THE DOORS' "QUEEN OF THE HIGHWAY": FROM ROCK-SWING TO SOFT ROCK
After wrapping up their European tour at the end of September 1968, The Doors headed back into the studio to resume recording their fourth album, "The Soft Parade". In fact, two tracks, "Wild Child" and "Wishful Sinful", had nearly been completed over the summer. In November 1968, the band brought into the studio a composition inspired by some verses written by singer Jim Morrison, which would later be officially titled "Queen of the Highway". The arrangement initially chosen for this piece diverged from the group’s previous work, venturing into demanding and ambitious territory. While guitarist Robby Krieger was absent from the recording studio, the other members of the quartet decided to adorn the song’s languid and sinuous melodies with swing-style elements. However, this choice does not classify the tune as jazz music, as it merely characterizes its external sonic nuances. The result of this unusual approach imbues the structure o...
