Customer Reviews

The Doors: The Illustrated History

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I absolutely love this book. The introduction and the photographs are worth the price alone. This book has the lyrics to all your favorite Doors songs plus poetry (lyrics) from Jim Morrisons' spoken word album "An American Prayer." It has also got interviews and a behind the scenes look at what went on during some of the recording sessions as well as definitions as to just what Jim meant in some of their songs. The discussion about the meaning of The End is great. This book is a must for Doors fans from the most ardent to the just curious. The book is not one that will be looked at once or twice and put on a shelf. It is a facinating read no matter how many times you read it. The Doors: The Complete Lyrics increased my respect and admiration for the band, and Jim in particular, 1000 fold.

This book is a complete compilation of the Doors lyrics as written by themseleves. One of my favorites, "Back Door Man", of course is missing, as it was not written by them. Some historical summaries are put in, as well as a fine set of photographs. The music and lyrics of the Doors is both simple and unique, malevolent at times, but always tantalizing and dramatic. One can only wonder what they would sound like today if Morrison would have not passed on...

Originally a scrappbook compiled by a boy that hung around the Doors office, Jim recommended it become a book. Good idea. A solid, complete book filled with the best photographs with articles, interviews, and Morrison's best quotes scattered throughout, it is a bargain at the retail price.

I found that Danny does have the right words to some of the often misquoted lyrics. I guess its alright that Sugarman writes the book since he was such a devoted fan to Jim. I would have liked it more if it contained some rarer color pictures but remains an indispensable document since lyrics were never printed in the CDS or albums.

This is the must have, don't miss, cannot live without book about the greatest rock and roll band ever, The Doors. This book tells the story through what was printed in the media, not from the memories of others. It is a different perspective on The Doors story that hadn't been printed before. The newspaper and magazine stories selected were conscise, to the point, and very appropriate. It was laid out to tell the story through articles from their first performance in 1966 until Jim's death in 1971. The photos in the book are excellent, some never seen before, and others old favorites. It includes everything that a Doors fan would have collected if possible in the '60's, and this is exactly what Sugerman has done. An absolute must for any fan of the Doors, any music fan, any sixties fan, or any history buff. This is the most original and truthful look at the Doors from a man who was there. Danny Sugerman's work is great and can be enjoyed many times. The best book on the best band, don't miss it! By Micheal J. Groetken Bloomington, Illinois

Jim Morrison takes you to the other side. You have to expierment with your mind and the boundries of reality to really know who you are and what you really are capable of doing. Jim Morrison, an icon, sex symbol today as well as yesterday and always. Listen to the words of Morrison and visulize what your caos is capable of doing. BREAK ON THROUGH G.F.A.

This book gives you all the lyrics to his songs and there are pictures and paragraphs about them.

"The Doors: The Illustrated History" is the best photographic, visual book record of the band. Compiled by Doors manager Danny Sugerman, it is a fascinating, visually rich and enjoyable display of a band that changed rock music and the amount of praise (and criticsm) they inspired. The pictures are great, they are clear, close and informative and clearly show how Jim Morrison created the theatrical aspects we so see so often in today's rock music. We also get different shots of the man, as the wild, leather-clad Lizard King and as a lonely, quiet poet. The articles and reviews are fascinating because they take us back to a time and place, but they are also surprising to read when compared to what is written today about certain rock artists. In one article dealing with the New Haven arrest where Morrison became the first rock performer to be arrested at a concert, the writer calls the music of The Doors "satanic, sensual and demented." A sign of what was to come with artists like Iggy Pop, Marilyn Manson, Alice Cooper and many others. Some of the reviews are especially well-written, like one where the writer says the Doors music evokes images like the eye-ball slashing in Luis Bunuel's "Un Chien Andalou." Like the music, the images are timeless, and evoke a poetic, deep persona who's presence is ever so strong in rock. Like The Beatles, The Doors are an unforgettable force, you hear them once and never forget. The foreward by Jerry Hopkins, who wrote "No One Here Gets Out Alive," is also informative and has interesting things to say about the resurgence of Doors music. This is a must for any Doors fanatic and anyone who has ever been touched by the music and words.

"The Doors: The Complete Lyrics" is not so much a collection of songs as it is a collection of wonderfully strange, sensual, gothic, romantic and vibrant pieces of poetry. Jim Morrison was a poet, this is obvious when you compare The Doors songs with most songs from other bands. Here you find the great lyrics that make his songs hypnotic and deep. I especially enjoyed the lyrics for "The End," which feels like a real poem. These are intricate compositions that may sometimes seem simple but say a lot of things. And there are also some simple, fun tunes like "Love Me Two Times" by guitarist Robby Krieger and "Touch Me." And when reading the lyrics for "Light My Fire," you realize they are nice, but the music is the oxygen that really brings them to life. It is surprising though, when you see how a lot of these songs stand on their own on paper. Works like "Break On Through" however, are better felt when listening to the exhilarating musical number. Still, songs like "The Crystal Ship," "Moonlight Drive," "The End" and even "Wild Child," feel like voluptous modern poetry, more free and imaginative. It is sad to think that because of abuse of excess, Jim Morrison is dead, because reading these lyrics, you realize he had a wonderful mind for composing beautiful words.

Danny Sugarman is the most suited to edit this book. He is the greatest fan of Jim around. The amazing visual lyrics of Jim come alive in the book.