Post by TheWallsScreamedPoetry on May 23, 2023 10:39:31 GMT
Aquarius Theatre Hollywood CA 21st July 1969
The Doors at the Aquarius Theater:
July 21, 1968 - Elektra records has rented the Aquarius Theatre inexpensively for a series of "Dark Mondays" during the run of Hair in order to produce an affordable series of concerts to highlight the Elektra talent roster. These highly acclaimed shows are uniformly regarded as the Doors' comeback performances. The music is fluid, exceptionally tight and dynamic, and the entire band radiates an unprecedented musical maturity and revitalized atmosphere of assurance and conviction.
Jim dispenses with the rock star persona, sporting a full beard, and delivering a vocal performance which is nothing short of outstanding. He skilfully interacts with the audience in an unusually casual and easy going manner, sometimes seated on a stool at centre stage. His introduction to the audience goes something like this: "For a long time, we've wanted to record a live album. Tonight's the night...but, we're going to keep it loose and almost casual. ready? Let's go!"
The shows are recorded for a forthcoming double live album and the sound is acoustically superb throughout the theater. Morrison's only attempt at theatrics comes during the second show at the opening of Celebration of the Lizard when he appears in the right balcony illuminated solely by a deep blue light, and then grasps a rope and swings down onto the stage. Artistically, these Aquarius shows are a real stepping stone for the band. Aside from being much more congenial onstage, they have re-embraced their roots in authentic American blues music.
These are the first of a series of shows recorded for the upcoming Absolutely Live album. The cover of that album features a photograph from these performances with another photograph of Morrison superimposed on it. It is later determined that additional shows will be recorded because, as is often the case with live recordings, an extraordinary performance does not always translate successfully to tape.
*After the show, the Doors present Feast of Friends to the remaining audience.
*Jim Morrison's recent poem Ode to L.A. While Thinking of Brian Jones, Deceased is distributed at each of the Aquarius shows. The poem was printed at Jim's expense. It is a dark green type on light green paper. Brian Jones, a founding member of The Rolling Stones, drowned in his swimming pool at his home in England on July 3rd.
*The Aquarius shows replace the scheduled appearance at the Whisky May 19 - 22, where the Doors originally planned to record a live album.
On The Road Greg Shaw
2-8-1969
Cash Box Magazine
"The Doors are an assertive, demanding group. They preach revolution. They reach out for love. They play beautiful rock 'n' roll. Robby Krieger is a beautiful, eclectic and often volcanic guitarist. The Krieger, Manzarek-Densmore instrumental passages are among the most intelligently conceived among contemporary popular music. As an encore - or perhaps an afterthought - Morrison performed one of his tortured paranoid poems set to music. He slowly left the stage, telling the audience to 'retire not to your dreams.' And what dreams the Doors inspire. They are controlled, compressed nightmares."
Michael Ross, The Exciting Doors Record a Live Album, Los Angeles Herald-Examiner, July, 1969
21-6-1969
The Journal News Los Angeles CA
This album, I'm sure, will convince everyone that the Doors have gotten it together, because the electricity in the air, the magic that was created that evening, was a testament to the fact that whatever it was the Doors had once upon a time, when they and their world were younger, they not only had again in spades but had the added virtue of being as sublime and self - assured as they were once brash and vulgar. There was Jim Morrison, more the Rabbinical student than the Sex God, and looking more comfortable in his new guise. Seeming less self-conscious, but singing, if anything, better than even his greatest fans thought he could sing. How can Morrison be accused of singing less well just because the hostility and the sensuality have given way to something richer textured, fuller, more aggressively grim? They have approached Art, no matter how much they have offended, amused or even thrilled the rock critics. The standards by which their art must be measured are older and deeper."
Harvey Perr, Stage Doors,
Los Angeles Free Press, Aug 8, 1969
18-7-1969
Van Nuys News CA
The Doors at the Aquarius Theater:
July 21, 1968 - Elektra records has rented the Aquarius Theatre inexpensively for a series of "Dark Mondays" during the run of Hair in order to produce an affordable series of concerts to highlight the Elektra talent roster. These highly acclaimed shows are uniformly regarded as the Doors' comeback performances. The music is fluid, exceptionally tight and dynamic, and the entire band radiates an unprecedented musical maturity and revitalized atmosphere of assurance and conviction.
Jim dispenses with the rock star persona, sporting a full beard, and delivering a vocal performance which is nothing short of outstanding. He skilfully interacts with the audience in an unusually casual and easy going manner, sometimes seated on a stool at centre stage. His introduction to the audience goes something like this: "For a long time, we've wanted to record a live album. Tonight's the night...but, we're going to keep it loose and almost casual. ready? Let's go!"
The shows are recorded for a forthcoming double live album and the sound is acoustically superb throughout the theater. Morrison's only attempt at theatrics comes during the second show at the opening of Celebration of the Lizard when he appears in the right balcony illuminated solely by a deep blue light, and then grasps a rope and swings down onto the stage. Artistically, these Aquarius shows are a real stepping stone for the band. Aside from being much more congenial onstage, they have re-embraced their roots in authentic American blues music.
These are the first of a series of shows recorded for the upcoming Absolutely Live album. The cover of that album features a photograph from these performances with another photograph of Morrison superimposed on it. It is later determined that additional shows will be recorded because, as is often the case with live recordings, an extraordinary performance does not always translate successfully to tape.
*After the show, the Doors present Feast of Friends to the remaining audience.
*Jim Morrison's recent poem Ode to L.A. While Thinking of Brian Jones, Deceased is distributed at each of the Aquarius shows. The poem was printed at Jim's expense. It is a dark green type on light green paper. Brian Jones, a founding member of The Rolling Stones, drowned in his swimming pool at his home in England on July 3rd.
*The Aquarius shows replace the scheduled appearance at the Whisky May 19 - 22, where the Doors originally planned to record a live album.
On The Road Greg Shaw
2-8-1969
Cash Box Magazine
"The Doors are an assertive, demanding group. They preach revolution. They reach out for love. They play beautiful rock 'n' roll. Robby Krieger is a beautiful, eclectic and often volcanic guitarist. The Krieger, Manzarek-Densmore instrumental passages are among the most intelligently conceived among contemporary popular music. As an encore - or perhaps an afterthought - Morrison performed one of his tortured paranoid poems set to music. He slowly left the stage, telling the audience to 'retire not to your dreams.' And what dreams the Doors inspire. They are controlled, compressed nightmares."
Michael Ross, The Exciting Doors Record a Live Album, Los Angeles Herald-Examiner, July, 1969
21-6-1969
The Journal News Los Angeles CA
This album, I'm sure, will convince everyone that the Doors have gotten it together, because the electricity in the air, the magic that was created that evening, was a testament to the fact that whatever it was the Doors had once upon a time, when they and their world were younger, they not only had again in spades but had the added virtue of being as sublime and self - assured as they were once brash and vulgar. There was Jim Morrison, more the Rabbinical student than the Sex God, and looking more comfortable in his new guise. Seeming less self-conscious, but singing, if anything, better than even his greatest fans thought he could sing. How can Morrison be accused of singing less well just because the hostility and the sensuality have given way to something richer textured, fuller, more aggressively grim? They have approached Art, no matter how much they have offended, amused or even thrilled the rock critics. The standards by which their art must be measured are older and deeper."
Harvey Perr, Stage Doors,
Los Angeles Free Press, Aug 8, 1969
18-7-1969
Van Nuys News CA
