ElmoreMagazine.com

The Doors – Mr. Mojo Risin’: The Story of L.A. Woman


L.A. Woman, the quintessential Doors record, not only highlights the band’s initial quest for jazz, but it stands as the last album the band made with frontman Jim Morrison. In Mr. Mojo Risin’, the Doors’ journey, up until its last breath, is displayed in all of its facets, and then some.

Densmore, Krieger and Manzarek smile in front of the camera and relive the glory days of a once deep blue dream they shared with Mr. Mojo Risin’. Commentary includes L.A. Woman’s engineer and producer providing insight as to why the album, recorded at the Doors’ Santa Monica Boulevard rehearsal space, allowed the band to travel beyond the doors of perception, compared to their previous Sunset Sound sessions. Each track is dissected by those who know the subjects best, including Rolling Stone senior writer David Fricke.

Gems from the vault, like an unreleased “She Smells So Nice” and never-before-seen video footage, provide something for even the most veteran fan. Although Morrison bade farewell to the city and people he loved, especially on the title track, the Doors did not burn out nor did they fade away. They are still on fire and Mr. Mojo Risin’: The Story of L.A. Woman confirms it.

- Melissa Caruso

Live Show & Event Reviews

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Joy Askew – Rockwood Music Hall

On this night, singer/songwriter/pianist Joy Askew demonstrated that fascinating songs and passionate vocals can transfix an audience under any circumstances. In the dimly-lit room, she remained seated behind the piano during her nine-song set. But although her excellent three-piece band was front and center, Askew dominated the stage. And despite some great solos from guitarist… [read more]

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The Kooks – Terminal 5 (New York, NY)

 The Kooks play a brand of pub-pop (something between pub-rock and brit-pop – think the Kinks meets Kings of Leon) that eschews subtlety in favor broad melodic strokes and bouncy mid-tempo singalongs. Floor-level patrons held camera phones high and mezzanine-dwellers dangled Chuck Taylor-adorned feet over the crowd as the Kooks m the stage and cracked… [read more]

Charlie Gracie (left) at the Bitter End on March 30th. Photo by Arnie Goodman

Charlie Gracie – The Bitter End – 3/30/2012

Starting with his 1957 hit, “Butterfly,” Charlie Gracie is a man that still has ’50s rock ‘n’ roll roots. He was also the man that helped establish the Philly label Cameo-Parkway with hits like “Ninety Nine Ways,” ”Wandering Eyes,” “I Love You So Much It Hurts” and “ Cool Baby.” Now, Charlie is back with… [read more]

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Gotye – Terminal 5 (New York, NY) – 03/25/2012

Though millions walk around humming Wally DeBacker’s catchy-as-hell breakout single “Somebody That I Used to Know,” most of them probably don’t even know how to pronounce his stage name. But with a sold-out string of nationwide tour dates, Gotye (that’s go-tee-yay) is quickly gaining ground as a radio staple and will even appear as the… [read more]

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Joan Osborne and Friends at Grand Prospect Hall – Brooklyn, NY

In an effort to become a player in Brooklyn’s burgeoning music scene, The Brooklyn Music Shop made its first event a memorable one, booking Joan Osborne and friends to play the landmark Grand Prospect Hall. The acoustics of the historic ballroom proved more than adequate as the venerable Holmes Brothers opened with “Amazing Grace” and… [read more]

Album Reviews

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Vinnie Zummo – Swinging Guitar Sounds of Young America, Volume 2

If you’re nostalgic for the great rock and country music of your youth, this album will take you back. But while the songs’ styles pay homage to bands like The Beach Boys (“Brian’s Room, ” “Special Thing”) and Cream (“Bitter Cream”), and artists like Lee Dorsey (“Ravioli”) and Ray Price (“Two Shots of Heartache, Two… [read more]

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Alan Leatherman – Detour Ahead

     New York City-based neo-soul singer Alan Leatherman takes a “Detour” for some straight-ahead jazz. Backed by the best (McCoy Tyner’s bassist Gerald Cannon, the late Shirley Horn’s longtime drummer Steve Williams, and Manhattan mainstay pianist Rick Germanson), Leatherman’s self-produced gem is gorgeous.      Leatherman doesn’t over-sing what could have been a detour to… [read more]

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Tail Dragger & Bob Corritore – Longtime Friends In The Blues

Since 1976, Tail Dragger and Bob Corritore have been performing the raw intensity of lowdown blues at its sticky, sweaty best. Their album, Longtime Friends In The Blues delivers you straight to a steamy Chicago juke joint in the late ‘50s. It comes as no surprise that the legendary Howlin’ Wolf bestowed James Yancy Jones… [read more]

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Pegi Young & The Survivors – Bracing For Impact

There’s an old saying: “A man is only as good as the woman beside him.” Pegi Young (wife of  Neil) proves that adage with a ferocious roar on Bracing For Impact, a collection of eleven songs- eight of them originals- which proves once and for all that she’s able to stand alongside her famous spouse… [read more]

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Loudon Wainwright III – Older Than My Old Man Now

Loudon Wainwright III Older Than My Old Man Now (2nd Story Sound Records)   These days, 65-year-old Loudon Wainwright III is as well-known for his offspring (Rufus and Martha) as he is for the humorous-to-touching back catalog he’s spent decades building. Rather than try and compete with those young ‘uns, though, Loudon embraces his legacy… [read more]

Book Reviews

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Mark Blake – Is This The Real Life?: The Untold Story of Queen

Mark BlakeIs This The Real Life?: The Untold Story of Queen(Da Capo) Twenty years after Freddie Mercury’s death, Queen still hold their roost in rock’s fabled hierarchy. As their 40th year rolls in, Is This The Real Life? serves as an informative (Blake chronicles the early years like no other before him), non-dirt-throwing narrative told… [read more]

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Tony Bennett: In His Prime at 85

Tony Bennett, that beloved singer with a quietly jazzy, masculine vigor, is in his prime at 85. He’s become the oldest living artist ever on the Billboard Hot 100 after his Duets II CD debuted at #87, then zoomed to #1. Santa’s already working overtime as Bennett fans worldwide demand Duets II plus David Evanier’s classy new… [read more]

Film Reviews

TheDoorsWeb

The Doors – Mr. Mojo Risin’: The Story of L.A. Woman

L.A. Woman, the quintessential Doors record, not only highlights the band’s initial quest for jazz, but it stands as the last album the band made with frontman Jim Morrison. In Mr. Mojo Risin’, the Doors’ journey, up until its last breath, is displayed in all of its facets, and then some. Densmore, Krieger and Manzarek… [read more]

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Al Di Meola – Morocco Fantasia

Since exploding onto the jazz-fusion scene in 1974 with Chick Corea’s fabled Return to Forever quartet, Al Di Meola has become recognized as one of the world’s most technically accomplished guitarists, a harshly exacting bandleader whose music is brilliant but not for everyone, even many jazz buffs. Di Meola has received a great deal of… [read more]

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Bad Company – Live at Wembley

Bad CompanyLive at Wembley(Eagle Rock) I normally shy away from these reunion things, but I must admit wanting to see and hear what Rodgers, Ralphs, Kirke and company sounded like so many years after the Madison Square shows I rocked to back in ’75, ’77 and ’79. While Rodgers has lost some of his lower… [read more]

David Byrne

David Byrne: Ride Rise Roar

David ByrneRide Rise Roar(Eagle Rock) “I thought it’d be nice to do something unexpected that also makes it a little more of a show… One way would be with dancers and movement.” So says David Byrne in the opening of his new concert movie Ride Rise Roar. The ex-Talking Head seems to forget he already… [read more]

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Billy Joel: Live at Shea Stadium

Billy JoelLive At Shea Stadium DVD, 2 CDs(Columbia/Legacy) Shea Stadium was built in 1964 when the 15-year-old Joel’s musical ambitions were crystallized by the Beatles’ appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. Some 44 years later and 100 million records sold, he was chosen to perform the final concert before Shea’s demolition. The concerts occurred on… [read more]