Brizz Record Bin- The Doors “Five to One” [VIDEO]

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you talk about The Doors? Jim Morrison of course. The other three guys were no slouches either. The origins of the band started when Ray Manzarek met Morrison at UCLA in 1965, before adding John Densmore on drums and Robbie Krieger on guitar. The Doors were one of those bands that burned white hot for only a few years. That sort of intensity and chaos rarely lasts long. After releasing their debut in January 1967, they put out an impressive run of albums ending in 1971 with L.A. Woman.

Today marks Krieger's 69th birthday. The man can play! While Ray's organ or Jim's organ seemed to be at the forefront of the band's sound, I have always been drawn to the Robbie's guitar picking. Whether the excellent solo in the title track of L.A. Woman or a psychedelic marathon like 'The End' from their debut.

Robbie still gets out and plays, most recently at the end of 2014. I've been lucky enough to see him a couple of times in the past twenty-five years and he is a great solo act. Robbie played a large part in the writing and arranging of The Doors fourth album The Soft Parade (1969), writing half the songs and even singing co-lead on the song 'Runnin' Blue.' That album does stand out in their catalog if for nothing else other than the use of horns on strings on several songs.

Happy birthday Robbie!

Robbie Krieger singing lead on the chorus of 'Runnin' Blue' from The Soft Parade: