Photo Credit:
Writers: The Doors
Producer: Paul A. Rothchild
Recorded: Fall and winter 1969
Released: February 1970
Players: | Jim Morrison — vocals Ray Manzarek — keyboards Robby Krieger — guitar John Densmore — drums Lonnie Mack — bass G. Puglese — harmonica |
Album: | Morrison Hotel (Elektra, 1970) |
Though it's become one of the Doors' most popular songs, "Roadhouse Blues" was actually the B-side of the "You Make Me Real" single, which only peaked at Number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was later re-released as a single in 1979 but did not chart.
"Roadhouse Blues" was originally considered as the title song for the album that became Morrison Hotel.
Doors frontman Jim Morrison wrote the song about his girlfriend Pamela Courson. He came up with many of the lines while they were driving to a cottage they'd purchased in the Los Angeles area.
The song features some unusual guest appearances for the Doors, including blues guitarist and singer Lonnie Mack on bass.
Morrison Hotel reached Number Four on the Billboard 200 and Number 12 in the U.K.
Morrison Hotel was certified gold shortly after its release, making the Doors the first American band to score five consecutive gold albums. But it was the first Doors album not to produce a hit single.
The album was named after a real low-end hotel in Los Angeles where rooms cost $2.50 a night.
At a concert in Boston on April 10th, 1970, shortly after Morrison Hotel was released, venue management cut the power when Morrison asked the audience if they wanted to see his genitals.