Original photograph by Sean Gaillard. Morrison Hotel album artwork © respective rights holders.
Can We Talk About… “Indian Summer” by The Doors?
One of my favorite Doors songs is “Indian Summer,” an underrated gem nestled on Side Two of their 1970 album Morrison Hotel. This song reveals a tender, deeply human side of this extraordinary band. On an album that marked a return to their blues and rock roots, “Indian Summer” feels almost like a hidden track waiting to be discovered.
Recorded in August 1966 during sessions for their debut album, the song captures The Doors near the beginning of their recording journey. The band revived this early recording for Morrison Hotel nearly four years later. I love that this beautiful piece survived those intervening years. It is an origin story of The Doors caught on tape.
Listen closely to John Densmore’s drumming and Ray Manzarek’s keyboard bass. They lock into a gentle, Latin-influenced groove during the chorus that sways rather than drives. Densmore’s delicate accents dance around Manzarek’s warm, repeating bass notes. Robby Krieger’s shimmering guitar creates something resembling a miniature raga, while Jim Morrison delivers an intimate, sincere declaration of love.
At just over two minutes, “Indian Summer” almost feels like a prelude to the epic “The End.” Both songs share a hypnotic, Indian-influenced atmosphere. Where “The End” explores darkness and drama, “Indian Summer” finds tenderness and peace. Play both back to back and you will get what I am talking about here.
What moves me most is how the song breathes. The Doors understood the musical power of silence and space. If Manzarek’s keyboard bass was the fifth member of The Doors, then silence and space were surely the sixth. Each musician has room to wander, explore, and respond. Nobody overwhelms the others. Everything belongs.
I still remember seeing Oliver Stone’s The Doors in a movie theater in 1991. When “Indian Summer” appeared during an intimate scene, I was the lone voice cheering, “Yes!” Hearing this overlooked treasure on the big screen was unforgettable. I remember being shushed brusquely by someone else in the theater and sinking with mild embarrassment in my popcorn.
For all the mythology surrounding Morrison, this recording reminds us of the humanity and musical trust at the heart of The Doors. Their quietest moments could be their most powerful.
I am especially looking forward to the upcoming Record Store Day release featuring multiple takes of “Indian Summer” from The Doors’ original 1966 debut album sessions. What a wonderful opportunity to hear how this beautiful song evolved!
“Indian Summer” is a reminder that sometimes the most beautiful music happens when four musicians find a groove, trust one another, and allow the song to breathe.
Check out my take on the song in today’s reel:
Listen to “Indian Summer.”
