The Doors : Artistic Vision

[TheWallsScreamedPoetry]

The Doors : Artistic Vision by Doug Sundling


When it first came out in the 1990's it had the look of something very interesting.
But sadly it wasn't.
Most of it is lists of Doors stuff and quotes from other books.

Back in the day when I voraciously absorbed anything Doors it is telling that my copy still has a torn off piece of paper marking
where I had gotten to 30 years ago and stopped.

Republished as The Ultimate Doors Companion in 2000 with a brighter cover it was nothing of the sort.
Always beware of anything that boasts to be the Ultimate whether book or Doors Best Of.


Overall this book in any of it's incarnations has little to offer and is in the lower echelons of 'must own' Doors book.

[TheWallsScreamedPoetry]

It came out in 1990 and was originally called The Doors: Artistic Vision.......it was nothing of the sort and just a rather rambling look at The Doors using stuff that was already available and stating the bleedin' obvious as some sort of great insight by the author.
Worth a read but hardly anything exceptional though it does have some interesting info on The Doors and the charts.

[TheWallsScreamedPoetry]

THE ULTIMATE DOORS COMPANION

Doug Sundling (Sanctuary Publishing, £9.99)

*****

This is a brave publication. Some well respected individuals have written some fascinating books on The Doors, so the competition is serious to say the least.

Obvious favourites for most Doors fans will include No One Here Gets Out Alive, co- written by respected biographer Jerry Hopkins and former Doors fan turned fan club organiser, Danny Sugerman.

In addition, there are also well-written biographies from former band members themselves, notably Riders On The Storm by ex-drummer John Densmore and My Life With The Doors, an extraordinary account of life with the unpredictable singer from former keyboards player Ray Manzarek, who occasionally used to provide vocals when Morrison was too out of it to make it on stage.

Sundling's latest offering is bold in its presentation too. You won't find a single archive photograph. Nor will you encounter a foreword by anyone linked with The Doors (although there is a brief quote on the rear jacket from the aforementioned Sugerman).

The author justifies writing the book on account of his extensive research and the fact that his parents bought him 'LA Woman' for his 16th birthday.

However, the research is indeed extensive and the angle is new. The book is an entire account of how the band's six studio albums were conceived, developed and brought to fruition. It's a bit of a slow starter, waxing lyrical about Morrison's abilities as a lyricist rather than getting straight down to how he crafted his material, but the information when it does come is exhaustive. The book outlines what was going on in the world at the time the albums were made. Admittedly, some of the information is excessive; I didn't need to know that /Dream Of Jeannie was one of the top TV shows airing around the time of The Doors' debut album, but information on other bands dominating the charts and the political goings-on in America at the time make interesting reading. And for those who have trouble assessing the meaning of Morrison's dark lyrics, the book is a valuable aid. A guide to where the inspiration for the lyrics came from and what Morrison may have been thinking when he wrote them will provide insights you may not have found elsewhere.

In addition, you'll find a full discography detailing every single Doors release and the highest chart position of each, plus a complete rundown of every radio and TV appearance by the band, along with an extensive bibliography.

In short, if you're into an appreciation of the lyrics and creative side of Jim Morrison rather than how much he could drink, this is a book you'll relish.

Christina Neal
Classic Rock Magazine August 2000