Doors First Demo…..

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One of the most defining moments in Doors History

40 years ago TODAY The Doors walked into World Pacific Jazz Studios in LA and laid down six tracks that changed music.
Not a Doors recording in its purest form as Robby would not join until later that month after Rick Manczarek and Jim Manczarek would lose interest as they did not like the direction the band was going.

The full line up for the demo was Jim, Ray and John along with the Manczarek brothers and the famous 'unknown' female bass player.
Six songs were cut .....
Moonlight Drive,
Hello I Love You,
Go Insane,
Summers almost Gone,
My Eyes Have Seen You
& End Of the Night.

When The Manczareks leave John recommends his old pal Robby and the four sides of the famous diamond are complete. And The Doors were truly 'born'...

[glow=red,2,300]Interesting Footnote[/glow]
A couple of years later when the band was struggling for direction Jac Holzman's young son Adam would remember this demo and make the suggestion that would give The Doors (reluctantly as they were not keen on using it) one of their biggest worldwide hits.....Hello I love You.....

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The origin of The Doors demo comes from the leftover of a deal Rick & The Ravens had with Dick Bock which included some free studio time rather than investing in another Ravens single......this deal proved to be gold dust as when The Doors began in the summer of 1965 they were flat broke so the chance to make a demo at no cost to themselves was mann from heaven....

"Rick & The Ravens (Single)" - World Pacific Jazz Studios
Los Angeles, California - May, 1965.

Prior to the formation of The Doors, Ray Manzarek was in a band called "Rick & The Ravens" who played at weddings, parties, barmitzvahs as well as other clubs such as the Turkey Joint West in Santa Monica, Los Angeles and at the Port O Call in San Pedro, Los Angeles where they once were the support act for Sonny & Cher. The group line up consisted of Ray Manzarek on vocals and piano, Jim Manzarek on organ and harmonica, Rick Manzarek on guitar, Vince Thomas on drums, Roland Biscaluz on bass, and Pat Stonner on saxophone. Six songs were released as 7" singles, four on Aura Records (Tracks 1-4) and two on Posae Records Tracks (5-6). Four of the six songs were original
compositions written by Ray and all were sung by him.

Song Time
1 Soul Train 3:10
2 Geraldine 2:46
3 Henrietta 2:04
4 Just For You 2:15
5 Big Bucket "T" 3:08
6 Rampage 2:55

"Aura Studio Demos" - World Pacific Jazz Studios
Los Angeles, California - September 2, 1965.

Trans World Pacific Studios was located on Third Street and it was here for the first time that The Doors had ever recorded in a studio. Aura Records had seen that the previous single that Rick & The Ravens had released was not doing so well, so rather than going to the expense of pressing another single and watching it most likely fail, the record company had decided to give The Doors free studio time. The Doors spent three hours in the studio and recorded six demos. The owner for Trans World Pacific Studios was Dick Bock who also produced the demo tapes for The Doors.
The demo tapes were recorded before Robby Krieger joined the band. At that time, the group included Jim Morrison on vocals, Ray Manzarek on vocals/piano, John Densmore on drums, Rick Manzarek on guitar, Jim Manzarek on harmonica and an unknown girl that was hired from a local group to play bass. The only copies of these demo recordings were originally owned by World Pacific Studios, John Densmore and Billy James who at the time was a representative for Columbia Records.

Song Time
1 Hello I Love You 2:28
2 Summer’s Almost Gone 2:14
3 End Of The Night 2:58
4 Moonlight Drive 2:23
5 My Eyes Have Seen You 2:02
6 Go Insane 2:30

From a Dionysian Experience!