The Doors – An American Prayer (1978)
Release Date: November 13, 1978
Label: Elektra Records
Producer: Paul A. Rothchild, The Doors
Genre: Spoken word, rock, poetry
Length: 41:30
Album Overview
An American Prayer is a posthumous Doors album built around Jim Morrison’s spoken-word poetry recordings from 1969–1970. After Morrison’s death in 1971, the surviving members—Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger, and John Densmore—added musical backing to the recordings between 1977 and 1978, creating a fusion of rock instrumentation with Morrison’s poetry.
The album is experimental, blending jazz, blues, rock, and spoken-word elements, and is considered a unique artifact in The Doors’ discography, emphasizing Morrison’s literary and poetic voice.
Album Credits
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Jim Morrison – Vocals, spoken-word recordings
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Ray Manzarek – Keyboards, piano, organ
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Robby Krieger – Guitar
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John Densmore – Drums, percussion
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Paul A. Rothchild – Producer
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Additional musicians: bassists, horn players, and percussionists contributed to enhance the musical backing
Tracklist
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Awake – 3:55
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Ghost Song – 4:15
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The Celebration of the Lizard – 17:37 (full version)
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Ode to L.A. – 3:45
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The Hill Dwellers – 3:05
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Orange County Suite – 3:40
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Old Man & The Sea – 4:13
Charts & Certification
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US Billboard 200 Peak: #31
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RIAA Certification: Gold (US)
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Critically praised for highlighting Morrison’s poetry, though some critics were divided on the musical additions.
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Considered a unique entry, bridging rock, spoken-word, and posthumous legacy preservation.
Cover Art Design (Real Description)
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The front cover is a black-and-white photograph of Jim Morrison, taken during his lifetime.
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Morrison is seated with a distant, introspective gaze, wearing a leather jacket, set against a dark, neutral background.
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The photo is stark and intimate, emphasizing Morrison’s mystique and the literary, reflective nature of the album.
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Typography is minimal: The Doors appears at the top in simple white letters, with An American Prayer subtly below.
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The cover communicates solemnity, poetry, and the posthumous focus on Morrison’s voice rather than band theatrics.
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Photographer: credited to Joel Brodsky, known for his iconic Doors portraits.
Fun Facts
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The centerpiece, The Celebration of the Lizard, was partially included in previous studio albums but is presented in full for the first time here.
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Music added by the surviving band members was recorded years after Morrison’s death, combining live instrumentation with pre-recorded spoken word.
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The album was meant as a tribute to Morrison’s literary and poetic artistry rather than a traditional rock record.
Trivia
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The album was the final major release of new material from The Doors featuring Morrison’s performance.
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Tracks like Ode to L.A. and Orange County Suite reflect Morrison’s fascination with American landscapes and culture.
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An American Prayer was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Album Package in 1980.
Did You Know?
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Morrison’s poetry was originally recorded in informal sessions at Elektra Records and private studios, intended more for personal archiving than release.
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The album emphasizes Morrison’s literary side, cementing his dual legacy as both rock icon and poet.
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The cover image reinforces the intimate, reflective, and posthumous nature of the work, contrasting the band-focused covers of previous albums.
