Winterland Arena,
San Francisco, California - December 26, 1967.

1.Backdoor Man - Softer 5:38
2.Break on Through - There You Sit 5:28
3.When the Music's Over - Poor Otis, Dead & Gone 14:13
4.Close to You 2:44
5.Manish Boy 8:18
6.Light my Fire 9:26

Comments:

Legendary concert promoter, Bill Graham, was responsible for promoting venues such as Winterland as well as The Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco. Although the recording of this concert has been mistakenly referred to as Monterey Pop Festival, it was actually performed at Winterland, a converted ice skating rink in a run down part of San Francisco. According to Riordan & Prochnicky (1991), The Doors were never invited to play at the Monterey Pop Festival which was held during June 16, 17 & 18. The Doors at the time were performing at East Coast venues such as Steve Paul’s The Scene in New York City, the Action House at Long Beach (New York) and the Town Hall in Philadelphia.

This was not the first time The Doors had played at Winterland as they had played there before on two nights during November 17 & 18 where they attracted a crowd of 4,500 people. This time The Doors played for three consecutive nights, December 26, 27 & 28.

Originally it was intended for Otis Redding to be the headlining act for the three day concert and The Doors were billed as being the second main act. Unfortunately though, Otis was killed in a plane crash on December 10, 1967.

Bill Graham and his promoters were in a real panic as to what they should do and were even considering cancelling the concert, however Jim wanted to do the concert as a tribute to Otis Redding. Bill Graham had agreed with Jim and The Doors were automatically moved up and became the headlining act. Included on the same bill was Chuck Berry and Salvation. This concert kicked off with "Backdoor Man", followed through by "Break On Through". During the groups next song "When The Music's Over", Morrison appeared on the stage with two dozen long- stemmed red roses and then approached the edge of the stage, reciting his ode to the recently deceased Otis Redding between the last two verses of this song.

Poor Otis dead and gone
Left me here to sing this song
Poor Otis dead and gone
Left me here to sing his song
Pretty little girl with a red dress on
Left me here to sing his song

Jim then threw the two dozen long-stemmed red roses into the audience, completing his symbolic ode to Otis Redding. Ray sung a blues number, "Close To You" (originally composed by Willie Dixon) and the band some how lost it. Ray started to rave on "Oh we lost it, we lost it, we lost it, we lost it, we lost it, we lost it, hold on, hold on, I think we'll get 'em here".

Ray started off with another blues number, "Manish Boy", (originally composed by Mc Daniels-Morganfield), and Jim quickly added:

"I know, I can't figure it out",

Ray resumed his singing with some success this time. The group wrapped up the concert with a well received "Light My Fire".

Winterland Arena,
San Francisco, California - December 28, 1967.

1.Alabama Song - Backdoor Man (cuts) 3:41
2.You're Lost, Little Girl (cuts) 1:27
3.Love Me Two Times (cuts) 2:08
4.Wake Up! - Light my Fire - Persian Night (cuts) 11:04
5.The Unknown Soldier (cuts) 4:18

Comments:

This was the last time The Doors played on the West Coast for the year before moving onto another three day concert at the Family Dog in Denver, Colorado. Unfortunately most songs from this concert have been cut off.

Interestingly enough though, this recording seems to be one of the earliest examples where The Doors had played "You're Lost Little Girl" and "Love Me Two Times". Most surprisingly is that The Doors had finished off the concert with "The Unknown Soldier" which to this date, is the earliest recording of this song. However, this was not the first time that "The Unknown Soldier" was played in front of a live audience. One audience member remembers seeing Jim perform this song at Hunter College Auditorium in New York City on November 24, 1967 where The Doors had shared the same bill as the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.