The Changeling (The Doors song)

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"The Changeling"
The Doors changeling.jpg
Single by the Doors
from the album L.A. Woman
A-side"Riders on the Storm"
Released
  • April 1971 (1971-04) (album)
  • June 1971 (single)
RecordedDecember 1970
StudioThe Doors' Workshop, Los Angeles, California
Genre
Length
  • 3:27 (single version)[3]
  • 4:20 (album version)[4]
LabelElektra
Songwriter(s)The Doors
Producer(s)
The Doors singles chronology
"Love Her Madly"
(1971) 		"The Changeling"
(1971) 		"Tightrope Ride"
(1971)

"The Changeling" is a song by the American rock band the Doors. It appears as the opening track on their sixth album and final with Jim Morrison, L.A. Woman. It was also released as the B-side of "Riders on the Storm" which peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[5]

Background[]

"The Changeling" was the first song that the band recorded during the sessions for L.A. Woman.[6] The song's title was taken from one of Morrison's 1968 notebooks,[7] and refers to the "changeling", a human-like creature found in folklore and folk religion throughout Europe. Author James Riordan has noted that the song's mention may be another reference to Morrison's difficult childhood.[8] The funky James Brown-esque composition also appears to anticipate the singer's departure from Los Angeles with the line "I'm leavin' town on the midnight train".[9] Doors' keyboardist Ray Manzarek said:

The lyrics are prophetic. "I've lived uptown. I've lived downtown, but I've never been so broke that I couldn't leave town." He'd lived on the beach and in the hills. He'd had money and been broke. He'd had his L.A. adventure, and he was out.[10]

Musically, "The Changeling" blends blues rock[1] and funk music.[2] The opening verse is written and performed in the key of A Minor,[11] with the continuation being interpreted in the key of A Major.[12] During the recording session, Morrison remarked "I hate to spook anybody, but this is my favorite number. Play your ass off, boy."[13]

Release and reception[]

"The Changeling" was first released in April 1971, sequenced as the opening track on the A-side of L.A. Woman.[4] The band wanted the song to be the album's first single, but Elektra Records president Jac Holzman overruled the group's decision in favor of "Love Her Madly" and the non-album B-side "(You Need Meat) Don't Go No Further".[7][10] However, later in June 1971 it was issued as the B-side of "Riders on the Storm", edited to 3:27.[3] The track was performed live by the Doors at State Fair Music Hall in Dallas on December 11, 1970.[14] This live version appears on the 2003 album Boot Yer Butt: The Doors Bootlegs.[15]

Upon its release, "The Changeling" has received comments in several album reviews of L.A. Woman. Writing for AllMusic, critic Richie Unterberger described the song as one of "their better little-heeded album tracks".[16] Will Hermes of Rolling Stone called it a "garage-style classic".[17] It has also been commented by many as being influenced by soul musician James Brown,[9] notably by Holzman, calling it a "tribute to James Brown",[6] while Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine called it as a "James Brown funk swagger".[18]

Personnel[]

The Doors

Additional musicians

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "The Top 20 Albums of 1971". The Independent. February 12, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2021. On his last album, Jim Morrison’s voice was just the right side of wasted and therefore perfect for the blues rock direction of L.A. Woman, exemplified by opening track 'The Changeling'.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b G. Gaar, Gillian (March 14, 2017). "The 15 Best Songs by the Doors". Paste Magazine. Retrieved April 14, 2021. This track from 1971's L.A. Woman is a nice slice of funk.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b "Riders on the Storm" / "Changeling" (single label). The Doors. Elektra Records. 1971. EKS-45738-B.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Botnick, Bruce (2007). L.A. Woman (40th Anniversary edition CD booklet). The Doors. Rhino Records. R2-101155.
  5. ^ "The Doors: 'Riders on the Storm' Chart History – Hot 100". Billboard. September 3, 1971. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b The Doors (2011). Mr. Mojo Risin': The Story of L.A. Woman. Eagle Rock Entertainment. Event occurs at 7:19 ("Changeling"); 56:04 (Holzman).
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b Bell, Max. "L.A. Woman and the last days of Jim Morrison". Teamrock.com. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  8. ^ Riordan, James; Prochnicky, Jerry (October 30, 1992). Break on Through: The Life and Death of Jim Morrison. HarperCollins. pp. 429–430. ISBN 978-0-688-11915-7.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b McLee, David (2003). Legacy: The Absolute Best (CD booklet). Rhino Records. R2-73889.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b Weiss, Jeff (January 19, 2012). "L.A. Woman: Track List". LA Weekly. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  11. ^ "Digital Sheet Music – 'The Changeling'". Musicnotes.com. Sony/ATV Music Publishing. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  12. ^ "Digital Sheet Music – 'The Changeling'". Musicnotes.com. Sony/ATV Music Publishing. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  13. ^ Wisnicki, Nathan (May 6, 2012). "L.A. Woman (40th Anniversary Edition)". PopMatters. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  14. ^ Bray, Ryan (December 13, 2013). "Jim Morrison's Final Show with the Doors". Consequenceofsound.net. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  15. ^ Unterberger, Richie. "Boot Yer Butt – Review". AllMusic. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  16. ^ Unterberger, Richie. "L.A. Woman – Review". AllMusic. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  17. ^ Hermes, Will (February 2, 2012). "L.A Woman (40th Anniversary Edition) – The Doors". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  18. ^ Cinquemani, Sal (April 17, 2007). "The Doors: L.A. Woman". Slant Magazine. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  19. ^ Terrail, Johan. CAMION BLANC: The Doors Analyse des Influences (in French). p. 20. ISBN 978-2357794177.

External links[]

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