Today marks the birth anniversary of Jim Morrison, a visionary poet, and frontman of The Doors. Morrison’s creativity often pushed boundaries, and his ambitions extended beyond the confines of traditional rock. In 1970, he envisioned naming The Doors’ Absolutely Live album Lions in the Street, a nod to his evocative lyricism. However, the band collectively decided against it, favoring the alliterative appeal of the final title. Reflecting his collaborative spirit, Morrison remarked, “It’s all for one and one for all, and after all, Absolutely Live is an alliterative, and I kind of like that.”
Morrison’s aspirations didn’t stop there. In 1969, he recorded a poetry album, hoping to release it on his birthday under the title The Rise and Fall of James Phoenix. He imagined this project accompanied by a Philharmonic Orchestra, diverging from rock to embrace a more classical tone. Leon Barnard, a close associate, revealed Morrison’s intention: “He wanted something classical; it wasn’t to be rock’n’roll. I don’t know why he chose that title.”
Both ideas encapsulate Morrison’s ever-expanding vision—one that strived to merge the poetic and the profound, leaving us with a legacy as enigmatic as it is enduring.
