| "End of the Night" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by the Doors | ||||
| from the album The Doors | ||||
| A-side | " Break On Through (To the Other Side)" | |||
| Released | January 1, 1967 | |||
| Recorded | August 1966 | |||
| Studio | Sunset Sound Recorders Hollywood, California | |||
| Genre | Psychedelia [1] | |||
| Length | 2:49 [2] | |||
| Label | Elektra | |||
| Songwriter(s) | The Doors [2] | |||
| Producer(s) | Paul A. Rothchild | |||
| The Doors singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"End of the Night" is a song by the American psychedelic rock band the Doors. It was featured on the band's debut album and then released as the B-side to the album's first single, " Break On Through (To the Other Side)" in January 1967.
After the band's rise to fame the song was rarely played live in concert; it has since been included in box sets released over the years by the band.
Composition and lyrics
"End of the Night" is essentially a psychedelic track, [1] notated in the key of E Minor, with Jim Morrison's vocal range spanning from D4 to G5. It is also performed throughout in 4/4 time. [3] The song was written in the band's early days, before guitarist Robby Krieger had joined the group. It was recorded in 1965 by the band in an attempt to land a deal with Aura Records; however the band failed to get signed. In 1966, when they were signed to Elektra Records, the song was recorded for their self-titled debut album. [4] In the album recording, Krieger provided a distinct slide guitar, tuned in a minor tuning. [5] [6] [7] As Krieger himself explained, "I'd try different tunings until one worked". [8]
Although the songwriting credit was given to all four members of the Doors, [2] the lyrics were written by lead singer Jim Morrison. [9] Its title is derived from the 1932 French novel Journey to the End of the Night by Louis-Ferdinand Celine. [10] The line "Some are born to sweet delight; some are born to endless night" are lifted from a William Blake poem " Auguries of Innocence", written in 1803 and published in 1863. [9]
Release and reception
| Chart (1967) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 126 [11] |
The song was chosen as the B-side to the album's first single, "Break On Through (To the Other Side)" and was released in January 1967. The single, however, failed to become a success and only peaked at number 126 in the U.S. [11] Reviewing the "Break on Through" single, Cash Box said that "End of the Night" is a "bluesy shuffler that also merits watching." [12]
PopMatters critic Andy Hermann declared "End of the Night" as one of the "weirder" and moodier songs in the Doors' catalogue. [13] In an AllMusic album review of The Doors, critic Richie Unterberger described the song's melody as being "mysterious", and noted that it was one of several tunes of the album besides " Light My Fire" that "also had hit potential". [14] Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine praised Krieger’s guitar solo, for being "sufficiently trippy," but he wrote that the song was "less ambitious (and less successful)" than the other album tracks. [15] Sputnikmusic reviewer Ian Philips noted that the "dreamy, mysterious 'End of the Night'" highlights "the group's remarkable affinity for shrewd, poetic, profound lyrics." [16]
Personnel
Personnel are taken from the 50th anniversary edition of The Doors and the 2001 book The Doors – Sounds for Your Soul – Die Musik Der Doors: [17] [18]
- Jim Morrison – vocals
- Ray Manzarek – Vox Continental organ, keyboard bass, piano
- Robby Krieger – slide guitar
- John Densmore – drums
References
- ^ a b Bamyasi, Eddy (October 7, 2020). "Log #102–4 Doors Albums. Were the Doors Just a Phase One Went". Medium. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
- ^
a
b
c
The Doors (Album notes).
The Doors. New York City:
Elektra Records. 1967. Back cover. ELK-4007.
{{ cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) ( link) - ^ "Digital Sheet Music – The Doors – End of the Night". Musicnotes.com. Sony/ATV Music Publishing. 9 May 2016. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
- ^ Swanson, Dave (September 2, 2015). "The Day the Doors Recorded Their First Demo, But Under a Different Name". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
- ^ The Doors (2008). Classic Albums: The Doors Extras (DVD). Eagle Rock Entertainment.
- ^ Burrluck, Dave (July 8, 2009). "Robby Krieger Talks Guitars and the Doors". Music Radar. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
- ^ Drozdowski, Ted (October 8, 2010). "The Gibson Interview: Doors Legend Robby Krieger". Legacy Gibson. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
- ^ Rapp, Allison (January 4, 2022). "Doors, THE DOORS: A Track-by-Track Guide". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
- ^ a b Kruth, John (January 4, 2017). "The Doors' Debut Is Still One of the Most Dangerous Albums Ever". The Observer. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
- ^ Densmore, John (1990). Riders on the Storm: My Life with Jim Morrison and the Doors. Random House Publishing Group. p. 286. ISBN 978-0307429025.
- ^ a b Whitburn, Joel. Bubbling Under Singles & Albums (1998): 66.
- ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. January 14, 1967. p. 18. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
- ^ Hermann, Andy (September 18, 2001). "The Very Best of the Doors – Review". PopMatters. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
- ^ Unterberger, Richie. "The Doors – Review". AllMusic. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ Cinquemani, Sal (April 18, 2007). "The Doors: The Doors Album Review". Slant Magazine. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
- ^ Phillips, Ian (October 1, 2015). "Review: The Doors – The Doors". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
-
^
The Doors (Booklet).
The Doors.
Elektra Records. 2017. R2-558716).
{{ cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) ( link) - ^ Gerstenmeyer, Heinz (2001). The Doors – Sounds for Your Soul – Die Musik Der Doors (in German). p. 11. ISBN 978-3-8311-2057-4.
External links
| "End of the Night" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| ||||
| Single by the Doors | ||||
| from the album The Doors | ||||
| A-side | " Break On Through (To the Other Side)" | |||
| Released | January 1, 1967 | |||
| Recorded | August 1966 | |||
| Studio | Sunset Sound Recorders Hollywood, California | |||
| Genre | Psychedelia [1] | |||
| Length | 2:49 [2] | |||
| Label | Elektra | |||
| Songwriter(s) | The Doors [2] | |||
| Producer(s) | Paul A. Rothchild | |||
| The Doors singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"End of the Night" is a song by the American psychedelic rock band the Doors. It was featured on the band's debut album and then released as the B-side to the album's first single, " Break On Through (To the Other Side)" in January 1967.
After the band's rise to fame the song was rarely played live in concert; it has since been included in box sets released over the years by the band.
Composition and lyrics
"End of the Night" is essentially a psychedelic track, [1] notated in the key of E Minor, with Jim Morrison's vocal range spanning from D4 to G5. It is also performed throughout in 4/4 time. [3] The song was written in the band's early days, before guitarist Robby Krieger had joined the group. It was recorded in 1965 by the band in an attempt to land a deal with Aura Records; however the band failed to get signed. In 1966, when they were signed to Elektra Records, the song was recorded for their self-titled debut album. [4] In the album recording, Krieger provided a distinct slide guitar, tuned in a minor tuning. [5] [6] [7] As Krieger himself explained, "I'd try different tunings until one worked". [8]
Although the songwriting credit was given to all four members of the Doors, [2] the lyrics were written by lead singer Jim Morrison. [9] Its title is derived from the 1932 French novel Journey to the End of the Night by Louis-Ferdinand Celine. [10] The line "Some are born to sweet delight; some are born to endless night" are lifted from a William Blake poem " Auguries of Innocence", written in 1803 and published in 1863. [9]
Release and reception
| Chart (1967) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 126 [11] |
The song was chosen as the B-side to the album's first single, "Break On Through (To the Other Side)" and was released in January 1967. The single, however, failed to become a success and only peaked at number 126 in the U.S. [11] Reviewing the "Break on Through" single, Cash Box said that "End of the Night" is a "bluesy shuffler that also merits watching." [12]
PopMatters critic Andy Hermann declared "End of the Night" as one of the "weirder" and moodier songs in the Doors' catalogue. [13] In an AllMusic album review of The Doors, critic Richie Unterberger described the song's melody as being "mysterious", and noted that it was one of several tunes of the album besides " Light My Fire" that "also had hit potential". [14] Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine praised Krieger’s guitar solo, for being "sufficiently trippy," but he wrote that the song was "less ambitious (and less successful)" than the other album tracks. [15] Sputnikmusic reviewer Ian Philips noted that the "dreamy, mysterious 'End of the Night'" highlights "the group's remarkable affinity for shrewd, poetic, profound lyrics." [16]
Personnel
Personnel are taken from the 50th anniversary edition of The Doors and the 2001 book The Doors – Sounds for Your Soul – Die Musik Der Doors: [17] [18]
- Jim Morrison – vocals
- Ray Manzarek – Vox Continental organ, keyboard bass, piano
- Robby Krieger – slide guitar
- John Densmore – drums
References
- ^ a b Bamyasi, Eddy (October 7, 2020). "Log #102–4 Doors Albums. Were the Doors Just a Phase One Went". Medium. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
- ^
a
b
c
The Doors (Album notes).
The Doors. New York City:
Elektra Records. 1967. Back cover. ELK-4007.
{{ cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) ( link) - ^ "Digital Sheet Music – The Doors – End of the Night". Musicnotes.com. Sony/ATV Music Publishing. 9 May 2016. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
- ^ Swanson, Dave (September 2, 2015). "The Day the Doors Recorded Their First Demo, But Under a Different Name". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
- ^ The Doors (2008). Classic Albums: The Doors Extras (DVD). Eagle Rock Entertainment.
- ^ Burrluck, Dave (July 8, 2009). "Robby Krieger Talks Guitars and the Doors". Music Radar. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
- ^ Drozdowski, Ted (October 8, 2010). "The Gibson Interview: Doors Legend Robby Krieger". Legacy Gibson. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
- ^ Rapp, Allison (January 4, 2022). "Doors, THE DOORS: A Track-by-Track Guide". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
- ^ a b Kruth, John (January 4, 2017). "The Doors' Debut Is Still One of the Most Dangerous Albums Ever". The Observer. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
- ^ Densmore, John (1990). Riders on the Storm: My Life with Jim Morrison and the Doors. Random House Publishing Group. p. 286. ISBN 978-0307429025.
- ^ a b Whitburn, Joel. Bubbling Under Singles & Albums (1998): 66.
- ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. January 14, 1967. p. 18. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
- ^ Hermann, Andy (September 18, 2001). "The Very Best of the Doors – Review". PopMatters. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
- ^ Unterberger, Richie. "The Doors – Review". AllMusic. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ Cinquemani, Sal (April 18, 2007). "The Doors: The Doors Album Review". Slant Magazine. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
- ^ Phillips, Ian (October 1, 2015). "Review: The Doors – The Doors". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
-
^
The Doors (Booklet).
The Doors.
Elektra Records. 2017. R2-558716).
{{ cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) ( link) - ^ Gerstenmeyer, Heinz (2001). The Doors – Sounds for Your Soul – Die Musik Der Doors (in German). p. 11. ISBN 978-3-8311-2057-4.