For The Punisher episode, see Roadhouse Blues (The Punisher).

"Roadhouse Blues" is a song by the American rock band the Doors from their 1970 album Morrison Hotel. It was released as the B-side of "You Make Me Real", which peaked at No. 50 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100[5] and No. 41 in Canada.[6] "Roadhouse Blues" charted in its own right on the Cash Box Top 100, peaking at No. 76.[7] The song became a concert staple for the group and it has been covered by numerous artists.

Hailed by sound engineer Bruce Botnick as "the all-time American bar band song,"[8] "Roadhouse Blues"–despite its relatively unsuccessful chart peak–received strong airplay on rock radio stations.[9] The song`s title was considered for the name of the album, but it was eventually changed.[8] It was ranked the 153rd top classic-rock song by Q104,3,[10] and the eleventh best rock song of all time by Time Out.[11]

Recording

The song was recorded over two days, from November 4 to 5, 1969. Producer Paul A. Rothchild insisted on several takes, some of which were included on the 2006 reissue.[12] Jim Morrison, who was apparently intoxicated during the sessions, flubbed several lyrics and kept repeating the phrase "Money beats soul every time".[13]

There was more progress on the second day when resident guitarist Lonnie Mack (then employed as an Elektra Records A&R representative) joined in to play bass; Ray Neapolitan, the regular bassist during the Morrison Hotel sessions, was stuck in traffic.[12][14] Although there has been speculation that Mack also contributed the guitar solo, he confirmed that he had played bass and nothing else.[15] While Mack had stopped working as a professional musician at the time, he decided to return to his career following the session.[16]

Guitarist Robby Krieger is responsible for all guitar parts on "Roadhouse Blues"; Morrison shouts "Do it, Robby, do it!" at the start of the guitar solo.[17] Ray Manzarek switched from a Wurlitzer electric piano to a tack piano.[12] Ex–Lovin` Spoonful frontman John Sebastian contributed harmonica (listed as "G. Puglese" for contractual reasons).[12]

Alice Cooper claimed that he was the inspiration for the line "Woke up this morning and I got myself a beer", as stated on his Planet Rock morning show: "We were sitting there drinking and Jim comes in and he flops down ... I said that I had got up this morning and got myself a beer and while we`re talking he just writes that down. So they go in and they`re doing the song and the next thing I hear is `Woke up this morning and I got myself a beer` and I went `I just said that a second ago!`"[18]

Other versions

A live version appeared on the album An American Prayer, released several years after Morrison died,[19] and that version can be heard again on In Concert. In this version, Morrison talks for a short while to a female audience member about his Zodiac sign and, with a sudden, ironic twist that causes the audience to erupt in laughter, denounces his belief in it.[20] The song was also featured twice in the movie The Doors; the studio version in the film, and the aforementioned live one over the end credits.

A studio version of the song with John Lee Hooker sharing vocals with Morrison can be found on the 2000 tribute album Stoned Immaculate: The Music of The Doors.[21] A studio rehearsal of the song

with Ray Manzarek on lead vocals was recorded on May 6, 1969.[22] This version was finally released on The Soft Parade: 50th Anniversary Edition in 2019.[23] "Roadhouse Blues" was also performed by the surviving members and Eddie Vedder at the Doors` Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 1993.[24]

Personnel

The Doors

• Jim Morrison – vocals
• Robby Krieger – guitar
• Ray Manzarek – tack piano
• John Densmore – drums

Additional musicians

• Lonnie Mack – bass
• John Sebastian – harmonica

Certifications

Charts

Status Quo version

Status Quo, while touring in Bielefeld, Germany, in 1970,[28] heard the Doors` recording shortly after it was released. They were looking for a change of direction, away from their original psychedelic pop style, and were unsure about what to do; after hearing the song in a club, they enjoyed its 12-bar shuffle and thought it would be a good template for future original material.[29] The group recorded a studio version on the 1972 album Piledriver, with bassist Alan Lancaster taking the lead vocal and featuring an extra verse with three-part harmonies, which the Doors` recording did not have.[28] The lyrics differed from the original; for instance, "I should have made you" instead of "Ashen lady".[30] The track was released as a promotional single, with Black Sabbath`s "Children of the Grave" on the B-side.[28]

The song was a regular feature of Quo`s live setlist throughout the 1970s, its performance coming towards the end of the show. It was extended to allow a jam session in the middle, featuring snippets of other songs, including the traditional "The Irish Washerwoman" and "Shakin` All Over".[31][32] A 14-minute version appears as the final track on 1977`s Live.[33] In 1992, the live album Live Alive Quo featured "Roadhouse Medley", which blended other songs into the main "Roadhouse Blues" riff.[34]

"Roadhouse Blues" was revived for the "Frantic Four" tours in 2013.[35] In 2014, a deluxe reissue of Piledriver included a 15-minute live version, recorded in 1973.[36]

Personnel

• Alan Lancaster – lead vocals, bass
• Francis Rossi – lead guitar, backing vocals
• Rick Parfitt – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
• John Coghlan – drums

Additional musicians

• Bob Young – harmonica
• Jimmy Horowitz – piano