End of the Night
"End of the Night" is a song by the American psychedelic rock band the Doors. It was featured on the band's debut album and then released as the B-side to the album's first single, "Break On Through (To the Other Side)".
"End of the Night" | ||||
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Single by the Doors | ||||
from the album The Doors | ||||
A-side | "Break On Through (To the Other Side)" | |||
Released | January 1967 | |||
Recorded | August 1966 | |||
Studio | Sunset Sound Recorders Hollywood, California | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 2:49[1] | |||
Label | Elektra | |||
Songwriter(s) | The Doors[1] | |||
Producer(s) | Paul A. Rothchild | |||
The Doors singles chronology | ||||
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Composition and recording
The song was written in the band's early days, when they were still playing in nightclubs. In 1965, the band recorded a demo in an attempt to land a deal with Aura Records; the band failed to get signed. In 1966, when they landed a deal with Elektra Records, the song was recorded for their self-titled debut album.[2] The song is notated in the key of E minor with Jim Morrison's vocal range spanning from D4 to G5.[3]
Lyrics
Its title is derived from the 1932 French novel Journey to the End of the Night by Louis-Ferdinand Celine. Three lines of the William Blake poem Auguries of Innocence, written in 1803 and published in 1863 were included in the lyrics.[4]
Release and charts
The song was chosen as the B-side to the album's first single, "Break On Through (To the Other Side)" and was released in January 1967. The single, however, failed to become a success and only peaked at number 126 in the U.S.[5] After the band's rise to fame the song was rarely played live in concert; it has since been included in box sets released over the years by the band.
References
- The Doors (Album notes). The Doors. New York City: Elektra Records. 1967. Back cover. ELK-4007.CS1 maint: others (link)
- Swanson, Dave (September 2, 2015). "The Day the Doors Recorded Their First Demo, But Under a Different Name". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
- "Digital Sheet Music – The Doors – End of the Night". Musicnotes.com. Sony/ATV Music Publishing. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
- Densmore, John (1990). Riders on the Storm: My Life with Jim Morrison and the Doors. Random House Publishing Group. ISBN 9780307429025.
- Whitburn, Joel. Bubbling Under Singles & Albums (1998): 66.