The Doors are undoubtedly among the most important musical acts of the 1960s and early 70s. The American band – consisting of frontman Jim Morrison, guitarist Robby Krieger, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, and drummer John Densmore – released six studio albums with the band’s original formation and sold over 100 million records worldwide. To celebrate The Doors’ rich repertoire, I’ve ranked their 10 ‘best’ songs of all time. Let’s dive into the list!
10. Roadhouse Blues
I start this list with the opening track of The Doors’ fifth studio album Morrison Hotel: “Roadhouse Blues”. Allegedly inspired by roadhouse Topanga Corral, the song has been hailed as the ‘ultimate bar band song’. The Doors released “Roadhouse Blues” as the B-side of their single “You Make Me Real”, but eventually became the more popular side of the single.
9. The Crystal Ship
“The Crystal Ship” is arguably the most poignant moment on The Doors’ self-titled debut album. Jim Morrison wrote the short song as a farewell poem to his first love Mary Werbelow, although the imagery of the lyrics also sparked different interpretations
8. Love Her Madly
For number 8 I picked “Love Her Madly”. The song was written by guitarist Robby Krieger about his tumultuous relationship with Lynn Krieger. “Every time we had an argument, she used to get pissed off and go out the door, and she’d slam the door so loud the house would shake,” Krieger reflected. Despite the arguments, the two stayed together.
6. Touch Me
For number 7 I picked “Touch Me”. The song was written by guitarist Robby Krieger and features a jazz-inspired saxophone solo by Curtis Amy. “Touch Me” was initially written as “Hit Me”, but Jim Morrison insisted on a lyrical change out of fear of being attacked by crowds who would take the lyric literally.
6. People Are Strange
Jim Morrison wrote the first draft of “People Are Strange” during a hike in Laurel Canyon with Robby Krieger. The lyrics reflect Morrison’s feelings of alienation and estrangement. “People Are Strange” was released as the lead single of The Doors’ second studio album Strange Days and reached number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
5. Break On Through (To the Other Side)
Despite being one of The Doors’ most recognizable and enduring songs, their debut single “Break On Through (To the Other Side)” knew little commercial success upon its release. The song failed to reach the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking only at number 126. Nevertheless, “Break On Through (To the Other Side)” is an essential Doors song and one of the finest tracks in the band’s repertoire.
4. L.A. Woman
“L.A. Woman” is easily one of The Doors’ greatest songs. The song personifies the city of Los Angeles as a woman and contains the iconic phrase Mr. Mojo Risin’, which is an anagram of Jim Morrison. “L.A. Woman” features on The Doors’ sixth studio album with the same name and the song is one of the many highlights on the album.
3. The End
With a running time of over 11 minutes, “The End” is the epic closer of The Door’s self-titled debut album. Jim Morrison initially wrote it as a short farewell song to Mary Werbelow, but The Doors’ countless live performances – which allowed the band to develop songs – turned “The End” into the 11:43 version we know today.
2. Riders on the Storm
For number 2 I picked “Riders on the Storm”, although the song could’ve easily been number 1 as well. The extraordinary song was inspired by Stan Jones’ song “(Ghost) Riders in the Sky: A Cowboy Legend” and was Morrison’s last recorded song before his death in 1971.
“There’s a whisper voice on ‘Riders on the Storm,’ if you listen closely, a whispered overdub that Jim adds beneath his vocal,” Ray Manzarek told Uncut in 2011. “That’s the last thing he ever did. An ephemeral, whispered overdub.”
1. Light My Fire
The number 1 on my list is “Light My Fire”, as I believe it’s the quintessential The Doors track. The song was the band’s first hit and had essential contributions by all band members. Robby Krieger wrote the song, Ray Manzarek composed the iconic organ parts, John Densmore added the song’s essential Latin beat, and Jim Morrison completed the song with his striking vocal delivery.
“Light My Fire” topped the US charts in the middle of the renowned Summer of Love in 1967 and is, in my opinion, The Doors’ greatest and most essential song.
Read more: The Story Behind “Light My Fire” by The Doors
That wraps up my list of The Doors’ 10 Best Songs of All Time. I’m sure that your top 10 looks different than mine. So, what does your personal top 10 look like? And what songs did I forget to include? Please let me know in the comments below.
