[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSjwYq0F8CA&w=560&h=315]
Emily Ingram: Soul Kitchen from The Doors (1967)
Situated on the Doors epic and eponymous debut, ‘Soul Kitchen’ is a track that may be easily overlooked in a list such as this. Yet, when placed among the likes of ‘Crystal Ship’ or ‘Light My Fire’, its musical eloquence is undoubtedly parallel to the more well-known hits of the infamous group.
Musically, some may see many of the songs features as somewhat dated. With its unmistakable organ intro from Ray Manzarek, as well as an ever-enticing (and often elongated) guitar riff laced throughout, I would argue that Soul Kitchen stands the test of time as the musical epitome of the 1960s: a decade where genres such as blues and jazz were thrown together, time and again, to create an air of innovative and exciting sounds. Of course, it isn’t just the musical elements of this track that weaves this sense of nostalgia. With the aid of Morrison’s potently poetic lyrical flair, the song is also able to encapsulate the youth of the decade in a social and emotional sense- particularly within the hypnotically recurring phrase, ‘I light another cigarette/learn to forget’. All in all, this overlooked track is anything but forgettable; in light of the doors’ 50th anniversary, it marks the pivotal innovation of 1967.