Formed in 1965 when Jim Morisson and Ray Manzarek were attending UCLA as film students, The Doors would go on to become one of the most extraordinary Rock bands of the decade. With Morrison’s talent for poetry, it soon became apparent that he had a unique singing voice that only enhanced the mood of his words. As a band, The Doors was rounded out by Drummer John Densmore and Guitarist Robby Krieger, who together built enough momentum to sign with Elektra Records in 1966, leading to a highly successful 1967 self-titled album.
Something fresh and different, The Doors’ arrival even caught the attention of The Beatles, who scooped up copies of The Doors debut, right as they were working on the classic Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album. Extremely fascinating to discover, The Doors’ intangibility was always about the unexpected, because you did not know where they would take the music. Most certainly Blues-based Rock-n-Roll, with the band’s openness to explore styles and let the songs be their guide, they carved out a legacy generations still talk about sixty years later. Undeniable, perhaps the most exceptional aspect of The Doors was their abilities as a live band.
Live performances, unlike anything else: The Doors had an intensity matched by the uninhibited energy of Jim Morrison, whose stage presence was that of a man possessed by unknown forces. A reputation that made them a must-see live band in the late 1960s, while America was treated to many Doors shows between 1967 and 1969, European audiences were not given a chance to check them out live until 1968. Right in the middle of the pandemonium, the tour began in September 1968 and lasted approximately two weeks, with stops in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Denmark.
A big moment for The Doors, some of these shows were documented, including footage from the London and Frankfurt shows, for use in a television special. On top of this, two full shows were recorded: first in Copenhagen, Denmark, on September 17th, and then a few days later at Konserthuset in Stockholm, Sweden, on September 20, 1968. Essential to the band’s history and international reach, Live at Konserthuset, Stockholm, September 20, 1968 arrived in April 2024 on limited-edition vinyl for Record Store Day, as well as on CD and digitally. Sounding clarified, a little over a year later, the recordings from Denmark in 1968 arrive as a limited-edition 2LP set called Live in Copenhagen, 1968.
Nice to see it out there, these recordings are officially released for the first time on Record Store Day Black Friday 2025 (November 28, 2025) through Rhino Records, in limited-edition vinyl, a CD set, and digitally. Giving you the complete set of The Doors that evening, the audio is not nearly as crisp as Live at Konserthuset, Stockholm September 20, 1968 (with some issues, including bass that is too loud and a muffled mix), but it is still enjoyable. Incredibly raw and a bit haunting (especially with the prelude to “Light My Fire,” “Wake Up!”), this is a piece of audio history that Doors fans will appreciate. Pressed on crystal-clear vinyl and featuring a classic trippy live photo of Jim Morrison on the sleeve, this is a lovely gift to yourself or a Rock-n-Roll lover in your life. That is why Cryptic Rock gives The Doors’ Live in Copenhagen, 1968, 4 out of 5 stars.
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