Observations placeholder
Doors - Riders on the Storm
Identifier
003805
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
Of all the songs that the Doors produced, perhaps their most haunting is "Riders on the Storm" from their 1971 album, L.A. Woman. It wasn't a massive hit at the time it was released, but it has gone on to become one of their most remembered and possibly played songs. The song is played in the E Dorian mode. Without going into too much detail the Ancient Greeks used this scale – so Orpheus perhaps - and carnatic music is based on this scale. The song also incorporates real sound effects of thunder and rain.
This was the last song recorded by the members of The Doors, as well as Jim Morrison's last recorded song to be released. The single was released in 1971, shortly before Morrison's death.