THE DOORS' "STRANGE DAYS" LP HITS THE MARKET AND IT'S IN GOOD COMPANY

 

In September 1967 the Doors released their second work, "Strange Days". An album that is still undoubtedly among the best albums of all time in modern music.

However, its release was not the only one to grace that spectacular month. In fact, the second LP by the California band is anticipated by a whole month of high-level discographic events. Among them we will cite four examples, imagining ourselves in an American or British record store at that fairy-tale moment for modern music.

September 1967 opens with the arrival in stores of "Crusade" by John Mayall And The Bluesbreakers (#8 in England and #136 in the U.S.A.). Here we are in the realm of Blues and Rock Blues, both exquisitely crafted by the group. By the way, Mayall had just recruited a very young and highly talented guitarist for this LP: Mick Taylor.

Soon after, the same store saw the arrival of "Procol Harum" the debut LP by the band of the same name, which shortly before had become famous with the single "A Whiter Shade Of Pale." This fine record fits into the pop-rock genre, showing both pleasant psychedelic inflections and large debts to Bob Dylan of "Highway 61 Revisited." It went to number 47 in the U.S.A. and will be released about two months later in England with some changes in the track list.

Ten days before "Strange Days", 15 September 1967, we celebrate the arrival in our imaginary store of a masterpiece of Psychedelia (and more): the Kinks' "Something Else By The Kinks" (35th in U.K. and 153th in the U.S.A). The irresistible melodies that fill the album’s atmosphere with their ironic magic, have some quality lapses, but among the 13 tracks we can find some of the best episodes in the history of pop-rock genre.

The last example from the record releases of September '67 is a single: "Soul Man" by Sam & Dave. This Hit (2nd in U.S.A. and 24th in U.K.) completes a month of great releases, soon and rightly establishing itself as one of the cornerstones of Soul music.

As we have seen, “Strange Days” was in good company in that wonderful September of 1967!