Other Voices (The Doors album)
Encyclopedia
Other Voices is the seventh studio album
by The Doors
released in 1971. It was the first album released by the band following the death of lead singer Jim Morrison.
was on holiday in France
. The song "Down on the Farm" was allegedly already written at the time of the recording of the previous album
, but Morrison did not want to include it. According to Manzarek, some of the songs had been rehearsed with Morrison before he left for Paris
.
The three remaining members of the band regrouped and released the album in October three months after Morrison's death. Keyboardist Ray Manzarek
and guitarist Robby Krieger
took Morrison's place as lead singers.
.
The Doors have largely disregarded the last two studio albums that were recorded without Jim Morrison, had no plans of re-issuing the albums on CD. At the time, The Doors stated that they were not in possession of the master tapes, but re-mastered material from both the albums has appeared on various compilations, most notably the 1997 Box Set
and the 2000 compilation The Best of the Doors
.
On September 27, 2011, The Doors finally gave Other Voices, along with Full Circle, its first official reissue that's currently available only for digital download via stores such as ITunes
, Amazon.com
, and Emusic
. It is not known whether the original master tapes were used in these reissues.
, Densmore
, Manzarek
," a lyric sheet was included with early LP editions of the album that listed individual writing credits, and some early versions of the LP include these credits on the LP record labels as well. These individual credits are listed below.
Additional personnel
Billboard (North America)
Singles
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by The Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
released in 1971. It was the first album released by the band following the death of lead singer Jim Morrison.
Recording
The recording of the album began while lead singer Jim MorrisonJim Morrison
James Douglas "Jim" Morrison was an American musician, singer, and poet, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band The Doors...
was on holiday in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The song "Down on the Farm" was allegedly already written at the time of the recording of the previous album
L.A. Woman
The band embarked on a tour to promote the album, although it would only comprise two dates. The first was held in Dallas, Texas on December 11 and reportedly went well. The second performance took place at The Warehouse in New Orleans, Louisiana, on December 12, 1970, where Morrison apparently had...
, but Morrison did not want to include it. According to Manzarek, some of the songs had been rehearsed with Morrison before he left for Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
The three remaining members of the band regrouped and released the album in October three months after Morrison's death. Keyboardist Ray Manzarek
Ray Manzarek
Raymond Daniel Manzarek, Jr., better known as Ray Manzarek , is an American musician, singer, producer, film director, writer, co-founder and keyboardist of The Doors from 1965 to 1973, Nite City from 1977–1978 and Manzarek-Krieger since 2001.Manzarek is listed #4 on Digital Dreamdoor's "100...
and guitarist Robby Krieger
Robby Krieger
Robert Alan "Robby" Krieger is an American rock guitarist and songwriter. He was the guitarist in The Doors, and wrote some of the band's best known songs, including "Light My Fire," "Love Me Two Times," "Touch Me," and "Love Her Madly."...
took Morrison's place as lead singers.
CD releases
The album was not released on CD until October 23, 2006, by the Timeless Holland label, along with the final Doors album, Full CircleFull Circle (The Doors album)
Full Circle is the eighth studio album by The Doors released in 1972. It is the second album after Jim Morrison's death, and also their last album together before they broke up. The album includes "The Mosquito", the last hit single by the band. Keyboardist Ray Manzarek and guitarist Robby Krieger...
.
The Doors have largely disregarded the last two studio albums that were recorded without Jim Morrison, had no plans of re-issuing the albums on CD. At the time, The Doors stated that they were not in possession of the master tapes, but re-mastered material from both the albums has appeared on various compilations, most notably the 1997 Box Set
The Doors: Box Set
This is the first box set by the band The Doors released on October 28, 1997. The set includes previously rare and unreleased demo recordings.-Track listing:All songs written by Jim Morrison, Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek, and John Densmore, except where noted....
and the 2000 compilation The Best of the Doors
The Best of The Doors (2000 album)
The Best of The Doors is a compilation album by The Doors released in 2000, and is different from the albums of the same name released in 1973 and 1985. All three albums feature a slightly different track listing and a different photograph of the band's late singer Jim Morrison as cover art...
.
On September 27, 2011, The Doors finally gave Other Voices, along with Full Circle, its first official reissue that's currently available only for digital download via stores such as ITunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
, Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
, and Emusic
EMusic
eMusic is an online music and audiobook store that operates by subscription. It is headquartered in New York City with an office in London and owned by Dimensional Associates. As of September 2008 eMusic has over 400,000 subscribers....
. It is not known whether the original master tapes were used in these reissues.
Track listing
While Other Voices inside gatefold cover states "All songs written by KriegerRobby Krieger
Robert Alan "Robby" Krieger is an American rock guitarist and songwriter. He was the guitarist in The Doors, and wrote some of the band's best known songs, including "Light My Fire," "Love Me Two Times," "Touch Me," and "Love Her Madly."...
, Densmore
John Densmore
John Paul Densmore is an American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the drummer of the rock group The Doors.-Early life and The Doors:Born in Los Angeles, Densmore attended Santa Monica City College and Cal...
, Manzarek
Ray Manzarek
Raymond Daniel Manzarek, Jr., better known as Ray Manzarek , is an American musician, singer, producer, film director, writer, co-founder and keyboardist of The Doors from 1965 to 1973, Nite City from 1977–1978 and Manzarek-Krieger since 2001.Manzarek is listed #4 on Digital Dreamdoor's "100...
," a lyric sheet was included with early LP editions of the album that listed individual writing credits, and some early versions of the LP include these credits on the LP record labels as well. These individual credits are listed below.
Side one
- "In the Eye of the Sun" (Ray Manzarek) – 4:48
- "Variety Is the Spice of Life" (Robby Krieger) – 2:50
- "Ships w/Sails" (Robby Krieger/John Densmore) – 7:38
- "Tightrope Ride" (Ray Manzarek/Robby Krieger) – 4:15
Side two
- "Down on the Farm" (Robby Krieger) – 4:15
- "I'm Horny, I'm Stoned" (Robby Krieger) – 3:55
- "Wandering Musician" (Robby Krieger) – 6:25
- "Hang on to Your Life" (Ray Manzarek/Robby Krieger) – 5:36
Personnel
The Doors- Ray ManzarekRay ManzarekRaymond Daniel Manzarek, Jr., better known as Ray Manzarek , is an American musician, singer, producer, film director, writer, co-founder and keyboardist of The Doors from 1965 to 1973, Nite City from 1977–1978 and Manzarek-Krieger since 2001.Manzarek is listed #4 on Digital Dreamdoor's "100...
– vocals, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, keyboard bass - Robby KriegerRobby KriegerRobert Alan "Robby" Krieger is an American rock guitarist and songwriter. He was the guitarist in The Doors, and wrote some of the band's best known songs, including "Light My Fire," "Love Me Two Times," "Touch Me," and "Love Her Madly."...
– vocals, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes... - John DensmoreJohn DensmoreJohn Paul Densmore is an American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the drummer of the rock group The Doors.-Early life and The Doors:Born in Los Angeles, Densmore attended Santa Monica City College and Cal...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Additional personnel
- Jack Conrad – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
on "In the Eye of the Sun", "Variety Is the Spice of Life" and "Tightrope Ride" - Jerry ScheffJerry ScheffJerry Obern Scheff is an American bassist, perhaps best known for his work with Elvis Presley in the early 1970s as a member of his TCB Band and his work on The Doors' final recordings....
– bass on "Down On The Farm", "I'm Horny, I'm Stoned" and "Wandering Musician" - Wolfgang Melz – bass on "Hang on to Your Life"
- Ray Neapolitan – bass on "Ships w/Sails"
- Willie RuffWillie RuffWillie Ruff is the hornist and bassist of the Mitchell-Ruff Duo and one of the founders of the W. C. Handy Music Festival. He was born in Florence, Alabama. The duo regularly performs and lectures all over the United States, Asia, Africa and Europe...
– acoustic bass on "Ships w/Sails" - Francisco AguabellaFrancisco AguabellaFrancisco Aguabella was an Afro-Cuban jazz percussionist whose career began in the 1950s.-Biography:Aguabella was born in Matanzas, Cuba. In the 1950s, he left Cuba to perform with Katherine Dunham in the Shelley Winters film Mambo filmed in Italy...
– percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
on "Ships w/Sails" and "Hang on to Your Life" - Emil RichardsEmil RichardsEmil Richards, born Emilio Joseph Radocchia on September 2, 1932 in Hartford, Connecticut, is a percussionist who plays a variety of different percussion instruments.-Biography:...
– marimbaMarimbaThe marimba is a musical instrument in the percussion family. It consists of a set of wooden keys or bars with resonators. The bars are struck with mallets to produce musical tones. The keys are arranged as those of a piano, with the accidentals raised vertically and overlapping the natural keys ...
, kickshaws and whimwhams on "Down on the Farm"
Chart information
AlbumBillboard (North America)
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Pop Albums | 31 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | "Tightrope Ride" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 71 |
Production
- Producers – The Doors, Bruce Botnick
- Engineer – Bruce Botnick
- Cover photo – Ron Raffaelli