大门 (1967)

The Doors is the debut studio album by the American rock band the Doors, released on January 4, 1967, by Elektra Records. Recorded in August and September 1966 at Sunset Sound Recorders in Hollywood, California, the album was produced by Paul A. Rothchild. It contains the full-length version of the group's breakthrough single "Light My Fire" and concludes with "The End", noted for its improvised Oedipal spoken-word section.

The Doors developed much of the material for their debut during live performances in 1966, particularly at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles. After being dismissed from the venue, they signed with Elektra and began recording sessions. Musically, the album incorporates a wide range of styles, including jazz, blues, classical, pop, and R&B, all anchored in a rock foundation. The Doors has since been recognized as a landmark of psychedelic rock and one of the most influential albums of the 1960s, inspiring numerous subsequent artists and recordings.

The album was a commercial and critical success, establishing the Doors as a leading rock act of their era. Both The Doors and "Light My Fire" have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 2015, the Library of Congress selected The Doors for preservation in the National Recording Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". As of 2015, the album has sold over 13 million copies worldwide, making it the Doors’ best-selling record.

Widely considered one of the greatest albums in rock history, The Doors has been consistently ranked among the greatest albums of all time by various publications, including the BBC and Rolling Stone. The latter placed it at number 42 on its 2003 and 2012 lists of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time", and at number 86 in the 2020 update.

Background

The Doors' final lineup was formed in mid-1965 after keyboardist Ray Manzarek's two brothers Rick and Jim 'Manczarek' left Rick & the Ravens, whose members included besides Manzarek, jazz-influenced drummer John Densmore and then-novice vocalist Jim Morrison. The group's four man membership was established when guitarist Robby Krieger agreed to join. Though he had previous experience playing folk and flamenco, Krieger had only been playing the electric guitar for a few months when he was invited to become a member of the band, soon renamed the Doors. They were initially signed to Columbia Records under a six-month contract, but they asked for an early release after the record company failed to secure a producer for the album and placed them on a drop list.

Following their release from the label, the Doors played residencies in mid-1966 at two historic Sunset Strip club venues, the London Fog and Whisky a Go Go. They were spotted at the Whisky a Go Go by Elektra Records president Jac Holzman, who was present at the suggestion of Love singer Arthur Lee. After he saw two sets, Holzman called producer Paul A. Rothchild to see the group. On August 18, after attending several appearances of the band, Holzman and Rothchild ultimately signed them to Elektra Records.

The Doors continued performing at the Whisky until August 21, when they were fired due to their performance of "The End" on which Morrison improvised retelling a section of Oedipus Rex.