The band theorizes, “You could do it with cymbals,” then rationalizes, “Nah, let’s get some real thunder!” And lo, a truly classic rock sound effect is officially anointed! Finally, Morrison, in a very Morrisonesque way, goes, “This is Take 10.
I also like how this version includes studio chatter at the outset, where you hear how a verbalized thundercrack rumble translated directly into the usage of actual thunder on the track.
And now, here in Atmos land, I’m happy to report “Riders on the Storm” literally takes to the skies even higher than it could have ever achieved before. Woman DVD-Audio-available both individually and as part of The Doors’ Perception box set (if you can find them, that is)-a prime example of the mid-aughts promise of surround sound delivered in full. (Sadly, and somewhat mysteriously, Morrison passed away in Paris, France just three short months after L.A Woman was released.)Īt any rate, I have long-admired longtime Doors producer/engineer Bruce Botnick’s stellar 5.1 mix of “Riders” on the 2006 L.A. I say “swan song” only because it was their last album with vocalist/lyricist/shaman-in-chief Jim Morrison as frontman. Being a consummate fan of the legendary envelope-pushing ’60s band, I just had to check them out, most especially one of my absolute favorite tracks of theirs-“Riders on the Storm,” the last cut on Side 2 of their April 1971 swan song of sorts, L.A. legends The Doors came onto the Dolby Atmos marketplace last week.