14 replies to this topic

[Hamlet]

For me this is the quintessential Doors performance and The Doors at their prime. It is miles above the Matrix performance.

The End is the best recorded version, including the studio one. They also play The Crystal Ship and People Are Strange.

I have put my version of the recording thru Logic Pro and removed some of the high-frequencies. It really helped.

I wonder what Bruce Botnick could do to this recording w/ today´s equipment.

[The Royal Sperm]

BB can do anything!

and yes it would be a really nice choice, but after the doors release the 3CD la.woman, matrix complete, london fog, those auction reels, the singles collection and the rock is dead session  

[Hamlet]

If you look at the front of the stage, you´ll see two microphones, which means a stereo recording of this concert exists.

[Pats Radio]

Hamlet, on 09 February 2012 - 03:45 PM, said:

If you look at the front of the stage, you´ll see two microphones, which means a stereo recording of this concert exists.

No, the real question is does somebody have it?


Pats Radio

[Hamlet]

That is true, however some very clean copies do exist. Enough so, that it would merit an official release.

It´d be lovely to have these concerts as professinally cleaned-up downloads on this site.

It was asked in another thread what the future of BMA would be, now that almost all of the 1970´s recordings have been released.

- A download service of non-professional recorded concerts could very well be one direction.

[veg]

Isn't there supposed to still be a dent in the stage where Jim smashed his mic stand down?

[Hamlet]

- according to urban legend, I guess

[veg]

Hamlet, on 09 February 2012 - 03:45 PM, said:

If you look at the front of the stage, you´ll see two microphones, which means a stereo recording of this concert exists.

Just been studying the photo.

I didn't realise Ray was playing a Gibson organ in late '67, he certainly is here. I presume this shot is from Danbury?

Interesting set-up re the amps, too. You can see Ray's two Fender twin-reverbs on top of the stacks, but are the other four Robbie's or are a couple of them for Ray's Fender keyboard bass; I assume they are.

There's no obvious sign that John's drums are miced up at all. I guess you had to be a big hitter back then!

[Hamlet]

Yes, it is Danbury.

I think you are spot on in your description of the set up. I guess the amplifier and cabinet in front of the drum-riser belongs to Robby.

Jim is holding a micstand or cymbalstand, and there is also another one on the stage. Maybe for Ray.

I guess the two recording mics placed so close to the stage, pick up Densmore´s drumming, which is stunning on this performance.

You´ll also notice there is a either a squashed cymbal or hat next to Robby.

[veg]

Haven't listened to this one for a long time, to be honest. The sound quality on my copy is pretty poor.

[Hamlet]

It is one of the best Doors´ concerts.

I´ve had opera singers listening to it, and they are blown away by the dynamics of Jim´s voice.

[Porsche]

veg, on 12 February 2012 - 11:15 PM, said:

I didn't realise Ray was playing a Gibson organ in late '67, he certainly is here. I presume this shot is from Danbury?

The photo is from Danbury. Ray made the switch from his Vox to the Gibson in early September 1967. Specifically (as near as I can tell from photos) with the Village Theatre show on September 9, 1967.

[dj_vera]

Hamlet, on 13 February 2012 - 05:43 PM, said:

I´ve had opera singers listening to it, and they are blown away by the dynamics of Jim´s voice.

Circulating sources of this show run at a fast speed/pitch.

[Hamlet]

My version runs at Concert A, so that´s spot on.

[crazyhorse80]

These are notes I stumbled upon regarding the circulating master reel source of this show, thought I'd post them:

The Doors
October 11, 1967 (Wednesday)
Danbury High School Auditorium
Danbury, Connecticut
[PA System Recording]

Master 7" Reel (3.75 ips) > Reel To Reel > DAT(2) > CDR > EAC > WAV > Flac Frontend > FLAC (lvl 8, SBE aligned)

Here it is as promised. Provided by Doors collector and fellow Traders' Denizen Christophe is a first generation recording of The Doors' appearance at Danbury High in 1967. Contrary to popular belief, this show wasn't put on for or by the high school, but by Western Connecticut State College as an opening to their Fall Weekend. Much of the crowd is actually made up of college students and Danbury residents. (Thanks to Greg Shaw's book for that info.)

Unlike other circulating sources, there is very little tape hiss present on this version. There are also no cuts during "Break On Through" -- though there is still a missing verse during "Moonlight Drive" which seems to be on all known copies. "The End" is complete along with Jim's introduction.

Here's some info from the person Christophe got his copy from:

"The master reel was made by a faculty member at Danbury High School (at the time) who ended up teaching at Wesleyen University in the early 1980s. A student there, who I've long since lost touch with, borrowed the master reel and I made a reel copy of that in the early '80s. The master was a 7" 3.75 ips reel and my reel copy was the same. A metal cassette with Dolby B was made from my reel (as well as an XL2 cassette for my friend ) and I'm fairly sure most circulating copies are from those cassettes which would be 2nd generation from the master. I made many copies of my cassette for various people over the years because my Revox was packed away in storage. A few years ago, my original reel copy was finally transfered to DAT and CD and I have traded that a few times since so a digital copy of the first gen reel is also now circulating."

Despite its first generation origins, there are still some problems with the recording. First, while The Doors were setting up, Jim's friend Tom Baker did a poetry reading (perhaps as much as 25 minutes worth) and this reading is said to be on the original master. In fact, it's Baker's voice you hear at the start of "Moonlight Drive" introducing the band. Also, throughout the show, there are some amplification issues and different parts come through louder/clearer than others. These may be problems present on the original master tape or on the reel to reel copy. "Break On Through" has the most issues as there were dropouts which were fixed by the person who transferred the tape by copying over the intact channel. I tried matching up the audio channels where there was an obvious difference in amplification (only two or three spots) and also ran the tape through ClickRepair (on a low setting of 50 with DeCrackle off) to remove some clicks and pops which were present during the quietest portions -- most audibly between "Light My Fire" and "The End." No noise reduction or other "remastering" was applied to this recording.

All in all, this is the best sounding source for this show I've ever heard and unlike many other copies it even appears to run at the correct speed. So enjoy this great upgrade.