The album received mixed reviews in addition to nevertheless divides critics, yet it has managed a platinum certification inwards the US. When the album was originally released, longtime Doors' producer Paul A. Rothchild labeled the album a "rape of Jim Morrison". Rothchild claimed that he had heard all of the reels of original tapes from both the 1969 in addition to the 1970 poesy sessions, insisting that the 3 remaining Doors failed to realize Morrison's original intent for an good presentation of the poetry. Morrison himself, prior to leaving for Paris, had approached composer Lalo Schifrin every bit a possible contributor for the music tracks meant to accompany the poetry, alongside no participation from whatever of the other Doors members. In addition, he had developed some excogitation of the album encompass fine art run yesteryear Jan 1971, in addition to was inwards correspondence alongside creative somebody T. E. Breitenbach to blueprint this encompass inwards the shape of a triptych (a three-paneled prototype alongside diverse images embedded inwards each panel). However, John Haeny, who recorded the original session tapes alongside Morrison inwards 1970 in addition to safeguarded them earlier the projection was resurrected every bit An American Prayer, insisted that the album "was made yesteryear those people who were closest to Jim, both personally in addition to artistically" in addition to "everyone had the best intentions", stating: "Jim would live pleased. Jim would direct maintain understood our motivation in addition to appreciated our dedication in addition to heartfelt treatment of his work.
Moody in addition to mesmerizing, An American Prayer is an interesting album of Jim Morrison reading his poesy over the Doors' music. An American Prayer was finished yesteryear the remaining members of the Doors afterwards Morrison's decease in addition to finally released inwards 1978 (it was remastered in addition to re-released inwards 1995 alongside bonus tracks). Those familiar alongside the lyrics of the Doors volition non live surprised, merely others may live position off because Morrison is unafraid to purpose unsmooth imagery in addition to verbalise unabashedly well-nigh taboo topics such every bit gender activity in addition to religion. Although many dismiss his poesy every bit simplistic random musings, Morrison is a gifted lyricist alongside a brilliant imagination. The album also demonstrates how the other musicians inwards the ring create a mood that breathes life into Morrison's dark, twisted visions. The music excerpts of "Peace Frog" in addition to "Wasp (Texas Radio in addition to the Big Beat)" render a welcome air of familiarity, in addition to the definitive alive version of "Roadhouse Blues" inwards the middle of the album provides a prissy recess from the barrage of stories in addition to metaphors. However, An American Prayer must live listened to inwards i sitting to live fully appreciated, preferably at nighttime when i is lone in addition to tin shipping away devote amount attending to the listening experience. This album is non for everyone, merely is a must-own for Doors completists in addition to fans of Jim Morrison's poetry.
It was Robby’s idea. Jim had been haunting him for a while. Maybe it wasn’t a truthful haunting inwards the classic feel or Definition merely Robby had been having dreams of Jim Morrison reciting his poetry. Robby called engineer John Haeny to encounter if he knew where the tapes were that Jim had recorded on his 27th birthday on Dec 8th, 1970. Haeny nevertheless had the tapes in addition to the outset footstep was taken inwards what would live an album of Jim Morrison’s poesy known every bit “An American Prayer”.
An American Prayer: The Cover
The Dec. 8th, 1970 recordings were made alongside an optic towards Jim Morrison recording a solo album of his poetry. Morrison had secured a contract alongside Elektra founder Jac Holzman for the album in addition to he wanted to commence recording it. He invited Frank in addition to Kathy Lisciandro, Alain Ronay, in addition to Florentine Pabst to the studio for the recording. Haeny gave Morrison a bottle of Old Bushmills whiskey (on the “An American Prayer” CD on the bonus track, “Ghost Song”, the tape was nevertheless rolling in addition to Morrison says, “one to a greater extent than thing”, in addition to then y'all tin shipping away hear him accept a swig off the bottle; y'all direct maintain to plough the book upward to hear it), in addition to the session lasted roughly 4 hours. If the scene sounds familiar Oliver Stone used it inwards his motion prototype “The Doors”. Recordings from the March 1969 recording session were also used merely yesteryear the 1970 “birthday sessions” Morrison had revised a lot of the previously recorded poems.
The surviving Doors recorded “An American Prayer” using (besides Morrison’s poesy sessions) materials from The Doors catalog, recordings of alive Doors shows in addition to good effects. They recorded novel music using much of the poetry, editing in addition to splicing Morrison’s vocalism inwards in addition to about the music.
“An American Prayer” was released inwards Nov of 1978* in addition to roughly outlines the life of Jim Morrison from nativity (‘wake up!’), childhood, teenage years in addition to coming of age, to existence a stone star/sex symbol, in addition to the elegiac verse form “An American Prayer”. “An American Prayer” was released to to a greater extent than frequently than non proficient reviews. Although it didn’t become a lot of radio play because of Morrison’s purpose of expletives, it was the exclusively Doors album nominated for a Grammy in addition to at 250,000 copies sold upon its liberate makes it the largest selling spoken-word album.
All the members of The Doors ‘family’ thought “An American Prayer” a plumbing equipment tribute to Morrison in addition to his want to live regarded every bit a poet. The lone exception was longtime Doors producer Paul Rothchild, who called “An American Prayer” “the rape of Jim Morrison” in addition to compared it to “taking a Picasso in addition to cutting it into postage stamp stamp-sized pieces in addition to spreading it across a supermarket wall”. Rothchild also cited Morrison’s intentions of producing a poesy album every bit a solo project, separate from The Doors, in addition to without stone music using to a greater extent than classical orchestrations or alongside avant garde orchestrations such every bit alongside Lalo Schifrin (who did the soundtrack to 60’s classics “Cool Hand Luke” in addition to “Mission Impossible”). Part of Morrison’s vision for his poesy album was the commissioning of a triptych yesteryear creative somebody T.E. Breitenbach, it shows the elements Morrison thought important, a moonlit beach alongside naked couples running around, a metropolis at noon “insane alongside activity,” in addition to a desert scene at nighttime seen through the windshield of a car.
Tracks Listing:
- Awake -
1. Awake (0:36)
2. Ghost Song (2:51)
3. Dawn's Highway (1:22)
4. Newborn Awakening (2:26)
- To Come Of Age -
5. To Come Of Age (1:02)
6. Black Polished Chrome (1:08)
7. Latino Chrome (2:15)
8. Angels And Sailors (2:47)
9. Stoned Immaculate (1:33)
- The Poet's Dreams -
10. The Movie (1:36)
11. Curses, Invocations (1:58)
- World On Fire -
12. American Night (0:28)
13. Roadhouse Blues (5:53)
14. The World On Fire (1:07)
15. Lament (2:19)
16. The Hitchhiker (2:16)
- An American Prayer -
17. An American Prayer (3:04)
18. Hour For Magic (1:18)
19. Freedom Exists (0:20)
20. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Feast Of Friends (2:11)
Total Time 38:28
Bonus tracks on 1995 CD remaster:
21. Babylon Fading (1:40)
22. Bird Of Prey (1:04)
23. The Ghost Song (5:16)
Line-up / Musicians
- Jim Morrison - vocals, spoken give-and-take (recorded on Feb 9, 1969 in addition to Dec 8, 1970)
And:
- Ray Manzarek / keyboards, pianoforte bass
- Robby Krieger / guitars
- John Densmore / drums
With:
- Arthur Barrow / synth programming (10)
- Jerry Scheff / bass (20)
- Bob Glaub / bass (20)
- Reinol Andino / percussion (10)
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