Roadhouse Blues / Unknown Soldier

Elektra catalog number PRCD 8361-2 identifies this as a US promo-only 5-inch CD single, released in 1991 to support the band's official live double album In Concert. Pressed and distributed exclusively for radio and press use, it was never made available through retail channels, which immediately sets it apart from any commercial single releases tied to the same material. Both tracks are pulled from live recordings, and the promo designation is built into the catalog number itself, making identification straightforward for anyone who knows what to look for.

The cover art is immediately striking and works well as a promo piece. The disc jacket features a square-format design dominated by a black-and-white live photograph of the band on stage. The image is grainy and high-contrast in that characteristic late-1960s concert photography style, showing silhouetted figures against a bright backdrop, creating a dramatic sense of energy and movement. At the top of the cover, the text reads ROADHOUSE BLUES (live) in a clean, bold font against the dark background. Below the central image, UNKNOWN SOLDIER (live) appears in matching typography. The iconic The Doors logo sits prominently in the upper-center area of the cover, rendered in the familiar stylized font that collectors will recognize immediately. The overall color palette is austere: black, white, and a warm golden-amber tone that bleeds into the upper portion of the cover, giving the design a slightly sepia quality that suits the archival nature of the content. There are no elaborate inserts or booklets included; this is a stripped-down promo item, and the packaging reflects that. The rear of the disc sleeve carries the essential label and catalog information. The disc itself carries standard Elektra promo markings, consistent with the label's promo singles from this period. For a promotional pressing, the presentation is clean and purposeful rather than lavish, which is appropriate given its intended audience of radio programmers and music press rather than retail buyers.

The track listing is concise: Roadhouse Blues (Live Edit) and Unknown Soldier (live). The live edit designation on the first track is notable. It signals that the version here is not simply lifted wholesale from In Concert but has been trimmed specifically for radio airplay, a common practice for promo singles of this era. Roadhouse Blues is one of the most recognized tracks from Morrison Hotel, and its live iterations have always drawn collector interest given the range of performances captured across the band's touring years. The Unknown Soldier pairing is an interesting choice, as that track carries substantial weight on its own with its theatrical structure and anti-war imagery, and its inclusion here alongside Roadhouse Blues gives the single a broader sonic and thematic range than a straightforward A/B commercial pairing might. Both tracks being presented as live recordings ties the release firmly to the In Concert campaign rather than positioning it as a standalone archival product. For context on how Elektra handled promotional singles during this anniversary period, the 20th Anniversary Salute: Light My Fire promo from a couple of years earlier offers a useful comparison point. On Discogs, PRCD 8361-2 currently shows 42 collectors marking it as owned and 20 with it on their want list, numbers that reflect a moderately scarce item with steady collector demand rather than a commonly found promo. It does not turn up with high frequency in the wild, and when it does, condition matters considerably given that promo CD singles from this period were often handled without care by their original recipients. This one is worth pursuing in clean shape.

If you are actively building out a Doors promo singles collection or tracking down every piece of promotional material tied to the In Concert release cycle, PRCD 8361-2 belongs in that collection. It is not an ultra-rare pressing, but it is a legitimate promo-only item with a restrained Discogs presence and genuine collector appeal. Comparable live single releases such as Roadhouse Blues / Albinoni Adagio offer alternative pairings worth knowing, but this US promo variant stands on its own as a distinct and purposeful release.