2025 marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of The Doors. Though the eponymous debut album from Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger, and John Densmore didn't hit stores until January 1967, the foursome was already a seasoned one, having served as house band at the famed Whisky a Go Go since mid-1966. To celebrate 60 years since that fateful day when Manzarek met his old UCLA classmate Morrison on a California beach and the two decided to form a band, Rhino has announced a number of projects beginning with a box set due next month.
The Doors 1967-1971 will be released on November 22 as part of the label's High Fidelity series of audiophile-standard vinyl reissues. The box presents all six of The Doors' original Morrison-era studio albums as cut from the original analog masters by Kevin Gray at Cohearant Audio. The LPs have been pressed at Optimal Media and the box includes a heavyweight gatefold jacket boasting rare photos and new liner notes by Doors archivist David Dutkowski. 3,000 copies of the limited-edition box will be available exclusively at thedoors.com and Rhino.com.
Then, on Record Store Day's Black Friday November 29 event, Rhino will release The Doors - Live in Detroit on four LPs. This performance from Detroit's Cobo Arena on May 8, 1970 features a guest turn by John Sebastian on guitar and harmonica as well as both band originals and blues covers. The concert was one of The Doors' longest live shows, and the group was banned from returning to Cobo Arena for violating the curfew by an hour. Live in Detroit was first released on CD in 2000 as part of the Bright Midnight Archives series and makes its vinyl debut with this release.
A new tome will also reflect on the band's legacy. Billed as "The Doors' first-ever complete anthology book," Night Divides the Day follows similar historical efforts for bands including The Beatles and The Beach Boys. This archival deep-dive draws on fresh interviews with Robby Krieger and John Densmore and archival ones with the late Jim Morrison and Ray Manzarek, and is copiously illustrated with rare photography as well as historical memorabilia such as handwritten lyrics, advertisements and posters, film stills, childhood photos, and more. Nirvana's Krist Novoselic has penned the foreword while Los Angeles Philharmonic conductor Gustavo Dudamel has authored the afterword. The 344-page collector's anthology will be available as a limited edition of 1,650 units, each hand-signed by Densmore and Krieger and including a 7-inch vinyl single with demos of "Hello, I Love You" and "Moonlight Drive" as well as a replica 1968 tour program. Night Divides the Day is available for pre-order now from Genesis Publications for shipping in early 2025. There has been no word yet on a more affordable, mass-market edition.
Watch this space for more Doors news as the 2025 festivities roll on!
zally says
offering no new this box set is meaningless,
Joe MacPherson says
No CD format? No thank you.
pja says
Agreed!
Jarmo Keranen says
Just bought a new gramophone. Shame there isn't 78rpm version edition.
ISH says
I'm investing in 8-tracks
Stephen Bruun says
The future is in foil cylinders. Foil has a certain WARMTH that you just don't get with that newfangled WAX. And don't get me started on shellac....