Tag Archives: Ray Manzarek

John Densmore, The Doors: Unhinged and Record Store Day 2013

Posted on by Musicofourheart

I was looking on The Record Store Day Website for The List 2013 when I found something much more valuable.  John Densmore, drummer for The Doors has written and self-published a new book, The Doors: Unhinged, available on April 17, 2013 (CreateSpace and Kindle Direct). There will be a special hardcover edition available  exclusively for sale at independent Record Store Day retailers, April 20, 2013.  John Densmore is conducting a book tour to be held at various record stores across the United States.

The book was self-published with Amazon’s CreateSpace an on-demand publishing platform. I am vehement about this distribution method of distribution. My plan is to self-publish a book this way in the future.

The premise of John Densmore’s book is the “greed gene”, and how that part of the human psyche propels us toward the accumulation of more and more wealth, even at the expense of our principles and friendships and the well-being of society. In effect no amount of money seems to be enough for even the wealthiest people.

This is an important societal characteristic to check. It’s at the heart of the Occupy movement which denotes the classic struggle between the haves and have-nots.

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I recall when John Densmore sued The Doors of the 21st Century. I was upset for the rift amongst The Doors. I had seen Ray Manzarek and Robbie Krieger twice live as that namesake band. I liked the moniker and how it felt to see them perform with Ian Astbury on vocals and Ty Dennis on drums. I originally sided with Ray and Robbie in the matter. But after closer examination of the issue and the understanding of honoring Jim Morrison’s wishes, I realized friendship and integrity trump greed.

I’ll am eager to read John Densmore’s interpretation of the lawsuit to get a better understanding about his sentiments and belief. The music press served as a “filter” for what transpired and I feel its best to read this from John’s point of view. I am hoping I can meet John Densmore at one of the record store tour events and get a signed copy of the hardcover edition.

The Record Store Day Official List was published on Wednesday March 20. You can find it here.

The Doors will once again have a Record Store Day Release Exclusive. A special 7″ release in the Warner “Side By Side” series. Side A is The Doors’ “Soul Kitchen” and Side B includes X’s cover of the song, produced by Ray Manzarek. This one is on milky clear colored vinyl and limited to 3000 copies,

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The Year of The Doors Starts Today

Posted on by Musicofourheart

2102, The Year of The Doors is upon us. The 40th Anniversary of L.A. Woman is being celebrated in high fashion today, January 9th. The World Premiere of the first completely new and unreleased track by The Doors in 40 years, “She Smells So Nice” can be heard on Sound Cloud here.

This unique gem was found by co-producer Bruce Botnick when he was reviewing the L.A. Woman session tapes for the upcoming reissue.

The Doors L.A. Woman 40th Anniversary merchandise will start shipping on or about January 20th, 2012.

There will be a two CD re-issue of the original album, remastered, with an extra disc of bonus material. Disc two has previously unreleased alternate versions of songs featured on the original album along with studio chatter by the band from the recording sessions. Liner notes written by David Fricke, Sr. Editor of Rolling Stone magazine, and original album producer Bruce Botnick.

There will also be a DVD, Mr. Mojo Risin’: The Story of L.A. Woman. Eagle Rock Entertainment has created this documentary detailing how The Doors created their last studio album. Mr Mojo Risin’ goes into detail of how the album came about, its recording and what was happening to the band at the time. The story is told through new interviews with the three surviving Doors: Ray Manzarek, Robbie Krieger and John Densmore plus contributions from Jac Holzman, founder of their label, Elektra Records, Bill Siddons, their manager, Bruce Botnick, engineer and co-producer of the album and others associated with the Doors at this time. The show includes archive footage of the Doors performing both live and in the studio, classic photographs and new musical demonstrations from the Doors.

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Steppenwolf Web Site and Fan Club

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I received a post card from the Wolf Pack Fan Club, the official fan club of John Kay and Steppenwolf.  I was encouraged to re-register with the Steppenwolf Website. So I did ;)

Steppenwolf has always been my favorite American hard rock band. I saw them for the first and only time live at the Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford, Ct. in 2005 as part of the Strange Days Festival which also starred Pat Travers, The Yardbirds, Vanilla Fudge (all four original members) and The Doors of the 21st Century (Ray Manzarek, Robbie Krieger and Ian Astbury, vocals with Phil Chen on bass and Ty Dennis on drums).

Browse over and take a look at the Steppenwolf Website. They have some really cool merchandise and memorabilia for sale.

Peace,

Ed

Throw Down Some Lizard King – Ray Manzarek and Roy Rogers, Ridgefield, Ct.

Posted on by Musicofourheart

Ridgefield Playhouse
May 25th, 2011, 8:30 to 10:00 p.m.

Manzarek-Rogers Band - Keyboards: Ray Manzarek, Guitar: Roy Rogers, Bass: Steve Evans, Drums: Kevin Hayes

I chose the title for this concert review because Ray Manzarek was having fun telling us that the night before in Massachusetts a young female fan yelled to him, “Are you gonna throw down some Lizard King?” Ray was tickled by the vernacular and interpreted this to mean is the Manzarek-Rogers Band going to play some Doors songs? Trust me the Manzarek-Rogers band did throw down with blues lizard king gusto!

The main purpose of the evening was to introduce the audience to the just released recording, Translucent Blues. 10 of the 13 songs played were from the new album*. I love the feel of this literature music that I call “Poetic Blues”.

Hearing the songs played live by the four person band opened up new interpretations of the poetic lyrics juxtaposed against the blues backdrop. The poetry came across with eloquence, it never sounded forced. Ray Manzarek’s narrative voice is pure beat poetry phrasing. Ray Manzarek’s longtime friendship and collaborations with Micheal McClure provides an additional rounding of the experience. The song “Kick” (Lyrics by Michael McClure) articulates the demon hell of kicking cocaine addiction

“Without McClure’s roar there would have been no Sixties.” — Dennis Hopper


The Manzarek-Rogers band did strong justice to two poems by Jim Carroll (the Basketball Diaries), “Tension” about living in an insane asylum and “Hurricane” which is a rocking blues number with a memorable chorus.

East Coast, got a hurricane

West Coast, got the same

High, high wind and the heavy rain…

(Jim Carroll Music – ASCAP)


Roy Rogers is an interesting, versatile guitarist to witness and study. He plays a double-neck guitar with ease, using a pick on his right hand and a glass slide on his left pinky. His command of the guitar is stellar. I loved his slide guitar playing, it was very rhythmic. His dexterity is second to none.


He guides the band in interesting directions. Roy played a guitar that Ray Manzarek nicknamed a “Derringer” on one of the three songs Roy Rogers wrote for Translucent Blues entitled “Blues in My Shoes”. Roy Rogers also wrote “Those Hits Just Keep On Comin’” and “As You Leave”. Roy Rogers collaborated on several of the other tracks and his production sense is strongly felt throughout the CD.

The Manzarek-Rogers band was tight. I loved how they pushed the beat with dedicated commitment of purpose.

Ray Manzarek took time during the evening to hold an open Q&A. My favorite question was about the infamous Doors concert in New Haven, which took place at the New Haven Arena on December 9, 1967 (The Doors song “Peace Frog” with the famous lyric, “Blood in the streets in the town of New Haven”). Ray shared his recollections about that evening. He explained how Jim Morrison was maced in the face in a dressing room shower by a New Haven cop. How wrong that was and how mistaken the New Haven cop was to do that. It was instrumental to hear Ray’s first hand account of that historic evening and how unjust the New Haven Police were that night.

Ray Manzarek then played “The Crystal Ship” solo for us on his Kurzweil PC 88 keyboard. The song as an instrumental is commanding in its breadth and scope. A beautiful, haunting rendition that really stays with you.


My favorite song of the night was River of Madness, a song based on lyrics that Warren Zevon had entrusted to Ray Manzarek six months before he died. The collaboration team of Stephen Gordon, David Gionfriddo, and Roy Rogers takes Zevon’s River of Madness to a passionate crescendo. Then you are swept away by the flood in LA.

There was a CD signing after the show. This turned out perfect as I collect signed CD covers. It was genuine to meet Ray Manzarek and Roy Rogers in person. Here is how they signed my copy of Translucent Blues.

Set List
1. Hurricane*
2. Fives & Ones*
3. Game of Skill*
4. Patron Saint of Pain (Written by Donna Johnston)
5. Kick*
6. Those Hits Just Keep On Comin’*
7. The Crystal Ship
8. Tension*
9. Greenhouse Blues*
10. Blues in My Shoes*
11. New Dodge City Blues*
12. River of Madness*

Encore
Riders on the Storm
For Jim Morrison

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Ray Manzarek & Roy Rogers – Poetic Blues

Posted on by Musicofourheart

The days inch closer to the May 25th concert at the Ridgefield Playhouse featuring keyboardist magician Ray Manzarek (The Doors) and Roy Rogers, blues guitarist extraordinaire.  The Manzarek-Rogers Band collaboration has yielded a new recording Translucent Blues, a gutsy, driving literature of sound and dimension I call blues poetic.

Truth of the matter is, this is the second collaboration between Ray Manzarek and Roy Rogers. Their first recording together, Ballads Before The Rain was released in 2008. It is a delightful potpourri of music melodies, starting off very classical, veering into familiar territories such as “Crystal Ship”  ( a flawlessly nuanced piano solo, which I can’t happily stop playing) and “Riders on the Storm”, ending in a poetic surreal setting, “American Pastoral”.

Roy Rogers produced one of my favorite blues albums, The Healer by John Lee Hooker, which also features Carlos Santana and Bonnie Raitt.

I’m spending some quality time this weekend getting to know the blues guitar work of Roy Rogers. I like to do my homework before I see musicians in concert. I like what I am hearing by Roy Rogers so far. He has an extensive catalogue.

I have seen Ray Manzarek play with The Doors of the 21st Century in 2004 and 2005. Then I saw the Manzarek Krieger band in 2009 in Ridgefield. I enjoy Ray Manzarek in a live setting, he’s such a cool guy.

This will be a monumental concert, I just have that feeling ;)

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The Prolific Ray Manzarek

Posted on by Musicofourheart

I’m elated to see the prolific Ray Manzarek creating and releasing new music and poetry in the form of some exciting grooves for us to enjoy.

Two new works of Ray’s are coming sharply into focus. The first recording is Translucent Blues a collaboration between Ray Manzarek and Roy Rogers. Translucent Blues is due to be released next week on Tuesday, May 24th on Blind Pig Records.

I’ve only been able to sample Translucent Blues as I haven’t found a full listening edition available anywhere on the Web yet. Based on the sample tracks and mp3 download I’ve heard the music takes on a solid groove with a gritty texture.

As a blues fan, I love the feel of this recording as it builds on the foundation of the blues and then takes us on some interesting journeys of sound, mind and dimension. I especially like the use of poetry not just from a lyrics basis but more from the standpoint of how the poetry is intertwined with the music. I love the woven artistic tapestries, which are very evident and striking throughout.

The Manzarek-Rogers band is touring in support of their new recording and we plan to see them next week at The Ridgefield Playhouse on May 25th. (See related article below)

The other work that I am eager to hear and learn more about is the next phase in the collaboration between Ray Manzarek and Michael McClure, Live in San Francisco. It was recorded live at an old wooden church which I bet had a great ambiance for their synergy. Ray Manzarek plays a Steinway piano, by far my favorite sounding piano. We own a Baldwin piano but a Steinway sounds so grandiose. The CD is due out later this year, fall 2011 would be my guess. I love Michael McClure’s poetry offset by Ray’s musicianship.

I am content that we have more to digest and discern from Ray Manzarek and friends going forward in 2011 ;)

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