Absolutely Live

The original US pressing of Absolutely Live on Elektra, catalog number EKS-2-9002, was released in July 1970 as a double LP. This specific variant carries the Butterfly label and was pressed by Monarch Record Mfg. Co., one of the more sought-after configurations for this title. Elektra's address on the label reads 15 Columbus Circle, New York, N.Y. 10023, a useful identifier when distinguishing this from later pressings. It comes housed in a gatefold sleeve with original Elektra inner sleeves included.

The front cover photograph is immediately striking. Shot in deep, moody tones of brown, amber, and near-black, it captures Jim Morrison mid-performance, head tilted back, mouth open, fully in the grip of the moment. To his left and slightly behind, another band member is visible, partially obscured by the low-key stage lighting. The overall palette is warm but dark, conveying exactly the kind of intense, sweat-soaked atmosphere these recordings came from. The Doors logo sits in the lower center of the image in the band's familiar stylized typeface, rendered in a warm off-white or cream tone that lifts cleanly against the dark background. The word "ABSOLUTELY LIVE" runs in smaller text along the top of the cover in a similar light color. In the lower right corner, a close-up inset image shows what appears to be Morrison's face or a portrait detail, adding a layered quality to the composition. The overall design is raw and immediate, which suits the source material.

The gatefold interior typically carries performance credits and notes, and the back cover provides the running times for each of the four sides: Side A at 19:17, Side B at 18:13, Side C at 18:00, and Side D at 21:52. Remote recording was handled by Fedco Audio Labs and Wally Heider Recording, with on-stage amplification credited to Vince Treanor. These credits appear on the back cover and are part of what makes this original pressing historically informative. The Elektra inner sleeves are a standard but appreciated inclusion; copies that retain both original sleeves in decent shape carry a modest premium in practical terms. The Butterfly label itself, pressed by Monarch, has a distinctive visual character that collectors use as a quick identifier at a glance.

The recordings on EKS-2-9002 were compiled from live performances captured across the United States between August 1969 and June 1970, which means Morrison was in genuinely mixed form across the source tapes, some performances sharper than others. The track selection is substantial: "Who Do You Love" leads off Side A, followed by a medley on Side B anchored by "When The Music's Over." Side C includes "Universal Mind" and "Break On Thru #2," and Side D is where the set really stretches out, with "The Celebration of the Lizard" taking up the bulk of the runtime before closing through "Soul Kitchen" and the medley of "Alabama Song," "Backdoor Man," "Love Hides," and "Five to One." The full run of "Celebration of the Lizard" had not appeared on the studio album Strange Days, making its inclusion here significant for documentation purposes.

On Discogs, this specific US Butterfly/Monarch variant shows 3,117 collectors marking it as owned and 496 in want lists, numbers that reflect broad familiarity rather than scarcity. This is not a rare pressing in absolute terms, but original copies with clean covers, unwarped vinyl, and both Elektra inner sleeves intact are increasingly harder to find in genuinely strong condition. The title has been reissued in multiple formats over the decades; the CD version is widely available, and there are several other LP variants worth knowing about, including this pressing, this one, and this variant, as well as another regional version. Knowing which specific configuration you are handling matters when buying or pricing.

For collectors focused on original US Doors pressings from the Elektra Butterfly era, EKS-2-9002 pressed by Monarch is the correct target. It is an official band release documenting a specific and well-defined period of live performance, and it holds its value consistently on the secondary market. Condition is the determining factor on price. A clean VG+ or better copy with intact inner sleeves is a solid addition to any serious Doors collection.