Certainly one of, if not the oddest things I’ve ever seen The Doors involved in.
Can only assume that someone in Elektra PR thought it was a good idea - seeing as how popular The Monkees were
There is an interview somewhere with Ray and/or Robbie about it - I’m off to track it down…
It’s a 2013 DVD collection of song video clips etc and the Ford Company training film they did the music for in 1966.
Nice little set in the form of a slim hardback book.
Thank you, Stevie. Where might I find it for sale, and dare I ask the price?
I can hardly believe that The Doors did a commercial for Ford Motor Company. I remember them railing against the proliferation of Macdonalds burger joints in one of their first press articles that I read over 40 years ago.
Two or three Amazon sellers have it: £50+ and £70+ (book edition as far as I can tell) and up. Used, probably - it is 20 years or so since release!
Think there may be an ordinary DVD or Blu ray for £30ish, again Amazon seller.
Otherwise, usual hunt on Ebay etc
As for the Ford soundtrack - it’s really only of interest to Doors diehards or completists. I’m surprised DM haven’t released it as an RSD special, lol.
Another compilation you may (or may not) want to drive yourself mad searching for (perhaps easier to find, despite its limited release): Love, Death, Travel
3 CDs + DVD. Another nice little set.
I think that I’ve made a pretty good stab at buying Doors merchandise recently (and I haven’t even received the ‘Labyrinth’ book or the 'Felt Forum" LPs yet), so I shall pass on other wares now.
But do keep an eye out for the
(eventual, hopefully, fingers x’d etc etc. It’s been awhile) full release of the Matrix gigs - the set released some time ago was not from the mastertapes, and incomplete. When (if) it ever appears, it should be an essential purchase for any self-respecting Doors aficianado (assuming DM don’t cack it up again).
Found out about Hard Rock Café (Morrison Hotel): the building is still there in LA, but at the time of the YT film (guy called Jordan - he also looked up the Hotel site) it is a plain ornery grocery store called the Green Apple. Looks like it’s location is still a poor area…street number’s the same, 300 - but you’d never guess it was the bar in Diltz’s album photos.
A nice accidental touch during filming the bar from across the street, is an older guy who walks over and leans on the same lamp post Robbie leant against in the photos & assumes virtually the same pose too.
"Arthur Lee: When I lived in Laurel Canyon, I used to walk from Brier to the Country Store on Laurel Canyon Boulevard. On my way down the hill, I liked seeing all the colorful people at the scene with their beautiful clothes. By then, it was fashionable to rent garages in the area as places to stay. I was coming up Kirkwood Drive one day and I noticed a girl dancing on the other side of the street. She had her garage door pulled up and I could examine her fixed-up garage home. She was a very nice-looking young lady, with shoulder-length red hair, freckles, and a cute figure. I don’t remember who made the first move, but both of us started talking. As I looked around her place, I noticed something was missing. I don’t remember if there was a refrigerator or not but I didn’t see any food around. When I asked if she would like me to buy her some groceries, she smiled and said “yes, thanks, my name is Pam.” And so it became a routine; as I walked or drove up Kirkwood, I would stop by her place and drop off some food and drinks for Pam.
I told her about my group Love, and I asked her if she would like to come up to my place and trip with acid. She said she would, and that was my first date with Pamela Courson. She told me she was from Orange County and she was a go-go dancer in The [Sunset] Strip clubs. Our relationship was good until I saw her flirting with other guys. So it sort of played out after a while, but we remained friendly. She was a good kid, but too flirtatious for my taste. Later, I would see Jim Morrison in Laurel Canyon from time to time, and now Pam was living with him. I found Jim Morrison to be a very interesting guy, although the girls seemed to appreciate him a lot more than I did. After a while, with Ray Manzarek playing the organ in the band, I could see that The Doors were doing something quite different. I told Jac Holzman to go down and check them out at The London Fog. So it was then that The Doors became the second West Coast group signed to Elektra Records.
It wasn’t that I didn’t like Jim Morrison. I just didn’t really know him as a friend. I had enough friends hanging around me at that time. One time, I was at the Tropicana Hotel, on Santa Monica, and out of my window I saw Jim and Bryan MacLean standing, face to face. All of a sudden, Jim socked Bryan in the mouth, pretty hard. Bryan made the mistake of mentioning Pamela or something else. I actually thought that was the best thing I’d ever seen Jim Morrison do. Bryan said that they were arguing and Jim hit him square in the mouth. I said to myself, “Regardless of what I think, Jim Morrison’s got a heart.” Bryan could really get on your nerves and it didn’t come off too good with Jim. After that, I lost sight of him. I think Jim Morrison was a very lonely person. He was always searching for something. Now that I think about it and put it all together, it seemed like he didn’t have a real self. He only lived on what he was told it was happening. He portrayed something that he thought was great but I don’t think he got a chance to be his true, natural self – or perhaps he didn’t like his natural self. He tried to become someone else. And it caught up with him. You finally catch up with yourself, you look in the mirror and you have to face yourself. —“Arthur Lee: Alone Again” (2001) by Barney Hoskyns"
It is extraordinary that a relatively small label like Elektra had The Doors, Love and Bread (remember ‘Guitar Man’?) on their label. Jack Holzman must have had great connections, or maybe just very good talent scouts.
I could happily listen to just those three groups alone for weeks - all on LPs, of course.
I would buy that like a shot, Stevie. Unfortunately, Amazon USA won’t send it to a UK address, and it’s not listed on the Amazon UK site.
Rather maddening, to say the least.
PS I have found it on Amazon Germany, which I use quite a lot when Amazon UK isn’t helpful. We shall see.
Thank you for the tip.
Now I just have to get back home to take delivery, before Amazon schlepp it all the way back to wherever in Germany the warehouse is.
Relating to another thread, I wonder if the German Amazon site has any decent LP pressings of the Floyd’s ‘Animals’’ - probably not, as I think that the ‘bad’ versions available in the UK are pressed somewhere in Europe.
I think pressed at Optimal which is German ( not sure). My pressing needed cleaning (dirt spots) but is otherwise OK.
Follow The Music is a good read: it’s a series of conversational quotations really, from everyone who was involved in the music and business of Elektra. Starts with their early folk stuff, ends with Queen (not read that small part - I don’t regard them as Elektra artists as such). I’d haven’t looked but I’d think it may be found on Ebay UK. Edit\ just looked…yes, at least 3 copies. £17 to £25.
Not long now till RSD Paris Blues…I have little faith that it will be great, hopefully it’s at least good…
I’ll try to snag a copy of ‘Paris Blues’, if I can. But it’s hardly likely to be earth-shattering if it wasn’t thought fit to be released I’m Jim Morrison’s lifetime.
Most of the PB ‘album’ Doors fans will already have/heard - I Will Never Be Untrue, You Need Meat…, the live Albert King stuff…
But the actual PB jam tape (I assume a short jam similar to the lengthier Rock Is Dead) was lost: Ray had a cassette copy that his young son partially recorded over. This has been resurrected and refurbished, removing his son’s burbling as far as I know. Apparently, no-one remembers if it was taped during SP or LAW sessions. I’ve read one post which thinks it may be an alt take of Queen Of The Magazines… we’ll see, I guess. Will it be essential? Doubt it, but… I’ve bought damn near every RSD Doors, so…