THE DOORS: THE RETURN OF "MY EYES HAVE SEEN YOU" IN JANUARY 1970

 

"My Eyes Have Seen You" is track number 9 on the Doors' second LP, "Strange Days", released on September 25, 1967. It is an urgent rock song that, despite its electrifying immediacy, is not one of the band's most famous pieces.

It wasn’t often included in the group's concerts and would be dropped from live setlists altogether shortly after the album's release.

However, about three years later it would make an unexpected return at the first concert that kicked off the tour for The Doors' fifth album ("Morrison Hotel", released on February 9, 1970).

We are talking about the live show in New York (Felt Forum) on January 17 and 18, 1970, which included two shows on each of the two nights.

The last show lasted more than two hours, at the end of which the quartet launched into a nearly 12-minute cover version of "Gloria": a rhythm and blues by the British group Them originally released in late 1964.

The Doors had been playing the song in their live performances since 1966, sometimes significantly extending its length. On this occasion they further modified its structure and embellished it with an unpredictable musical element.

The cover of "Gloria" by The Doors at New York's Felt Forum unfolds through a long instrumental introduction that repeats the main riff until it slows down to accommodate Morrison's improvised lyrics.

Soon after, the melody of "Gloria" is dropped to be thrown into an electric maelstrom led by Robby Krieger's electric guitar.

At minute 9:02 it is again Krieger's rough guitar work that hints at the change that introduces what on the "Strange Days" album is the coda to "My Eyes Have Seen You”. Soon its theme is emphasized by the electric organ in a insistent way.

Finally, Morrison joins in and sings the last part of the lyrics in a furious roar.

After another minute of electric storm, the concert ended. It was a memorable and unexpected ending, worthy of this great band.

It should be noted that the transition from Gloria to "My Eyes Have Seen You" described above could have been improvised by the band on the spot. An element that would add to the charm of this stunning concert finale.