Very early on in their career, The Doors played at a small, hole-in-the-wall club called The Matrix, which was co-owned by Jefferson Airplane’s Marty Balin. The rule at the time was that bands from LA had to play The Matrix when they came to San Francisco as “tax” and homage to the bands that built the local scene. The Doors happily obliged, and co-owner Peter Abram recorded the band’s two shows – March 7 and March 10, 1967. The set features soon-to-be beloved covers by The Doors such as “Gloria” and blues favorites like “Alabama Song (Whisky Bar) ” that would define their influence and sound as they worked out originals like “Break on Through (To the Other Side).” The complete set from both shows was released once before, but it was discovered after release that they were taken from third-generation tapes of the recordings. In the ensuing years, The Doors have located the first-generation recordings, and this is the first time the sets from those nights will be released in full.
March 7, 1967 First Set
Backdoor Man
My Eyes Have Seen You
Soul Kitchen
All Blues (Instrumental)
Get Out Of My Life Woman
When The Music’s Over
March 7, 1967 Second Set
Close To You
Crawling King Snake
I Can’t See Your Face In My Mind
People Are Strange
Alabama Song (Whisky Bar)
Crystal Ship
Twentieth Century Fox
March 7, 1967 – Third Set
Moonlight Drive
Summer’s Almost Gone
Unhappy Girl
Woman Is A Devil / Rock Me Baby
Break On Through (To The Other Side)
Light My Fire
The End
March 8 or 9, 1967
The End (Partial) / Let’s Feed Ice Cream To The Rats
March 10, 1967 – First Set
My Eyes Have Seen You
Soul Kitchen
I Can’t See Your Face In My Mind
People Are Strange
When The Music’s Over
March 10, 1967 – Second Set
Money
Who Do You Love
Moonlight Drive
Summer’s Almost Gone
I’m A King Bee
Gloria
Break On Through (To The Other Side)
March 10, 1967 – Third Set
Summertime
Back Door Man
Alabama Song (Whisky Bar)