If I try to not overthink it and just go with my gut, I’d have to say that campus wide, there were a few musical groups that everybody seemed to be into. The Doors and The Grateful Dead would have to be the most universal. What I mean by that is those bands appeared in most of the dorm rooms on posters, t-shirts and the like. I had seen the stylized Doors logo and the red white and blue steal your face Grateful Dead Skull.
The surprise came when I actually put the music to the names. I was very familiar with The Doors although I didn’t know it was them. I had gone to Arlington with my best friend Adam for a long weekend. We were going to camp at this little rustic hunting shack owned by a very interesting Veterinarian named Doc Maxwell. It was tucked back in the woods about a mile and a half from Adams house. Adam brought his boom box and a new cassette he had picked up called The Doors Greatest Hits. I was curious to finally hear what all the fuss was about regarding The Doors.
He popped the tape in and we set of on our h
ike back to Doc’s camp. I knew the first song Hello, I Love You. Wow, The Doors sing this? Then the next somg Light My Fire. I know this one too. We continued to walk on down the field. People Are Strange, Love Me Two Times, Riders On The Storm. I had heard all of these before but never made the connection to The Doors.
The experience continued on side two. Break on Through, Roadhouse Blues, Not To Touch The Earth, Touch Me, L.A. Woman. I was floored. I had heard every single song on that album I just didn’t know it was The Doors. After that, I was a fan of The Doors. Adam’s brother Allan was also a student at Vermont Academy and a Doors fan. I still recall him quoting “Father, yes son I want to kill you.”
I of course set to picking up The Doors Greatest Hits for myself. I have been listening to them ever since and even more so as The Doors hit the scene again after the release of Oliver Stone’s movie. As I pause and reflect here on The Doors Greatest Hits it occurs to me that none of the tracks on this Greatest Hits compilation could be considered my favorites from The Doors.
Hello, I Love You
Light My Fire
Break On Through
Touch Me
Riders On The Storm