13 (The Doors album)

Background

13 was a project instigated by Elektra Records, who wanted product from the band for the Christmas season, and the band reluctantly agreed. Morrison even agreed to shave off his beard for the album cover's photo shoot, but the label opted for a younger photo of the singer, which they had also opted to do for the group's live album Absolutely Live, also released in 1970. Morrison's image is much larger than those of guitarist Robby Krieger, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, and drummer John Densmore. As Danny Sugarman observes in his band memoir No One Here Gets Out Alive, "Elektra obviously wanted the 'pretty' Jim Morrison...Although Ray, Robby, and John had become accustomed to the attention directed towards their lead singer, it upset Jim." The album's back cover features the band posing with what some think is a small bust of occultist Aleister Crowley.

Track listing

All songs written by Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger, and John Densmore except where noted.

US release

1. "Light My Fire" (Robby Krieger) – 6:50 (actually 7:06)
2. "People Are Strange" (Jim Morrison, Krieger) – 2:13
3. "Back Door Man" (Willie Dixon) – 3:34
4. "Moonlight Drive" (Morrison) – 3:05
5. "The Crystal Ship" (Morrison) – 2:34
6. "Roadhouse Blues" (Morrison) – 4:03

1. "Touch Me" (Krieger) – 3:12
2. "Love Me Two Times" (Krieger) – 3:18
3. "You're Lost Little Girl" (Krieger) – 3:03
4. "Hello, I Love You" (Morrison) – 2:14
5. "Land Ho!" (Morrison, Krieger) – 4:10
6. "Wild Child" (Morrison) – 2:38
7. "The Unknown Soldier" – 3:23

UK release

In the UK, the LP was released through Elektra and Kinney Group Records Ltd (EKS-74079). The track listing was the same as the US release but individual authorship was listed for each track. The duration of the tracks also differed markedly from that listed on the US version.

1. "Light My Fire" (Krieger) – 6:50
2. "People Are Strange" (Morrison, Krieger) – 2:10
3. "Back Door Man" (Dixon, Chester Burnett; Jewel Music) – 3:30
4. "Moonlight Drive" (Morrison) – 3:00
5. "The Crystal Ship" (Morrison) – 2:30
6. "Roadhouse Blues" (Morrison) – 4:04

1. "Touch Me" (Krieger) – 3:15
2. "Love Me Two Times" (Krieger) – 3:23
3. "You're Lost Little Girl" (Krieger) – 3:01
4. "Hello, I Love You" (Morrison) – 2:22
5. "Land Ho!" (Morrison, Krieger) – 4:08
6. "Wild Child" (Morrison) – 2:36
7. "The Unknown Soldier" – 3:10

Personnel

Production

Track origins

Tracks 1, 3 & 5 from The Doors
Tracks 2, 4, 8 & 9 from Strange Days
Tracks 10 & 13 from Waiting for the Sun
Tracks 7 & 12 from The Soft Parade
Tracks 6 & 11 from Morrison Hotel