"You Make Me Real" | ||||
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Single by the Doors | ||||
from the album Morrison Hotel | ||||
B-side | "Roadhouse Blues" | |||
Released | March 1970 | |||
Recorded | 1969–1970 | |||
Studio | Elektra Sound Recorders, Los Angeles | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 2:50 (album version) [5] | |||
Label | Elektra | |||
Composer(s) | Jim Morrison | |||
Producer(s) | Paul A. Rothchild | |||
The Doors singles chronology | ||||
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"You Make Me Real" is a song written by Jim Morrison that was first released on the Doors 1970 album Morrison Hotel . It was also released as the only single from the album, reaching No. 50 on the Billboard Hot 100, but was ultimately surpassed in popularity by its B-side, "Roadhouse Blues". [3] In France the single was issued with "Peace Frog" as the B-side.
"You Make Me Real" is one of several hard rock songs on Morrison Hotel. [1] Rock critic David Fricke called it a "three-minute preview of the garage-blues napalm the Doors would take into arenas throughout 1970." [3] [4] Tony Thompson compared it to the "ragged frat rock" of Rick & the Ravens and to the "'keep 'em dancing' rock 'n' roll" of Billy Lee Riley. [4] The song's composition had started in 1966 and the group performed it regularly when they were the house band at the Whisky a Go Go. [6] The track begins with Ray Manzarek's keyboards, followed by Krieger's guitar, before Morrison's vocals begin. [1] Krieger plays a guitar solo in the middle of the song. [1]
Like parts of "Roadhouse Blues" and several other Doors songs, "You Make Me Real" was inspired by Morrison's girlfriend Pamela Courson. [3] The lyrics incorporate sexual innuendo such as the line "So let me slide in your tender sunken sea." [3] In the refrain Morrison sings "You make me real, you make me feel, like lovers feel, you make me throw away mistaken misery, make me free, love, make me free" and the song ends with Morrison loudly exclaiming "Make me free." [1]
Cash Box described "You Make Me Real" as "a sampling of rowdy rock in the manner of old fashioned material but with an instrumental refinement" and as a "rousing rhythm side with flashy Morrison vocal." [7] Billboard called it "a rousing rocker" on which the Doors "really [let] loose," saying that it is a "perfect discotheque item that's loaded with sales appeal." [8] Record World called it "a rocking one just like old times." [9] Nonetheless, the single release only reached No. 40 on the Cash Box Top 100 and No. 50 on the Billboard Hot 100. [10] [3] [11] In Canada the song reached No. 41. [12]
AllMusic critic Thom Jurek said that the song "underscores the blues-rock motif [of Morrison Hotel], with roiling electric piano, stinging guitar vamps, and Densmore's swaggering shuffle." [2] Chicago Tribune critic Lew Harris said that it represents "the group's contribution to the Rock Revival, if only in basic structure" and particularly praised Manzarek's "Jerry Lee Lewis piano." [13] Robb Baker said in the Chicago Tribune that "You Make Me Real" is free-wheeling, bluesy rock ... where Jim[ sic ] Densmore's drums fight with Robby Krieger's old time rock and roll guitar until both suddenly stop and Manzarak's piano absolutely tinkles across the room," calling the song "really, really beautiful." [14] The New Rolling Stone Album Guide stated that the strain of Morrison's voice lends grit to the song. [15] Rolling Stone critic Narendra Kusnur considered it among Morrison's most underrated songs, particularly praising his vocal performance. [1]
On the other hand, music journalist Gillian G. Gaar considered "You Make Me Real" to be weaker than its B-side, "Roadhouse Blues". [11] Tony Thompson said that is not one of the Doors' great songs and wonders why it was chosen over "Roadhouse Blues" and other Morrison Hotel tracks to be the lead single from the album. [4]
According to Heinz Gerstenmeyer: [16]
The Doors
Additional musicians
"You Make Me Real" was included on the Doors' 2003 compilation album Legacy: The Absolute Best . [17] A live version from a 1969 show was included on the Doors' 1983 live album Alive, She Cried . [3] [18] An early version of the song was released on the Doors' live album London Fog 1966 . [19] The Guardian critic Dave Simpson called this version "tightly wound" and "thrillingly focused." [19]
The Doors were an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1965, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger and drummer John Densmore. They were among the most influential and controversial rock acts of the 1960s, primarily due to Morrison's lyrics and voice, along with his erratic stage persona and legal issues. The group is widely regarded as an important figure of the era's counterculture.
Robert Alan Krieger is an American guitarist and founding member of the rock band the Doors. Krieger wrote or co-wrote many of the Doors' songs, including the hits "Light My Fire", "Love Me Two Times", "Touch Me", and "Love Her Madly". When the Doors disbanded shortly after the death of lead singer Jim Morrison, Krieger continued to perform and record with other musicians including former Doors bandmates John Densmore and Ray Manzarek. In the 2023 edition of Rolling Stones’s 250 Greatest guitarists of all time, he was repositioned at number 248.
Morrison Hotel is the fifth studio album by American rock band the Doors, released on February 9, 1970, by Elektra Records. After the use of brass and string arrangements recommended by producer Paul A. Rothchild on their previous album, The Soft Parade (1969), the Doors returned to their blues rock style filled with jazz shades. This album was largely seen as a return to form for the band. The group entered Elektra Sound Recorders in Los Angeles in November 1969 to record the album which is divided into two separately titled sides, namely: "Hard Rock Café" and "Morrison Hotel". Blues rock guitar pioneer Lonnie Mack and Ray Neapolitan also contributed to the album as session bassists.
"Peace Frog" is a song by the Doors, which was released on their fifth studio album Morrison Hotel in 1970. Guitarist Robby Krieger explained that the music was written and recorded first, with the lyrics later coming from poems by singer Jim Morrison. Although the song was never released as a single in the US, it was issued as the B-side of "You Make Me Real" in France.
"Love Me Two Times" is a song by the American rock band the Doors. First appearing on their second studio album Strange Days, it was later edited to a 2:37 length and released as the second single from that album. The single reached number 25 on the charts in the United States.
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"The Crystal Ship" is a song by American rock band the Doors, from their 1967 debut album The Doors, and the B-side of the number-one hit single "Light My Fire". It was composed as a love song to Jim Morrison's first serious girlfriend, Mary Werbelow, shortly after their relationship ended.
"Hyacinth House" is a song written and performed by the Doors. It appears on the band's final album with frontman Jim Morrison, L.A. Woman (1971). Its lyrics were written by Morrison, while the music was composed by keyboardist Ray Manzarek.
"When the Music's Over" is an epic song by the American rock band the Doors, which appears on their second album Strange Days, released in 1967. It is among the band's longer pieces, lasting 11 minutes.
"Roadhouse Blues" is a song by the American rock band the Doors from their 1970 album Morrison Hotel. It was released as the B-side of "You Make Me Real", which peaked at No. 50 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and No. 41 in Canada. "Roadhouse Blues" charted in its own right on the Cash Box Top 100, peaking at No. 76. The song became a concert staple for the group and it has been covered by numerous artists.
"People Are Strange" is a song by the American rock band the Doors. It appears on the band's second studio album, Strange Days, released in September 1967. The song was written by the Doors' vocalist Jim Morrison and guitarist Robby Krieger, although all of the band are credited on the sleeve notes.
Live in Boston is a triple CD live album by American rock band the Doors released in 2007. It was recorded at the Boston Arena on April 10, 1970, during the band's Roadhouse Blues Tour. The band performed two shows, one starting at 7 pm and a second scheduled for 10 but not actually starting until past midnight. Jim Morrison appears to be intoxicated during the entire latter show, and continued drinking heavily throughout the performance. The late start ended with the venue's owners cutting power to the stage to force the end of the concert.
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