Morrison Hotel

The original US pressing of Morrison Hotel on Elektra EKS-75007 landed on February 1, 1970, making it the fifth studio LP from The Doors. This is the standard domestic stereo release, identifiable by the EKS-75007 catalog number printed on the front cover, back cover, spine, and both labels. Pressed at the Columbia Record Pressing Plant in Pitman, New Jersey, this is the copy most serious collectors consider the definitive edition of the album, and it is distinct from the several international and later domestic variants also cataloged here on DoorsInfo.

The cover photograph is one of the more recognizable images in the Doors catalog. Shot in front of the actual Morrison Hotel in Los Angeles, the image shows all four band members standing in the shadowed doorway of the building, the name "Morrison Hotel" rendered in large block letters above them in the hotel's own signage. A hand-painted "Rooms $2.50" sign sits in the lower right corner of the frame, adding a gritty, street-level authenticity that was clearly the point. The color palette is muted and earthy, dominated by browns, tans, and deep shadows, a stark visual departure from the more psychedelic or polished presentation of their earlier records. "THE DOORS" appears in simple text at the top of the cover, understated and without any additional graphic flourish. The back cover carries the standard Elektra Records address at 1855 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10023, along with the 1970 copyright notice for Doors Music ASCAP and the "Printed in U.S.A." designation. The spine and labels repeat the EKS-75007 catalog number, giving collectors multiple confirmation points for identification. The labels themselves are the big "E" red Elektra style, with "STEREO" printed to the left of the spindle hole and the catalog number to the right. Copyright on the label reads jointly to Nipper Music and Doors Music, both ASCAP. The inner sleeve is the standard Elektra printed paper sleeve with the label's Broadway address. Side one is labeled "Hard Rock Cafe" and side two carries the "Morrison Hotel" designation, referencing the two sections the album is divided into conceptually. The vinyl quality on genuine first pressings is noticeably superior to later repressings, with the low-end on "Roadhouse Blues" in particular benefiting from the original lacquer cuts.

The content here is significant for several reasons beyond the album's general reputation. "Indian Summer" is widely understood to be among the earliest songs the band had in their repertoire, yet it took until this fifth album to appear on an official release. Its presence here gives EKS-75007 a documentary value that goes beyond the record's commercial context. Similarly, "Waiting for the Sun" finally got its official release on this LP despite lending its name to Waiting for the Sun, the band's third album, where it was notably absent. That history gives those two tracks an added layer of interest for anyone tracking the Doors' catalog chronologically. The album as a whole represents the band pulling back toward a rawer, blues-driven approach after the more orchestrated material on earlier records, and the production reflects that, with a live-room directness that suits the material well. The Discogs community data shows 5,218 collectors currently listing this pressing and 1,522 with it on their want list, which places it firmly in the actively traded range. It is not scarce in the way that a true limited pressing would be, but original first pressings in strong condition are increasingly harder to find at reasonable prices. Collectors seeking to compare this pressing against international variants should look at the other Morrison Hotel (8-track) editions cataloged here, including the European pressings and later domestic reissues, as label and matrix differences can be meaningful. Anyone building a complete Doors original US pressing run starting from The Doors debut will find EKS-75007 a necessary piece of that sequence. Additional variant pressings and other formats are also cataloged here for comparison.

EKS-75007 is not a rarity in raw copy count terms, but an original first pressing with the big "E" red labels, Columbia Pitman pressing plant origin, and clean vinyl in VG+ or better condition is a meaningful find. This is an essential record for any serious Doors collection, and the original domestic pressing remains the preferred version for sound quality and historical completeness. Buy it in the best condition your budget allows.