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Various Artists: Light My Fire - A Classic Rock Tribute to The Doors

Classic Rock

4.5/5.0

Website (Label)
Purple Pyramid / Cleopatra Records
Words by Craig Hartranft,  20.06.2014

At some point, they had to get it right: do a reboot like Marvel Studios did for the Amazing Spiderman and Hulk movie franchises. After the dismal and disappointing train wreck that was A Psych Tribute To The Doors, Cleopatra and Purple Pyramid Records rebound with Light My Fire - A Classic Rock Tribute to The Doors, easily a better homage to this iconic band. The project involves an abundance of classic rock artists, listed at the right, covering classic Doors tunes, under the direction of ubiquitous compilation producer Billy Sherwood.

The Doors: well, I woke up this morning and got myself this album ... and a beer.

In my review of the previous tragedy, after dismissing the bulk of the album, I remarked at the end, '... if I want The Doors, I'll play The Doors.' While I might agree with myself once more, at least these cover songs sound like the songs, even with the various artists offering their own interpretation and nuances.

This led me to conclude two things. First, the very fact that the artists stuck to the core arrangement and melody of each song proves how influential and enduring these songs are. This characteristic, in turn, secondly, made me want to listen to each song with some anticipation. By example, I wanted to hear how Patrick Moraz and Rick Wakemen would handle the keyboards of L.A. Woman and Light Me Fire, respectively. They were very cool especially the latter where Wakeman seems to go mad with improvisation.

I wanted to hear if Robert Gordon would sing Touch Me with the same passion that Morrison gave the original. I was impressed. And for my 'go to' favorite Doors song, Roadhouse Blues, would Leslie West get the blues groove and the coolness of that classic line, 'well, I woke up this morning and got myself a beer.' Yeah, he did, quite sweet. Then I wondered how guitarist Pat Travers might handle The End, one the most disturbing Doors songs. Well, he makes it heavier and gritty, like Stephen King funhouse heavy metal creepy.

Some unexpected twists come with the cover of two relatively obscure Doors songs, namely Spanish Caravan and Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar). Eric Martin and Elliot Easton brighten the former; Todd Rundgren and Geoff Downes basically tread the same path as the original, which I never liked to begin with.

While the Psych Tribute left me scrambling for my Doors LPs to wash the sonic profanity out of my ears, this tribute had me hooked, enjoying these artists reveling in their interpretations of the songs. Yeah, like Law & Order, the original is always the best, and I will still go to those classic Doors albums. But Light My Fire - A Classic Rock Tribute to The Doors is a thoughtful, invigorating, and entertaining homage worthy of this seminal band.

Album Sampler: Various Artists - Light My Fire - A Classic Rock Tribute to The Doors

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

Light My Fire - A Classic Rock Tribute to The Doors is a thoughtful, invigorating, and entertaining homage worthy of this seminal band.

1. L.A. Woman – Jimi Jamison (Survivor), Ted Turner (Wishbone Ash) & Patrick Moraz (Moody Blues)
2. Love Me Two Times – Lou Gramm (Foreigner), Thijs van Leer (Focus) & Larry Coryell
3. Roadhouse Blues – Leslie West (Mountain), Brian Auger & Rod Piazza
4. Love Her Madly – Mark Stein (Vanilla Fudge) & Mick Box (Uriah Heep)
5. Riders On The Storm – Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow), Tony Kaye (Yes) & Steve Cropper (Booker T. & The M.G.’s)
6. The Crystal Ship – Edgar Winter & Chris Spedding
7. Intro (People Are Strange) – Keith Emerson, Jeff “Skunk” Baxter & Joel Druckman (John Fahey)
8. People Are Strange – David Johansen (NY Dolls) & Billy Sherwood (Yes)
9. Touch Me – Robert Gordon, Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater), Steve Morse & Nik Turner (Hawkwind)
10. The Soft Parade – Graham Bonnet (Rainbow), Christopher North (Ambrosia) & Steve Hillage (Gong)
11. Hello, I Love You – Ken Hensley (Uriah Heep) & Roye Albrighton (Nektar)
12. Spanish Caravan – Eric Martin (Mr. Big) & Elliot Easton (The Cars)
13. Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar) – Todd Rundgren & Geoff Downes (Yes / Asia) & Zoot Horn Rollo (Captain Beefheart)
14. Break On Through – Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad) & Chick Churchill (Ten Years After)
15. Light My Fire – Ian Gillan (Deep Purple), Rick Wakeman (Yes) & Steve Howe (Yes)
16. The End – Pat Travers & Jimmy Greenspoon (Three Dog Night)

Alphabetical Index