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The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 by singer and lyricist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger, and drummer John Densmore. Their music joined psychedelic rock with blues and jazz, and their six studio albums with Morrison—from The Doors (1967) to L.A. Woman (1971)—remain the best place to explore the group.
Who were the Doors?
The original lineup brought together four musicians with distinct roles: Morrison supplied the vocals and lyrics, Manzarek the keyboards, Krieger the guitar, and Densmore the drums. The band’s official biography traces its beginnings to a chance meeting between Morrison and Manzarek on Venice Beach. They formed the group in 1965. The Doors’ official biography
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Very Best of | $10.26 | Buy on Amazon |
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Greatest Hits | $8.74 | Buy on Amazon |
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The Best of the Doors | $14.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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The Future Starts Here: The Es | $8.50 | Buy on Amazon |
The group’s sound is often described as psychedelic rock, but that label alone misses its range. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame points to blues and jazz alongside psychedelia; the Library of Congress also notes classical music among the debut album’s influences. These strands overlap in the band’s music rather than forming separate phases or tidy categories. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; Library of Congress essay
Where should you start listening?
A useful first route is to follow the Morrison-era albums in release order, while paying attention to the songs that give each record its character. This is a listening path, not an official or objective ranking.
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- The Doors (1967): Start with the self-titled debut, released in January 1967. Its opening track, “Break on Through (to the Other Side),” sets a restless tone; “Light My Fire,” “Back Door Man,” and “The End” show the breadth of the album.
- Strange Days (1967): Continue with the band’s second album to hear the next step in its early sound.
- Waiting for the Sun (1968): The third release continues the chronological story of the original group.
- Morrison Hotel (1970): Among the songs highlighted by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is “Roadhouse Blues.”
- L.A. Woman (1971): The final album in the six-record studio run with Morrison includes “Love Her Madly” and “Riders on the Storm,” two more songs named by the Hall of Fame.
Between those records, The Soft Parade arrived in 1969. The complete six-album sequence with Morrison is The Doors, Strange Days, Waiting for the Sun, The Soft Parade, Morrison Hotel, and L.A. Woman. The official biography presents these as the band’s main studio run before Morrison’s death in 1971. The Doors’ official biography
What makes the debut important?
The debut is a practical starting point because it introduces the band’s core lineup and a wide range of its approach in one record. The Recording Academy reports that “Light My Fire” reached No. 1 on the Hot 100 in July 1967, and that The Doors reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 by September 1967. Those are chart positions reported in the Academy’s 2018 retrospective, not sales figures. The song entered the GRAMMY Hall of Fame in 1998; the album followed in 2002. Recording Academy retrospective
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What happened after Jim Morrison?
Morrison died in 1971. Manzarek, Krieger, and Densmore continued recording as a trio, releasing Other Voices and Full Circle. They also recorded music for Morrison poetry recordings released as An American Prayer in 1978. These works belong to the group’s later history, distinct from the six-album studio sequence made with Morrison. The Doors’ official biography
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How have the Doors been recognized?
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducted the band in 1993 in its Performer category. The Recording Academy gave the group its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007. In the Hall of Fame’s inductee essay, authors Paul A. Rothchild and Danny Sugerman wrote: “The Doors were never part of any movement. Indeed, during an era of very high fliers, their visionary trajectory sought an orbit positioned well outside of the rock norm.” Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; Recording Academy retrospective
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- 2007 marked the 40th anniversary of the formation of The Doors and their explosive self-titled EP, one of rock music's most stunning debuts. Rhino continues its landmark celebration of the band's enduring legacy and their extraordinary catalog with a brand new compilation packing twenty of their most definitive hits on one must-have disc. All of the classic songs boast sonically superior 40th Anniversary Mixes by The Doors' original engineer/producer, Bruce Botnick
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