The Doors’ Ray Manzarek (1939-2013): An Appreciation

Looking back, it’s been common to equate the Doors with their vocalist and frontman Jim Morrison. Since Morrison’s death, remaining members Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger and John Densmore have been dogged with the observation that runs along the lines of: “It just isn’t the Doors without Jim.”

Sure, but the passing of Ray Manzarek on May 20, 2013, in Germany at the age of 74 will perhaps give some weight to the argument that the keyboardist was just as important, and that “The Doors without Ray” sound even less like the original band than “The Doors without Jim.”

As evidence, take the final two albums of the Doors’ recording career: Other Voices (1971) and Full Circle (1972).

No, they aren’t the greatest albums to ever be dismissed and/or ignored (even though Other Voices made the Top 40). But they surely make the point that a lot of the Doors’ sound was propelled by the music that went along with the singing. And when Manzarek took on the role as singer to go along with his keyboard bass and organ playing – well, you gotta admire anyone who can do that all at once.

Though they became available as downloads last year, it would be nice to see these albums reissued and remastered properly so they can take their place in the band’s canon of work. R.I.P Ray. Thanks for your contributions to the great musical event known as the Doors.

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JC Mosquito

6 Comments

  1. Perplexio says:

    When the music’s over… turn out the lights.

    Ray will be missed.

  2. Ray and Jim needed each other to create The Doors.
    If it wasn’t for Jim’s lyrics and Rays music it wouldn’t have worked out. Remember the biggest hit was “Light My Fire” written by Robbie Krieger.

  3. I couldn’t agree more with you, J.C.
    Well said. Ray Manzarek was just as integral to The Doors sound as Jim Morrison was. Each member of The Doors was irreplaceable including Robbie Kreiger and John Densmore.

  4. Brandt Hardin says:

    Ray’s keyboards were a staple of The Doors. He’ll certainly be missed after such a long and fruitful career helping to create such haunting music. The Doors’ songs opened my mind to other realms of possibilities and cleansed my perception.

  5. JC Mosquito says:

    Steve – you make a great point that Krieger and Densmore are very important as well to the total sound that is the Doors. And of course, the Doors are one of those examples of the whole being more than the sum of the parts.

    Just wanted also to mention there’s a song called Tree Trunk that was the b side to Full Circle’s single Get Up and Dance. Apparently it showed up as a bonus track on a 2010 CD release of Other Voices/Full Circle as a twofer (Howlin Wolf Records). Which makes it a candidate for the rarest Doors’ release ever. Pretty good song, too.

  6. David Shiang says:

    There were 4 Doors. Jim was the visionary and poetic genius. His talents cannot be duplicated, but Ray, Robby, and John gave The Doors a unique sound that will last forever.