13 (The Doors album)

13 is the first compilation album by American rock band the Doors, released by Elektra Records on November 30, 1970. The title refers to the thirteen tracks included, which feature a variety of songs from their five studio albums released up to that point and the cover shrinkwrap originally featured a clear sticker that read: "A Collection of Thirteen Classic Doors Songs". It is the band's only compilation album released while lead singer Jim Morrison was alive.

13
Compilation album by
the Doors
ReleasedNovember 30, 1970
Recorded1966–1969
GenrePsychedelic rock, acid rock, blues rock
Length43:59
LabelElektra
ProducerPaul A. Rothchild
The Doors chronology
Absolutely Live
(1970)		 13
(1970)		 L.A. Woman
(1971)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Christgau's Record GuideA–[2]
MusicHound3.5/5[3]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[4]

The album debuted at No. 75 on the Billboard 200 on December 19, 1970, peaked at No. 25 for two weeks (January 2 and January 9, 1971) and was off the charts after May 8, spending a total of 21 weeks on the charts. The album has never been issued on CD.

Background

13 was a project instigated by Elektra Records, who wanted product from the band for the Christmas season, to which the band reluctantly agreed. Morrison even agreed to shave off his beard for the album cover's photo shoot, but the label opted for a younger photo of the singer, which they had also done for the group's live album Absolutely Live, released in July of that year. As author Danny Sugerman observed in his memoir of the band, No One Here Gets Out Alive, "Elektra obviously wanted the 'pretty' Jim Morrison." Morrison's image is also much larger than those of guitarist Robby Krieger, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, and drummer John Densmore, and Sugerman noted that, "Although Ray, Robby, and John had become accustomed to the attention directed towards their lead singer, it upset Jim." The album's back cover features the band posing with a small bust of Ludwig van Beethoven[5][6] (some have mistakenly claimed it is of occultist Aleister Crowley).[7][8][9]

Critical reception

In a contemporary review in 1971, music critic Dave Marsh wrote that although the album does indeed contain "thirteen classic songs," it fails to deliver on any purpose other than compiling the most radio-friendly hits in one place. Marsh added that "no magnum opuses" were included in the collection. "No 'The End', no 'When the Music's Over', no 'Soft Parade' ... [it] would have been decidedly uncommercial to have them included here ... Of course 'Five to One' isn't here; funny thing, outside of 'Unknown Soldier' none of the Doors' more controversial subject matter is included."[10]

Track listing

US release
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Original albumLength
1."Light My Fire"Robby Krieger, Jim MorrisonThe Doors (1967)6:50
2."People Are Strange"Jim Morrison, Robby KriegerStrange Days (1967)2:13
3."Back Door Man"Willie DixonThe Doors3:34
4."Moonlight Drive"MorrisonStrange Days3:05
5."The Crystal Ship"MorrisonThe Doors2:34
6."Roadhouse Blues"MorrisonMorrison Hotel (1970)4:03
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Original albumLength
1."Touch Me"KriegerThe Soft Parade (1969)3:12
2."Love Me Two Times"KriegerStrange Days3:18
3."You're Lost Little Girl"KriegerStrange Days3:03
4."Hello, I Love You"MorrisonWaiting for the Sun (1968)2:14
5."Land Ho!"Morrison, KriegerMorrison Hotel4:10
6."Wild Child"MorrisonThe Soft Parade2:38
7."The Unknown Soldier"MorrisonWaiting for the Sun3:23

UK & Australian release variations

In the UK, the LP was initially released through Elektra and Kinney Group Records Ltd. (EKS-74079).[11] The track listing was the same as the US release but individual authorship was listed for each track. The duration of the tracks also differed markedly from those listed on the US version:

Side one
  1. "Light My Fire" (Morrison/Manzarek/Krieger/Densmore) – 6:50
  2. "People Are Strange" (Morrison/Krieger) – 2:10
  3. "Back Door Man" (W. Dixon) – 3:30
  4. "Moonlight Drive" (Morrison) – 3:00
  5. "The Crystal Ship" (Morrison) – 2:30
  6. "Roadhouse Blues" (Morrison/Doors) – 4:04
Side two
  1. "Touch Me" (Robby Krieger) – 3:15
  2. "Love Me Two Times" (Robby Krieger) – 3:23
  3. "You're Lost Little Girl" (Robby Krieger) – 3:01
  4. "Hello, I Love You" (Morrison) – 2:22
  5. "Land Ho!" (Morrison/Krieger) – 4:08
  6. "Wild Child" (Morrison/Doors) – 2:36
  7. "The Unknown Soldier" (Morrison/Doors) – 3:10

The Australian edition has the same track times and authorship credits, except "Light My Fire" is credited solely to Krieger and "Back Door Man" lists Chester Burnett (AKA Howlin' Wolf) as a co-writer.[12]

Personnel

Musicians

  • Jim Morrison – lead vocals
  • Ray Manzarek – piano, organ, marimba, bass
  • Robby Krieger – guitar
  • John Densmore – drums
  • John Sebastian – harmonica (on “Roadhouse Blues”)

Production

Charts
Date Chart Position
January 1971 Billboard 200[13] 25

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[14] Platinum 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[15] Platinum 1,000,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

References
  1. Eder, Bruce. "13 — The Doors". AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
  2. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: D". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved February 24, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  3. Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel, eds. (1999). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Farmington Hills, MI: Visible Ink Press. p. 358. ISBN 1-57859-061-2.
  4. "The Doors: Album Guide". Rollingstone.com. Archived from the original on January 6, 2013. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
  5. "The Doors (Getty Museum)". The J. Paul Getty in Los Angeles. Retrieved Apr 30, 2020.
  6. "Jim Morrison & The Doors, in garage with automobile, hand held cloth backdrop. John Densmore looking at Beethoven bust. Hollywood, California by Edmund Teske on artnet Auctions". www.artnet.com. Retrieved Apr 30, 2020.
  7. Brett, Rachel (Nov 17, 2017). "Occultist Aleister Crowley's Influence On Popular Music". Retrieved Apr 30, 2020.
  8. https://beginningandend.com/bruno-mars-souled-out-illuminati-satanic-blasphemy/the-doors-13-album-jacket-art-aleister-crowley
  9. "Aleister Crowley's Influence in Music". Retrieved Apr 30, 2020.
  10. Marsh, Dave (March 1971). "The Doors: 'Thirteen'". Creem. Retrieved June 22, 2018 – via Rock's Backpages.
  11. "Vinyl Album: The Doors - 13 (1976)". Retrieved Apr 30, 2020 – via www.45worlds.com.
  12. "Vinyl Album: The Doors - 13 (1971)". Retrieved Apr 30, 2020 – via www.45worlds.com.
  13. "The Doors Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard.com. 2019. Archived from the original on September 20, 2019.
  14. "Canadian album certifications – The Doors – 13". Music Canada.
  15. "American album certifications – The Doors – 13". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
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