| R-Evolution | |
| Music: | The Doors |
| Studio: | Eagle Rock |
| Runtime: | 154 minutes |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
R-Evolution is a 2013 music documentary featuring 19 live performances, TV performances and music videos by American rock band the Doors. The compilation features TV performances not previously released as well as original music videos from the 1960s, the 1980s and the 1990s. All archive footage was digitally restored and the sound was remixed and mastered for 5.1 by Bruce Botnick. It was released by Eagle Rock on November 25, 2013.[1]
The compilation features audio commentaries by Doors members John Densmore, Robby Krieger and the late Ray Manzarek. There are also commentaries by long-time Doors' sound engineer/co-producer Bruce Botnick and Jac Holzman, founder of Elektra Records.[2] Bonus material includes a performance of "Break On Through (To the Other Side)" from the Doors' appearance at the Isle Of Wight Festival in 1970 (restored and edited by original director Murray Lerner), a 45-minute documentary entitled the Doors"Breaking Through The Lens", and "Love Thy Customer", a 1966 Ford training film with instrumental music by the Doors plus outtakes from the band's appearance on the TV show Malibu U in 1967.[3]
The Doors' March 6, 1967 appearance playing "Break On Through (To the Other Side)" on local Los Angeles TV show Shebang (hosted by Casey Casem) was their first television performance. The performance predates their first break-through hit "Light My Fire". The performance was mimed to a backing track.
On July 22, 1967, the Doors appeared on American Bandstand and lip-synced to "The Crystal Ship" and "Light My Fire". Excerpts of the band playing "The Crystal Ship" have been previously published but the full song appears on this release for the first time. The band is interviewed between the two songs.The Doors also performed "Light My Fire" on the Malibu U TV show on August 25, 1967. Initially Jim Morrison was not at the shooting and Robby Krieger’s brother, Ron, stood in with his back to the camera. Morrison was later recorded on the studio roof and the two performances were edited together.
The full unedited version of the Elektra promo film "The Unknown Soldier" from February 1968.[4] On September 13, 1968 the band played their No. 1 hit "Hello, I Love You" on German TV show Musik Für Junge Leute: 4-3-2-1 Hot & Sweet.
On CBS's The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour Morrison sings "Touch Me" live over a backing track. The band also mime to "Wild Child". Recorded December 15, 1968. The last known footage of the Doors playing together is rehearsal footage of "Crawling King Snake" recorded in the Doors Workshop on Santa Monica Blvd in late 1970. Originally appeared on an Australian TV show called "GTK – Get To Know". The song "Gloria" appeared on the live album Alive, She Cried in 1983. A compilation video of live performances was created for MTV.[5] Kit Fitzgerald's 1997 music video recreated the album cover for Strange Days.