Customer Reviews

The Doors Concerto: Riders on the Storm

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If any rock group deserved to be recorded in classical arrangements it would be The Doors. This could have been thrown together haphazardly to make a quick buck like some classical rock recordings but thankfully it hasn't. A lot of work was put into this. The Doors were much more musical and clever than many rocks bands. Jim Morrison was an extremely dynamic and sensitive vocalist and Nigel Kennedy pays complete homage to him. There is nothing but utter respect for The Doors music here. They chose some of the best musical Doors songs but I wish they would have included The Crystal Ship with maybe a soft piano solo. I think "Crystal Ship" was Ray Manzarek's most creative work. These are very, very deep orchestrations and the feelings of the original songs are preserved throughout (although I had trouble with "Unknown Soldier" and "People are Strange"). You will hear new things every time you listen to it. The diversions in each piece are true to the original songs. Jim Morrison's melodies are eerily mimicked on many instruments and you can hear Jim's beauty and wonderful phrasing. "Spanish Caravan" features a very competent classical guitarist and the melody played by an extremely sensitive violinist. My favorite song on this recording "Love Street" (allegedly written for the street which Jim and Pamela Courson lived in Lauryl Canyon) is double the length of the original song, a very, very emotional, very beautiful and haunting composition. If one song could summarize Jim and Pam's relationship and their sad and tragic lives it would be this song. During "Love Street" one can envision Jim and Pam in an eternal embrace. The spirit of "Light my Fire" comes shining through, if not maybe a little too bouncy and campy and not soft enough. The violas play the left-hand organ accompanyment and there is plenty of counterpoint. I didn't quite understand "People are Strange". It is turned into a romantic and galloping song whereas the original song was quite odd and spacey with shifting vocal effects. I had the most trouble with "Unkown Soldier", it's highly romanticized and I didn't recognize it. Likewise, "Strange Days" is drawn out and romanticized with harps, etc. The End is extremely well done, the eastern modality gives you the sense of a caravan on an endless trek through the Sahara desert. The recording mix is perfect: the lead violinist or any of the other soloists are not sharp or favored in the least. I only wish this was a double CD and included other emotional songs like Queen of the Highway, Hyacinth House, Wild Child, Love Her Madly, LA Woman, Blue Sunday, Wishful Sinful, Unhappy Girl, The Soft Parade and definitely Moonlight Drive and The Crystal Ship. Ray Manzarek (and Robby/John) should be very proud of what Nigel Kennedy has done. I think Jim would be proud, too. You do not have to be a classical music lover to enjoy this recording, you will understand most of these songs. This is an absolutely wonderful CD to sit down and relax to. Thank you very much Nigel and Ray, please record more Doors!

When I first saw this CD, I had some reservations. The Doors have always been one of my favorite rock groups of all time and now somebody was gutsy enough (or crazy enough) to try and set this to strings and a full blown orchestra. It could have easily ended up sounding cheesy and pretentious but what you get is a very beautiful recording that is just as intense and magnificent as the four LA boys that did rock proud did in the 1960s.

Riders on the Storm opens the CD and its haunting melody goes deep into your soul. It is spooky and powerful and tinged with Vietmanese musical references. This whole album is a tribute to all the men and women who fought in Vietnam and especially to those who didn't ever come back. The rendition of Light my Fire is passionate and yet ultimately fatal. It brought tears to my eyes. Spanish Caravan, Strange Days, and the Unknown Soldier all kind of leave you feeling as though you've experienced something that only the gods themselves are privileged enough to experience. It's kind of like the same feeling I had when I heard the actual group on the radio the first time. My senses felt raw yet my spirit was moved; my mind was aching with sweet delight and my heart remembered secret invisible magical forces that were quietly at work.

I am a true Doors fan and that is why I can, in good conscience recommend this CD. There will be those who say that it lacks the fire of the group that inspired this CD, but I think if Jim Morrison were alive today he would give this recording his approval.

This CD is edgy and brimming with intensity. It's a classic just like the group that inspired this recording. If you're a Doors fan, it's time to fall in love with them all over again. After listening to this particular CD, it gave me an even deeper appreciation for the group. It made me realize that even now powerful, hidden forces are always at work making magic infinitely more real than what may appear to be.

Crossover efforts have recently captured a lot of attention, some deserved praise and some dismissal. Philip Glass's "Low" Symphony, the Finnish group, Apocalyptica, covering Metallica songs, and others have had some real success. It's not a new thing--Charles Ives famously incorporated popular melodies into his symphonies and other "classical" works, as did a number of European composers with their national musical traditions (Bartok, Kodaly, Mahler, Bruckner, etc.). Jaz Coleman attempts something like that with nine songs by the Doors, and for me, at least, he succeeds with about 7 of the 9. I am not convinced the name "concerto" is appropriate, but I bet he wanted to stay away from the more appropriate "suite," which would have sounded much too light. No question that Coleman is fortunate to have Kennedy and the Prague orchestra in his camp--the sheer brilliance of Kennedy's solos, coupled with the excellent orchestral playing, make even the weakest links of this music sound good. "Light My Fire," "Strange Days," "The End," and the title section are all smashing demonstrations of Kennedy's ability to send that music home. The weaker moments keep me from giving this a 5, but that should not dissuade anyone from getting this album--it's worth hearing, worth owning.

Outstanding! Fortunately for me, I first heard this CD as I was visiting a music store because I probably would not have bought it if I didn't hear it first. The thought of some orchestra playing Doors music sounds silly, but violinist Nigel Kennedy, Conductor Jaz Coleman and the Prague Symphony Orchestra really make everything work. The versions of "Riders on the Storm," "Love Street" and "Light My Fire," present Jim's music much more refined manner, yet still capture the energy that Jim Morrison put into all his songs. I have been listening to it for two straight days (as I did with the Morrison Hotel album 30 years ago) and I still want more. If you want to hear great music, get this CD, and if you love the Doors, this is a "must-have."

To quote the lyrics of an old R&B song " Do ya like good music, yeah, yeah," well, this is just that, good music. Never mind the purists on both sides of the fence, those who feel original Doors music stands alone and those that feel that this is not classical, concerto, schemrto! The treatment given to the Doors rock classics are reworked in a beautiful manner by Jaz Coleman, at times completely different, hardly recognizeable, and at others, just like Morrison and the boys. This past year I saw an incredible play entitled "Celebration of The Lizard King" a playwrights Apocalyptic vision of LA, complete with a small orchestra's version of Doors music, reinterpreted for the stage . The idea was similar in that the "theatre types" were listening to Doors music in a new and inventive manner, much like the crossover of musical fans from rock and classical are listening to this CD. Good music sustains pulling and tugging but never looses it's shape, it is still good stuff. This is like a heavy starched dress shirt and blue denim jeans, an odd mixture indeed but a wonderful listening experience. The music has a melancholy feel but it does not overwhelm the listener, music is joy and the feeling of joy overpowers any moments of "sadness". It could be that since this was dedicated to the survivors of the Vietnam War it has to have an inevitable sorrow to it. Maybe it is Kennedy(would I dare say Nigel?) and his ability to make his violin reach in and tear at your heart strings with each stroke of his violin. Whatever the reason, it is hardly anything to keep you from liking this CD immediately. This is not one of those three or four listens before you think you like it , it is pretty much an immediate, Wow! The accompanying boklet is truly superb, it opens five fold across and has notes on each song and some photographs that include the remaining Doors and visuals of the Vietnam legacy. The fact that Krieger, Manzarek and Densmore fully endorsed the project and stated that they think Morrison would be proud is good enough for me. The Prauge Symphony plays marvelously but the featured star is Kennedy without a doubt. I guess when he said he was "tired of playing dead people's music" he was not referring to Jim Morrison, because he plays the Lizard Kings music with fervor and renewed vitality."Spanish Caravan", 'Love Street","The End" and of course, "Light My fire" are some of my favorites, but really I like the "whole idea". Try to refrain from "conducting" the orchestra, or at least do it in private, no doubt you'll be moving those index fingers! A fresh treatment to some classic tunes, this is one that will get lot's of play on your CD player. Whether you lived during this tumultous period or not the music contained on this CD will move you.

Hey, I have to admit that this album in classical style is better than the rock version that the Door's recorded. Like a previous reviewer, I heard this in the classical department at a music store and would not have purchased it had I not listened to it. I do enjoy the original version recorded by the Door's, but found this far more moving. When I heard it I would never have dreamed it was "Riders on the Storm" except for 2 songs. After I was pointed to the rack containing the "CD Now Playing", I was floored and stayed the extra 20 minutes to hear the rest of the CD. You will not be dissapointed by this classical version. Go to the record store and listen to it on the store system and head phones. I think you will agree and walk it over to the register for purchase.

As a music guy, I can listen to classical and then go to rap and appreciate both.

As I really like the Doors, I saw this CD and recognizing what Jaz Coleman did with Led Zeppelin, I bought this CD.

It is not much like the LeZeppelin effort. However, both are equally beautiful. The LZ disc sounded like a movie soundtrack. Here the music sounds like a sad concerto.

Truly, I was struck by the sadness in the music. It is powerful though, and the arrangements strike the right chord (terrible pun - sorry) between being exactly similar to the Doors music, and a fresh interpretation.

Should you buy this disc? Well, if you enjoy classical music and you are not a snob - then yes. This disc may get you to enjoy some contemporary music in a vital interpretation. If you are a Doors fan, I would think you would enjoy hearing your favorite songs being played in a new way.

Overall, I believe this is an interesting disc to own. Well worth it. It is and does stand within my classical collection. It ain't Horowitz, but it sure is sweet!!

I am a pretty big Doors fan and this CD stunk. I was expecting something on the lines of those London Symphony Orchestra Cd's, but it was nowhere close. I don't think Jim would be happy w/ it either.

I enjoy listening to The Doors Concerto. The first time, without checking, I recognized every track except for "The Unknown Soldier." I admit this in spite of being an absolute Doors fanatic. The strings in the song are plaintive and often slow and intense, with variations and extensions, and among the nine tracks this one objectively least matches the Doors music, so I can forgive myself. The inside sleeve states "The solo violin was Vietnamese ornamentation in the pentatonic scale of Hoi Ai," whatever that means. Anyway, my "lapse" is of course an irony, in light of the cover and the dedication to Vietnam War veterans, and the CD's inside stating that The Doors' music has always captured the atmosphere of the Vietnam War. Francis Ford Coppola and soldier Oliver Stone obviously agreed. Vietnam aside, it was about time. The Doors' music is above all rich and passionate. Very simply, a friend once told me that what he liked about The Doors was that they put so much emotion into their music. Yes, it was imperative to give expression to that in an orchestra! And to expand it! The Prague Symphony Orchestra and violinist Nigel Kennedy, guided by arranger and producer Jaz Coleman, accepted the challenge.

We may not know what songs will be included, altho we will have an idea, but we know what will be left out--don't expect "Break on Through" or "Roadhouse Blues." Coleman and Kennedy also obviously had no desire to imitate Robbie Krieger's strings on the Doors' guitarist's Soft Parade compositions, but just as understandably, do up his "Light My Fire" and "Spanish Caravan," the latter quite richly in that flamenco vein. The rest is Morrison. The renditions of Morrison's songs are at many spots meandering and interpretive, with the mark of the performers here. The atmosphere of "The End," with expected individualistic embellishment, is captured, and there is a twist on the Oedipal section. While "Light My Fire," most of "The End," and the other long song, "Riders on the Storm," largely follow their original structures, others do not. "Love Street" is the prettiest song included, and the performers embellish and intensify its beauty, taking you to greater heights. In fact, Doors aficionados who are aware of the song's structural similarities to "The Crystal Ship" and "Unhappy Girl" will visualize the evocation of these songs more intensely, like on an acid trip. In "People Are Strange," the verseline's musical motif is given the most varied and intense interpretations among the Doors' musical moments within this set, perhaps to make up for the limited treatment of the chorus due to its pop catchiness. "Strange Days" is eerie in its original nature at times but also displays variations on the general theme of dark atmosphere. Interesting that "Hello I Love You" is chosen, but again, an orchestra can enhance and expand on this pop song dramatically, right? And it does. Through and through, one can see that the song selection was just about right.

I am one of those who enjoys it when The Doors get a lot of attention and performance of song covers by other groups, so I am all for this concerto. If you are more of a Doors purist, however, your inclination may be to be critical, but it will be apples and oranges--Kennedy and Co. make an honest effort.

This is a very well executed adaptation of Doors music into classic. I also own the fantastic George Winston's "Night Divides the Day", and I could say both CDs, even though different in it's category, perform a fantastic tribute to The Doors. But this is not a CD for "The Doors" fans, as it is more directed to Classical lovers. You will find very interesting versions of: Spanish Caravan & The Crystal Ship