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The Doors’ 1971 hit “Riders on the Storm” is this week’s Song of the Week. “Riders on the Storm” was released on single in June 1971, backed with “The Changeling.” It also appeared on the Doors’ sixth and final studio album “LA Woman“, which was released in April 1971.

The song has a dark and mysterious quality, due in no small part to the overdubbed storm sounds, the exceptional electric piano work of Ray Manzarek (which is designed to mimic the patterns of rainfall), and Jim Morrison’s decision to whisper over his vocals. The jazzy guitar work and insistent bass line also contribute greatly to the recording.

The lack of obvious narrative within the lyrics has allowed for much speculation as to what the song is about. There is some consensus that the “killer on the road” refers to a screenplay that Morrison wrote called The Hitchhiker (An American Pastoral), which was about a hitchhiker who goes on a murder spree. The song in turn inspired Eric Red to write the screenplay for the 1986 movie called “The Hitcher.”

It has been surmised that the verse that begins “Girl you got to love your man” was a message to Jim Morrison’s girlfriend Pamela Courson.

Band member Robby Krieger has said that “Riders on the Storm” was inspired by the country song “(Ghost) Riders in the Sky.”

Jim Morrison died in Paris in July 1971, the month after “Riders on the Storm” was released on single. It was the last song he recorded with the Doors.

The album version was over seven minutes long, but it was cut down to 4m 35s on the single version.

The Doors – “Riders on the Storm” (album version)

Authorship

“Riders on the Storm” was written by Jim Morrison, Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek and John Densmore.

Recording date/location

“Riders on the Storm” was recorded in December 1970 at the Doors Workshop on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood, Los Angeles.

Musicians

The following musicians appeared on “Riders on the Storm”:

• Jim Morrison – vocals
• Robby Krieger – lead guitar
• Ray Manzarek – Fender Rhodes electric piano
• John Densmore – drums
• Jerry Scheff – bass.

This was the only Doors album that featured session musician Jerry Scheff. He had worked on sessions with many artists, including Johnny Rivers, The Everly Brothers and Neil Diamond, and was also a member of Elvis Presley’s TCB Band.

Chart performance

“Riders on the Storm” reached number 14 in the US and number 22 in the UK. It was most successful in the Netherlands, where it reached number 7.

The album on which “Riders on the Storm” appeared, “LA Woman”, hit number 9 in the US and number 28 in the UK.

Covers

Creed – “Riders on the Storm”

Creed recorded “Riders on the Storm” for the tribute album to the Doors “Stoned Immaculate: The Music of The Doors.” The Doors’ guitarist, Robby Krieger, featured on the track. It is a fine recording, but doesn’t really bring anything new to the table. The band had also performed the song with Krieger the previous year at Woodstock 1999.

Dezperadoz – “Riders on the Storm”

German rockers Dezperadoz featured “Riders on the Storm” on their 2008 album “Eye for an Eye.” It’s another solid effort, but again doesn’t really add anything to the original.

There will be a new Song of the Week on November 15.

“Riders on the Storm” is available on the album “LA Woman” and on the excellent 2-CD set “The Very Best of the Doors.”

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