Preview The Doors ‘Morrison Hotel’ 50th Anniversary Set with ‘Peace Frog/Blue Sunday (Take 4)’ (Preview/Pre-Order)

On Oct. 9, The Doors will release a lavish 50th anniversary Deluxe Edition of Morrison Hotel, the famed Los Angeles band‘s unforgettable 1970 album.

(Click here to pre-order The Doors’ Morrison Hotel 50th Anniversary Set from our Rock Cellar Store).

Listen to "Peace Frog/Blue Sunday (Take 4)"
on @Spotify: https://t.co/nPoPwy8aXS#TheDoors #MorrisonHotel50

— The Doors (@TheDoors) August 24, 2020

To preview the massive commemoration of the album and its influence, the Doors shared an outtake from the album sessions — stream “Peace Frog/Blue Sunday (Take 4)” below. Featuring an alternate (and unpredictable) vocal take from Jim Morrison, it’s a glimpse into the music-making process that the band went through in completing this record:

The recording process that led to Morrison Hotel in its final form only took a few weeks, the album featured artwork taken by famed photographer Henry Diltz, who snapped a photo of Jim Morrison, Robby Krieger, John Densmore and Ray Manzarek inside the front window of the Morrison Hotel in L.A.’s Skid Row.

The album will be made available in expanded format with a wealth of bonus material, with more than an hour of previously unreleased recordings included, all remastered by the Doors’ longtime mixer and engineer Bruce Botnick.

Said Botnick of the extra material:

“There are many takes, different arrangements, false starts, and insightful studio conversations between the band – who were in the studio – and producer Paul Rothchild – who was in the control room. It’s like being a fly on the wall.”

More details, from the band’s announcement:

Several of these unheard recordings spotlight how “Queen Of The Highway” and “Roadhouse Blues” evolved across multiple sessions. It’s especially interesting to hear how the band played with different bass players on “Roadhouse Blues.” Early versions include Harvey Brooks, who played on the band’s previous album, The Soft Parade. Later takes feature guitar legend Lonnie Mack on bass along with The Lovin’ Spoonful’s John Sebastian on harmonica who, due to contractual restrictions at the time, had to be credited as “G. Puglese.”

Among the treasure trove of unreleased outtakes are also rough versions of Morrison Hotel tracks “Peace Frog” and “Blue Sunday,” as well as The Doors rarity “I Will Never Be Untrue.” The collection also captures some incredible session outtakes of the band jamming on cover versions of the Motown classic “Money (That’s What I Want)” and B.B. King’s “Rock Me.”

And the CD/LP track listing for the Morrison Hotel 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition from The Doors:

Disc One: The Original Album

Side One: Hard Rock Cafe

1. “Roadhouse Blues”
2. “Waiting For The Sun”
3. “You Make Me Real”
4. “Peace Frog”
5. “Blue Sunday”
6. “Ship Of Fools”

Side Two: Morrison Hotel

1. “Land Ho!”
2. “The Spy”
3. “Queen Of The Highway”
4. “Indian Summer”
5. “Maggie M’Gill”

Disc Two: Mysterious Union

Black Dressed In Leather (Queen Of The Highway Sessions)

First Session (11/15/68)

1. “Queen Of The Highway” (Take 1, She Was A Princess) *
2. “Queen Of The Highway” (Various Takes) *
3. “Queen Of The Highway” (Take 44, He Was A Monster) *

Second Session (1/16/69)

1. “Queen Of The Highway” (Take 12, No One Could Save Her) *
2. “Queen Of The Highway” (Take 14, Save The Blind Tiger) *

Third Session (Date Unknown) 

1. “Queen Of The Highway” (Take 1, American Boy – American Girl) *
2. “Queen Of The Highway” (Takes 5, 6 & 9, Dancing Through The Midnight Whirlpool) *
3. “Queen Of The Highway” (Take 14, Start It All Over) *
4. “I Will Never Be Untrue” *
5. “Queen Of The Highway” (Take Unknown) *

Money Beats Soul (Roadhouse Blues Sessions)

First Session 

1. “Roadhouse Blues” (Take 14, Keep Your Eyes On The Road) *
2. “Money (That’s What I Want)” *
3. “Rock Me Baby” *

Second Session 

1. “Roadhouse Blues” (Takes 6 & 7, Your Hands Upon The Wheel) *
2. “Roadhouse Blues” (Take 8, We’re Goin’ To The Roadhouse) *

Third Session 

1. “Roadhouse Blues” (Takes 1 & 2, We’re Gonna Have A Real Good Time) *
2. “Roadhouse Blues” (Takes 5, 6 & 14, Let It Roll Baby Roll) *

Dawn’s Highway (Peace Frog/Blue Sunday Session)

1. “Peace Frog/Blue Sunday” (Take 4) *
2. “Peace Frog” (Take 12) *

LP Track Listing

Side One: Hard Rock Cafe

1. “Roadhouse Blues”
2. “Waiting For The Sun”
3. “You Make Me Real”
4. “Peace Frog”
5. “Blue Sunday”
6. “Ship Of Fools”

Side Two: Morrison Hotel

1. “Land Ho!”
2. “The Spy”
3. “Queen Of The Highway”
4. “Indian Summer”
5. “Maggie M’Gill”

* previously unreleased