Album of the Day

More than seven years after his death (on this day in 1971), Jim Morrison was back on record racks with AN AMERICAN PRAYER. The Elektra/Asylum collection was built around poetry recordings the performer had made in 1969 and 1970, with instrumental backing provided by former bandmates John Densmore, Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek, making this in effect the final Doors album. The pieces may not have the kind of song structure that girded the foursome's hits (though there is a killer live version of “Roadhouse Blues” included here), but Morrison's gift for striking lyrical imagery is in full effect, and the musical accompaniment is eerily sympathetic. The list of Platinum-selling spoken word albums is a pretty short one, and AN AMERICAN PRAYER earned a place on it by channeling the spirit of one of rock's all-time greatest groups.