| Although the cover to Live In Hollywood shows a slim-line and cleanshaven Jim Morrison shoehorned into the tightest leather trousers legally available, the truth was, that by the time of these performances on Sunset Boulevard (July 21st 1969 to be precise), Mr Mojo had become a rambling bearbellied beardy whose taste for liquor and ladies--not to mention an on-stage propensity for stroaking goats and undoing his flies--was apparently getting in the way of what was being said into the microphone. Mindful that the tapes were rolling during these shows (The Doors' were preparing their Absolutely Live album, subsequently released in 1970 and long out-of-print), Morrison restrained himself from asking members of the crowd to "love my ass", although Ray Manzareks' vocal stretch on the underwhelming blues-by-numbers "Close To You " and an unexplained instrumental version of "Peace Frog" must have given the old miscreant an opportunity to nip out for a quick spot of depravity. In fact, these mixing-desk quality performances--part of a long series of unreleased live shows being personally vetted and released by the three surviving members of the band--find The Doors at the height of their self-discipline. Even if the live renditions never come close to the venomous dread of the original studio versions ("Break On Through", as ever, is the most glaring casualty) 13 hypnotic minutes of "Light My Fire", the apocalytical rock poetry of "When The Music's Over" and the undervalued blues-waltz of "Universal Mind" all show why The Doors' legend is in no danger of slamming shut in the faces of future rock generations. --Kevin Maidment |
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