V/Artists inc Gillan • Rock Tribute To The Doors

Very mixed reactions to the new Doors Tribute album; some absolutely hate it, others have enjoyed it a lot. This must be about the fourth or fifth such tribute in recent years, each seems to take a different musical angle.  This time it’s called a Classic Rock tribute to… I’ve had a blast through the cover of Light My Fire, which sees Rick Wakeman go into full sixties synth overdrive matched by some psych guitar. Ian Gillan does well on the vocals, playing it very straight and a laid back approach for the most part but hardly has to break into a sweat. Mind you it might be nice to hear him sing like this on a couple of Purple tracks where he has more involvement. He gets a long breather on what is essentially a seven plus minute instro (“Yes play The Doors” as Tim Summers put it) with opening and closing verses. I think on balance I much prefer the hell for leather version he did back in the late sixties with Episode Six (captured on that great, fab, groovy Radio 1 sessions Cd RPM out out yonks ago).
Morse’s contributions are a very recognisable guitar solo at the end of Touch Me. Joe Lynn Turner and Graham Bonnet also feature but not heard those tracks yet.  CD is a US production but can be ordered through DTB Online Store.

Full guest list:

1. L.A. Woman – Jimi Jamison (Survivor), Ted Turner (Wishbone Ash) & Patrick Moraz (Moody Blues)
2. Love Me Two Times – Lou Gramm (Foreigner), Thijs van Leer (Focus) & Larry Coryell
3. Roadhouse Blues – Leslie West (Mountain), Brian Auger & Rod Piazza
4. Love Her Madly – Mark Stein (Vanilla Fudge) & Mick Box (Uriah Heep)
5. Riders On The Storm – Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow), Tony Kaye (Yes) & Steve Cropper (Booker T. & The M.G. s)
6. The Crystal Ship – Edgar Winter & Chris Spedding
7. Intro (People Are Strange) – Keith Emerson, Jeff Skunk Baxter & Joel Druckman (John Fahey)
8. People Are Strange – David Johansen (NY Dolls) & Billy Sherwood (Yes)
9. Touch Me – Robert Gordon, Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater), Steve Morse & Nik Turner (Hawkwind)
10. The Soft Parade – Graham Bonnet (Rainbow), Christopher North (Ambrosia) & Steve Hillage (Gong)
11. Hello, I Love You – Ken Hensley (Uriah Heep) & Roye Albrighton (Nektar)
12. Spanish Caravan – Eric Martin (Mr. Big) & Elliot Easton (The Cars)
13. Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar) – Todd Rundgren & Geoff Downes (Yes / Asia) & Zoot Horn Rollo (Captain Beefheart)
14. Break On Through (To The Other Side) – Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad) & Chick Churchill (Ten Years After)
15. Light My Fire – Ian Gillan (Deep Purple), Rick Wakeman (Yes) & Steve Howe (Yes)
16. The End – Pat Travers & Jimmy Greenspoon (Three Dog Night)