What The First Doors Album Cover Could Have Looked Like
Doors debut album photo session © Joel Brodsky
Almost every rock fan is familiar with The Doors 1967 eponymous debut album containing the hit songs Light My Fire, Break On Through, Soul Kitchen and The End. The album’s iconic front and back covers were photographed by Joel Brodsky. The back cover photo was also used for a billboard advertisement; the first album to ever get that treatment on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood.
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- photo © Joel Brodsky
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- photo © Joel Brodsky
As we pointed out in our article about Carole King and her photo session for Tapestry, there are always other photographs from a photo session that the public rarely sees.
In these sessions, photographer Joel Brodsky took many pictures of The Doors that could have ended up on the cover. Some of the photos were later used on album sleeve inserts and on greatest hits collections.
Below are some of the other photographs from these famous sessions. Do you think any of them would have worked better than what was chosen?
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- Outtake photo The Doors © Joel Brodsky
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- Outtake photo The Doors © Joel Brodsky
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- Outtake photo The Doors © Joel Brodsky
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- Outtake photo The Doors © Joel Brodsky
Way late to comment, but the final choice (both front and back) is definitely the best. That usually seems to be the case. It’s like the Abbey Road cover — once you compare the final choice to the rest, it’s obvious which one they had to go with.
I’m pretty certain that these photos were amongst the famous “young Lion “shots taken in mid to late 67 and not the photo session for the debut album which were taken in late 66 as the album was released in January 67.If you look at expanded images of Jim from the front cover he isn’t wearing any neck beads and he doesn’t look so brash and bold as in the “.Lion”shots as it is still early in their career.I could be mistaken however,but feel somewhat confident in this
As you will notice the band is dressed differently than what appears on the covers of the first LP versus the outtake photos. This is because there were two separate sessions. In interviews Brodsky stated he did two photo shoots for what ended up being the iconic Doors first album cover. Another reader claims that Brodsky did not take the front cover shot, only the rear, but without providing evidence to that claim. Brodsky is quoted in interviews that the front cover is his photograph. I see your point about the beads. I cannot provide an explanation. But the “Young Lion” shoot, unless I’m mistaken was (according to Brodsky) with a very drunk Morrison; alone; and only in black and white. However, Brodsky is dead, I wasn’t there and I could be wrong!
Well Jim Morrison shirtless is quite attractive….
I think this photo was shot by Guy Webster. Brodsky only did the back cover.
Hi Daniel
Thanks for your comment. Which photo are you referring to – the one used for the cover? I read an interview with Brodsky in which he said he did shoot the cover. The Washington Post wrote in their March 18, 2007 obituary for Brodsky, “Five of Mr. Brodsky’s photographs of the Doors appeared as album covers, and he received a Grammy nomination for the group’s 1967 debut, “The Doors.”
Maybe you are right. I looked at Webster’s website and there are many similar shots to what is posted on this site but credited to Brodsky. Can you direct me to any story where it confirms that Webster shot the cover? thanks