The Doors “Morrison Hotel” 1970. Today, December 8th, is Jim Morrison’s birthday (b. 1943, d. 1971…December is, apparently, the birthday month of rock poets: Patti Smith, Tom Waits, Morrison, etc.). Iconic frontman, considered one of the greatest rock singers of all time, Morrison gave the world its rock star stereotype: enigmatic, sexy beyond measure, scandalous (I had a copy of his Dade County “WANTED” poster on my wall for a time), leather pants. Even the animal kingdom is not immune to his influence: In June 2013 a new fossil analysis revealed a lizard, one of the largest ever known that lived on Myanmar, was named Barbaturex morrisoni in honor of Morrison. “This is a king lizard, and he was the Lizard King, so it just fit,” said paleontologist Jason Head.

Morrison Hotel hit #4 on the US charts and #12 in the UK, with only one single released from the album, “You Make Me Real,” a rollickin’ riff on traditional blues. The LP has some of my favorite Doors’ songs: “Waiting for the Sun,” “Roadhouse Blues” and, the best of the best, the ass-shaking “Peace Frog” which will forever remind me of shooting pool at the student union in Madison with my friend Sue. I think we spent hundreds of hours and dollars there on balls, cues and the jukebox. Morrison Hotel also has, sadly, my least favorite Doors’ track. I loathe “Land Ho!” with an absolute vengeance.