13 (The Doors album)

Background

13 was a project instigated by Elektra Records, who wanted product from the band for the Christmas season, to which the band reluctantly agreed. Morrison even agreed to shave off his beard for the album cover's photo shoot, but the label opted for a younger photo of the singer, which they had also done for the group's live album Absolutely Live, released in July of that year. Author Danny Sugerman commented in his memoir of the band, No One Here Gets Out Alive, "Elektra obviously wanted the 'pretty' Jim Morrison." Morrison's image is also much larger than those of guitarist Robby Krieger, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, and drummer John Densmore, and Sugerman said that, "Although Ray, Robby, and John had become accustomed to the attention directed towards their lead singer, it upset Jim." The album's back cover features the band posing with a small bust of Ludwig van Beethoven (some have mistakenly claimed it is of occultist Aleister Crowley).

Critical reception

In a contemporary review in 1971, music critic Dave Marsh wrote that although the album does indeed contain "thirteen classic songs," it fails to deliver on any purpose other than compiling the most radio-friendly hits in one place. Marsh added that "no magnum opuses" were included in the collection. "No 'The End', no 'When the Music's Over', no 'Soft Parade'... [it] would have been decidedly uncommercial to have them included here... Of course 'Five to One' isn't here; funny thing, outside of 'Unknown Soldier' none of the Doors' more controversial subject matter is included."

Bruce Eder, in his retrospective review for Allmusic, likewise observed that 13 focuses strictly on the pop rock side of The Doors, and argued that the approach of marketing this side of the Doors separately from their more serious, adventurous, and coarse side was part of what made the band a success with such a range of listeners. Noting that 13 had continuously sold well for nearly two decades, whereas Doors compilations and live albums which freely mixed the band's two sides were much less popular, he saw 13 and the Doors' self-titled debut album as the two main gateways to their work, serving to draw interested listeners in and ultimately lead them to explore the Doors' deeper album cuts.

Track listing

Details are taken from the 1970 U.S. Elektra album, which lists different songwriter credits than other Doors albums; other releases may show different information.

Personnel

From the 1970 Elektra release:

The Doors

• Jim Morrison – vocals
• Ray Manzarek – piano, organ, keyboard bass ("Light My Fire" and "The Crystal Ship"), celesta ("Touch Me"), harpsichord ("Love Me Two Times")
• Robby Krieger – guitar, bass guitar ("Back Door Man")
• John Densmore – drums

Additional musicians

• Harvey Brooksbass guitar ("Touch Me")
• Larry Knechtel – bass guitar ("Light My Fire"){{Cite web |url=http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/robby-krieger-talks-guitars-and-the-doors-212284/ |last=Burrluck |first=Dave |title=Robby Krieger Talks Guitars and the Doors |date=July 8, 2009
• Doug Lubahnbass guitar ("People Are Strange", "Moonlight Drive", "Love Me Two Times", "You're Lost Little Girl", "Wild Child")
• Lonnie Mackbass guitar ("Roadhouse Blues")
• Kerry Magnessbass guitar ("The Unknown Soldier")
• John Sebastian (credited as "G. Puglese")harmonica ("Roadhouse Blues")

Production

• Paul A. Rothchild – producer
• Jac Holzman – production supervisor
• Bruce Botnick – engineer

Charts

Certifications

References

Sources

• {{cite book |first=Heinz |last=Gerstenmeyer |title=The Doors – Sounds for Your Soul – Die Musik Der Doors

References

1. "The Doors (Getty Museum)".
2. "Jim Morrison & The Doors, in garage with automobile, hand held cloth backdrop. John Densmore looking at Beethoven bust. Hollywood, California by Edmund Teske on artnet Auctions".
3. Brett, Rachel. (November 17, 2017). "Occultist Aleister Crowley's Influence on Popular Music".
4. Eder, Bruce. "''13'' — The Doors". [[AllMusic]].
5. Christgau, Robert. (1981). "[[Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies]]". [[Ticknor & Fields]].
6. (1999). "MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide". Visible Ink Press.
7. "The Doors: Album Guide".
8. Marsh, Dave. (March 1971). "The Doors: 'Thirteen'".
9. (1970). "13". [[Elektra Records]].
10. (1967). "The Doors". [[Elektra Records]].
11. Botnick, Bruce. (2019). "The Soft Parade". Rhino Records & [[Elektra Records]].
12. (1970). "Morrison Hotel".
13. (1968). "Waiting for the Sun".
14. (2019). "The Doors Chart History: Billboard 200".