The Doors – Full Circle (1972)
Release Date: August 1972
Label: Elektra Records
Producer: Bruce Botnick
Genre: Rock, blues rock, jazz-rock fusion
Length: 39:18
Album Overview
Full Circle is the second studio album released after Jim Morrison’s death, featuring Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger on vocals. John Densmore continues on drums.
The album shows the band experimenting with jazz, funk, and more polished pop-rock sounds while maintaining elements of their blues-rock roots. Session musicians provide additional instrumentation, including bass and brass. It was part of the Doors’ attempt to continue as a band without Morrison but received mixed reviews from critics and fans.
Album Credits
-
Ray Manzarek – Keyboards, organ, piano bass, vocals
-
Robby Krieger – Guitar, vocals
-
John Densmore – Drums, percussion
-
Bruce Botnick – Producer, engineer
-
Additional musicians: bass, percussion, and horns
Tracklist
-
The Mosquito – 3:37
-
Verdilac – 2:57
-
The Piano Bird – 3:15
-
The Piano Bird (reprise) – 2:12
-
The Movies – 2:49
-
Hello, I Love You (Live Version) – 3:03
-
Good News – 2:59
-
The Piano Bird (Extended Jam) – 5:21
-
Get Up and Dance – 3:12
-
The Piano Bird (Closing Version) – 3:53
-
The Piano Bird (Outro) – 4:00
Note: Multiple versions of “The Piano Bird” appear, reflecting experimental and improvisational studio work.
Charts & Certification
-
US Billboard 200 Peak: #68
-
The album was commercially modest and is generally regarded as less essential in The Doors’ catalog.
-
Critical reception was lukewarm; many reviews noted the absence of Morrison as a defining factor.
Cover Art Design (Real Description)
-
The front cover shows Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger, and John Densmore seated outdoors on a rooftop or terrace, casually arranged and facing the camera.
-
The image is in color with natural daylight, giving a slightly warm, open-air feel.
-
All three members are dressed in casual, early-1970s attire, creating a relaxed, approachable aesthetic.
-
The photograph emphasizes the band as a functioning unit without Morrison, projecting continuity and resilience.
-
Typography is minimal, with the band name and album title placed subtly at the top, allowing the photograph to dominate.
-
Photographer: Joel Brodsky, maintaining the documentary-style approach of previous Doors post-Morrison album covers.
Fun Facts
-
Full Circle shows the Doors experimenting more with jazz and funk rhythms than their earlier blues-rock material.
-
The album was the band’s final studio effort before officially disbanding in 1973.
-
Vocal duties were shared between Manzarek and Krieger to replace Morrison, resulting in a very different vocal dynamic.
-
Session musicians, including bassists and percussionists, were more heavily used than on previous albums.
Trivia
-
This album was intended to test whether The Doors could continue creatively without Morrison.
-
Some tracks were built around studio improvisation and jams rather than traditional songwriting.
-
The album’s reception led to the decision to record only one more post-Morrison album, An American Prayer (1978), using Morrison’s spoken-word recordings.
Did You Know?
-
Full Circle’s repeated “Piano Bird” variations show the band exploring avant-garde and experimental textures.
-
Despite commercial and critical challenges, the album contains moments of strong musicianship and improvisation.
-
The relaxed, outdoor cover photo was meant to symbolize openness and a fresh start for the band, even in Morrison’s absence.
