07. “Queen of the Highway” (Takes 5, 6 & 9, Dancing Through The Midnight Whirlpool) *
08. “Queen of the Highway” (Take 14, Start It All Over) *
09. “I Will Never Be Untrue” *
10. “Queen of the Highway” (Take Unknown) *
Money Beats Soul (Roadhouse Blues Sessions)
First Session
11. “Roadhouse Blues” (Take 14, Keep Your Eyes On The Road) *
12. “Money (That’s What I Want)” *
13. “Rock Me Baby” *
Second Session
14. “Roadhouse Blues” (Takes 6 & 7, Your Hands Upon The Wheel) *
15. “Roadhouse Blues” (Take 8, We’re Goin’ to the Roadhouse) *
Third Session
16. “Roadhouse Blues” (Takes 1 & 2, We’re Gonna Have a Real Good Time) *
17. “Roadhouse Blues” (Takes 5, 6 & 14, Let It Roll Baby Roll) *
Dawn’s Highway (Peace Frog/Blue Sunday Session)
18. “Peace Frog/Blue Sunday” (Take 4) *
19. “Peace Frog” (Take 12) *
* previously unreleased
See also:
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Search The Doors at hennemusic
