"LOVE ME TWO TIMES": THE WORK IN PROGRESS VERSION

 

The driving rock of "Love Me Two Times", the third track on the Doors' second album ("Strange Days", September 1967), is the result of the sound research carried out by the California group both in the recording studio and during concerts.

Recordings of the LP began in April '67 and ended in August and were frequently punctuated with numerous and historic live performances. Here we will focus on the developments that took place during the recording sessions.

There the band members could experiment with new sounds and effects, devoting much more time taking care of the arrangements than they had the chance to do on their debut record ("The Doors", January 1967).

In this context, "Love Me Two Times" is worked out carefully, starting from a version still unfinished when compared to the result we can hear on the album. It is described as "Take 3", hinting at the still intermediate stage of the song, although already featuring the main structure that will in fact remain unchanged.

Let’s analyze it briefly together, to better understand how it evolved in those days of April (or May) '67, which were bathed in music, art and in a spirit of sublime inspiration.

Let us first highlight what was already complete in this “Take 3” and will therefore remain unchanged on the vinyl track.

The riff is already defined as is the progression of the drums, electric bass and vocal line. The verses, choruses and the solo position have also been decided. Even the lyrics and the overall length of the song have been established.

It seems like the tune is practically finished, but there are some significant differences with the official version that are worth pointing out.

The first difference is the absence of the shout with which Jim Morrison introduces Ray Manzarek's solo on the record (listen to the LP version at min. 1.25).

This absence signals to us an important element: when recording the final take Morrison may have included a previously unagreed vocal improvisation. So, we can see how the studio sessions, as well as the concerts, were open to the singer's unpredictable and brilliant inspiration.

A second dissimilarity between “Take 3” and the album track is Ray Manzarek's use of the electric organ instead of the harpsichord that makes the song so distinctive on the LP. The electric organ was the instrument routinely used by the keyboardist, so it is not surprising that he began the recordings of "Love Me Two Times" playing that keyboard.

The more pervasive and extensive sound that the instrument generates in the "Work in Progress" version fits in well with the rest of the arrangement. Indeed, it enhances the blues component of the tune with a rhythmic accompaniment that is careful not to invade the space shared with the other instruments.

However, the final choice to use the harpsichord was a winning one, adding a marked psychedelic tinge which was as fascinating as it was necessary for the coherence of the piece with the rest of the record.

The last difference we want to highlight derives directly from the previous one: the solo on “Take 3” is entrusted to the organ instead of the harpsichord. This results in a more cautious and restrained solo when compared to the wild and dashing succession of ringing notes that characterizes the solo in the official version.

Moreover, the electric organ solo maintains a strictly Rock Blues profile, denoting with its elongated notes the less experimental and psychedelic approach that distinguishes "Take 3".

This alternative version of "Love Me Two Times" showcases the development of the creative work The Doors were going through during those exceptional recording sessions.

Overall, it is possible to say that the interventions made by the group to arrive at the final version of the song were an undisputed improvement to "Take 3". They made it more engaging, placing it fully within the magical historical moment in which it was written by guitarist Robby Krieger.

"Love Me Two Times (Take 3)" is contained in "Behind Closed Doors - The Rarities" together with other very interesting and intriguing tracks.