"Roadhouse Blues" is a song by the American rock band the Doors, which appears on the 1970 album Morrison Hotel. It was released as the B-side of "You Make Me Real", which peaked at number 50 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The song became a concert staple for the group and it has been covered by numerous artists.
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 remastered album. Morrison, who was apparently intoxicated, flubbed several lyrics and keep repeating the phrase "Money beats soul every time".
There was more progress on the second day, when resident Elektra Records guitarist Lonnie Mack joined in to play bass (Ray Neapolitan, the regular bass player during Morrison Hotel sessions, had been stuck in traffic). Although there has been speculation that Mack also contributed the guitar solo, he confirmed that he had played bass and nothing else. Mack had quit touring and was working for Elektra at the time, but returned to music after playing bass at the session.
Guitarist Robby Krieger is responsible for all guitar parts on "Roadhouse Blues"; Morrison shouts "Do it, Robby, do it!" (especially audible on the official audio proof of DVD-Audio and Super Audio CD where the single vocal track can be separated from other instruments) at the start of the guitar solo. Ray Manzarek switched from a Wurlitzer electric piano to a tack piano (the same type as used on the Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations"). Ex-Lovin' Spoonful frontman John Sebastian contributed harmonica (listed as "G. Puglese" for contractual reasons).
Alice Cooper claimed 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.
A live version appeared on the posthumous album An American Prayer and that same version can be heard again on In Concert and Greatest Hits. On 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. The song was also featured twice in the movie The Doors; the studio version in the film, and the aforementioned live version 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. A studio rehearsal of the song with Ray Manzarek on lead vocals was recorded on May 6, 1969. This version was finally released on The Soft Parade: 50th Anniversary Edition in 2019.
If there was an actual roadhouse that inspired this song, it was probably the Topanga Corral, a windowless nightclub in Topanga Canyon, where Jim Morrison lived. To get to the venue you had to take Topanga Canyon Boulevard, which is full of twists and turns - you really did need to "keep your eyes on the road, your hand upon the wheel." The Corral, where Little Feat and Canned Heat played was burned down in 1986. There was a cabin behind the Topanga Corral that many sources say Morrison bought for his girlfriend, Pamela Courson.
lyrics
Words and music by John Densmore, Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek, and Jim Morrison
A-keep your eyes on the road
Your hands upon the wheel
A-keep your eyes on the road
Your hands upon the wheel
Yeah, we're goin' to the Roundhouse
We're gonna have a real good time
Well, the back of the Roundhouse
You got someone to love
Well, the back of the roundhouse
You got someone to love
And that's for the people who like to go down slow
Let it roll baby roll, let it roll baby roll
Let it roll baby roll, let it roll, all night long
Yeah, roll, roll, roll, roll, you fill my soul, alright
Roll, roll, roll, roll, you fill my soul, i gotta
(Random Gibberish) Yeah, right
Achtung lady, achtung lady
Give up your vows, give up your vows
Save our city, save our city, alright
Well, I woke up this morning
And I got myself a beer (True story)
Well, I woke up this morning
And I got myself a beer
The future's uncertain and the end is always near
Alright, let it roll baby roll, let it roll baby roll
Let it roll baby roll, let it roll, all night long
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