About the song
The Doors were an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1965. The band was led by vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger, and drummer John Densmore. The Doors are one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold over 100 million records worldwide.
“Riders on the Storm” is the sixth and final track on the Doors’ sixth and final studio album, L.A. Woman. The song was written by the band members and produced by Paul A. Rothchild. It was released as a single in 1971, reaching number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States.
The song is a dark and atmospheric ballad that features Morrison’s brooding vocals and the band’s signature sound. The lyrics are full of imagery of death, rain, and the apocalypse. The song has been interpreted in many ways, but it is generally seen as a meditation on mortality and the passage of time.
The song’s critical acclaim
“Riders on the Storm” has been acclaimed by critics as one of the Doors’ best songs. In 2004, it was ranked number 49 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The song has also been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
The song’s enduring popularity
“Riders on the Storm” remains one of the Doors’ most popular songs. It has been covered by many artists, including Iggy Pop, Echo & the Bunnymen, and Slash. The song has also been featured in a number of films and television shows, including “Apocalypse Now”, “Thelma and Louise”, and “The Sopranos”.
In addition to the above, here are some other interesting facts about “Riders on the Storm”:
- The song was recorded in the fall of 1970 at the Doors’ private studio in Los Angeles.
- The song features a spoken word intro by Morrison that was inspired by a poem he had written.
- The song’s distinctive sound was created by Manzarek’s use of a Fender Rhodes piano and Krieger’s use of a slide guitar.
- The song was the last song that Morrison recorded with the Doors before his death in 1971.
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