Jim Morrison of the Doors is quiet and unassuming almost to the point of shyness, treating all questioners with equal sincerity and thinking carefully about each question before answering it to what is obviously the best of his ability.
Even after months of clamouring journalists – all asking basically the same questions – he is still patient, friendly and often quite charming.
For instance, about sex: “it’s just one of a lot of factors in our music – it’s important but it’s just one little thing. It’s not the main thing you get out of it, though music is always very erotic anyway.
And on America: “American society,” he says, “Is a very exciting place in which to live—but you’d need to write a book to describe it all.
“The United States is undergoing a lot of very interesting changes right now. I think a lot of the people are waking up to the fact that they live in a while world and just in one country.
“The young people are getting incredible too. I’ve been getting the most incredible letters from young kids – intelligent, sensitive and very philosophical.”
And on influences: “My earliest influences were all the old blues singers and the early rock and roll singers—Elvis Presley was among them.
“I heard them at an age when I was ready for this influence. It seemed to open up a whole other world which I wasn’t aware of, a strange landscape which I’d only had glimpses of in my daily life.
“I listened to Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Gene Vincent—all of them.”
And on England: “Playing at the Roundhouse was like getting back to the old days. It’s very stimulating playing to an audience which is totally unfamiliar with your work. It’s a challenge, an incentive.
“I enjoyed it more than anywhere we’ve played in over a year. It gave the group a whole new impetus.
“Also, the audiences are different here than the states too. There, they go to hear themselves as much as you, but in England they’re more interested and away of what you’re doing.
“I’d like to come back here, but we have to go home first to finish off this film we’ve been making and do another album. We’ll probably be back around next spring or early summer.”
No we’ve glimpsed the Morrison magic we won’t quickly forget it.
THE DOORS
C’mon, c’mon, c’mon, c’mon now touch me babe
Can’t you see that I am not afraid
What was that promise that you made
Why won’t you tell me what she said
What was that promise that she made
Now I’m gonna love you
Till the heaven stops the rain
I’m gonna love you till the stars fall from the sky for you and I.
I’m gonna love you
Till the heaven stops the rain
I’m gonna love you
Till the stars fall from the sky
For you and I
THE WORST THAT COULD HAPPEN
(As recorded by Brooklyn Bridge/Buddah)
JIM WEBB
Girl I heard you’re getting married
Heard you’re getting married
This time you’re really sure
For this is the end
They say you really mean it
This guy’s the one that makes you feel so
Safe, so sane and so secure
And baby if he loves you more than me
Maybe it’s the best thing
Baby it’s the best thing for you
But it’s the worst that could happen to me.
I’ll never get married
Never get married
You know that’s not my scene
But a girl like you needs to be married
I know how long you could be left forever
Inbetween.
Girl I don’t really blame you
For having a dream of your own
Girl I don’t really blame you
A women like you needs a house and home
Baby if he really loves you more than me
Maybe it’s the best thing
Baby it’s the best thing for you
But it’s the worst that could happen to me.