You Make Me Real / Peace Frog

The French Elektra single cataloged as INT.80234, pressed in 1970, pairs "You Make Me Real" on the A-side with "Peace Frog" on the B-side and comes with a picture sleeve, making it the specific object under discussion here. This is the French domestic release, distinct from the contemporaneous US Elektra 45 and other European pressings of the same tracks. The sleeve note reads Extrait de l'album SLVLXEK 497, confirming it was issued as a promotional pull from what French Elektra marketed as the Morrison Hotel parent LP.

The picture sleeve on this French pressing is the primary physical draw for collectors. French picture sleeves from this period were produced on relatively thin card stock compared to German or UK equivalents, and the printing characteristics reflect the offset lithography common to French pressings of the era, which can produce slightly warmer, more saturated color reproduction than the original US artwork. The sleeve design centers on band imagery tied to the Morrison Hotel campaign, with typography that carries the French Elektra branding rather than the American layout. Condition on surviving copies varies considerably; the thin card is prone to ring wear, seam splits at the bottom corner, and spine fading, so finding an example with sharp corners and solid color retention is not trivial. The disc itself is a standard 45 RPM single on black vinyl, pressed to typical French commercial specifications of the period. French Elektra pressings from 1970 are generally competent without being audiophile-grade, and the lacquer cutting on French singles was serviceable rather than exceptional. The label face follows the French Elektra house style, with catalog number INT.80234 printed clearly, and the Extrait de l'album credit providing the album attribution that ties this single directly to the parent LP release in France. Buyers should check the label print quality and center hole pressing on any copy they consider, as French pressings occasionally show minor pressing defects including slight off-center cuts. The groove condition on the A-side tends to show wear first given that "You Make Me Real" is the promoted track, so a stylus pass before purchase is always advisable if you are buying this for playback rather than display.

"You Make Me Real" and "Peace Frog" both originate from the Morrison Hotel sessions recorded in late 1969 and released in the US in February 1970. The pairing on this French single is notable because "Peace Frog" was not the obvious commercial choice; the track carries a harder, bluesier edge and Morrison's more confrontational lyrical mode, which made it an unconventional B-side by the standards of AM radio promotion. The A/B configuration here differs from the US Elektra single configuration, and collectors who track regional variations across the band's 45 catalog will find the French sequencing of interest. For context on how Elektra handled other French single releases from this period, the Get Up and Dance French pressing and the We Could Be So Good Together / The Unknown Soldier single are useful comparison points for label design evolution and sleeve stock differences. On Discogs, this specific pressing (INT.80234, France) shows 207 collectors currently holding a copy against 240 who want one, a want-to-have ratio that puts meaningful pressure on supply. That gap is not insignificant for a 1970 French single; it suggests the picture sleeve variant remains genuinely sought after rather than fully absorbed into collections. The sleeve is the variable that drives demand here; the disc without sleeve is a much easier find and commands substantially less interest. Collectors building a complete French Doors singles run will need this alongside pressings like Love Her Madly / You Need Meat to cover the Elektra France catalog properly. Those interested in the broader context of the band's legacy in the early 1970s, particularly how "Peace Frog" was later positioned culturally, may also find the The Celebration of the Lizard - A Collection of Rare Studio Recordings 1966-1970 entry on this site relevant background reading. For collectors who prefer the complete studio recording context for these tracks, The Doors Complete Studio Recordings box set is the obvious companion reference.

This is a legitimate period pressing with genuine collector appeal, driven almost entirely by the picture sleeve. The disc alone is common; with the original sleeve in solid condition it becomes a meaningful addition to any serious French pressings collection. The Discogs want ratio confirms sustained demand. Buy it with the sleeve intact and in at least VG condition or pass. Sleeve-only copies circulate; avoid those unless you already have a disc to pair.