The Changeling (The Doors song)

"The Changeling" is a song by the American rock band the Doors. It appears as the opening track on their sixth album and final with Jim Morrison, L.A. Woman. It was also released as the B-side of "Riders on the Storm" which peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[3]

"The Changeling"
Single by the Doors
from the album L.A. Woman
A-side"Riders on the Storm"
Released
  • April 1971 (1971-04) (album)
  • June 1971 (single)
RecordedDecember 1970
StudioThe Doors' Workshop, Los Angeles, California
Length
  • 3:27 (single version)[1]
  • 4:20 (album version)[2]
LabelElektra
Songwriter(s)The Doors
Producer(s)
The Doors singles chronology
"Love Her Madly"
(1971)		 "The Changeling"
(1971)		 "Tightrope Ride"
(1971)

Background

"The Changeling" was the first song that the band recorded during the sessions for L.A. Woman.[4] The song's title was taken from one of Morrison's 1968 notebooks,[5] and refers to the "changeling", a human-like creature found in folklore and folk religion throughout Europe. Author James Riordan has noted that the song's mention may be another reference to Morrison's difficult childhood.[6] The funky James Brown-esque composition also appears to anticipate the singer's departure from Los Angeles with the line "I'm leavin' town on the midnight train".[7] Doors' keyboardist Ray Manzarek said:

The lyrics are prophetic. "I've lived uptown. I've lived downtown, but I've never been so broke that I couldn't leave town." He'd lived on the beach and in the hills. He'd had money and been broke. He'd had his L.A. adventure, and he was out.[8]

The band wanted the song to be the album's first single, but Elektra Records president Jac Holzman overruled the group's decision in favor of "Love Her Madly" and the non-album B-side "(You Need Meat) Don't Go No Further".[5] During the recording session, Morrison remarked "I hate to spook anybody, but this is my favorite number. Play your ass off, boy."[9]

Release and reception

"The Changeling" was released in April 1971 on L.A. Woman. The single version was edited to 3:27,[1] which was released in June 1971. A live version recorded at State Fair Music Hall in Dallas on December 11, 1970,[10] appears on the 2003 album Boot Yer Butt: The Doors Bootlegs.[11]

The song has received comments in several album reviews of L.A. Woman. Writing for AllMusic, critic Richie Unterberger described the song as one of "their better little-heeded album tracks".[12] Will Hermes of Rolling Stone called it a "garage-style classic".[13] Holzman called the song a "tribute to James Brown",[4] while Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine described it as a "James Brown funk swagger".[14]

Personnel

The Doors

Additional musicians

References
  1. "Riders on the Storm" / "Changeling" (single label). The Doors. Elektra Records. 1971. EKS-45738-B.CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. Botnick, Bruce (2007). L.A. Woman (40th Anniversary edition CD booklet). The Doors. Rhino Records. R2-101155.
  3. "The Doors: 'Riders on the Storm' Chart History – Hot 100". Billboard. September 3, 1971. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  4. The Doors (2011). Mr. Mojo Risin': The Story of L.A. Woman. Eagle Rock Entertainment. Event occurs at 7:19 ("Changeling"); 56:04 (Holzman).
  5. Bell, Max. "L.A. Woman and the last days of Jim Morrison". teamrock.com. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  6. Riordan, James; Prochnicky, Jerry (October 30, 1992). Break on Through: The Life and Death of Jim Morrison. HarperCollins. pp. 429–430. ISBN 978-0-688-11915-7.
  7. McLee, David (2003). Legacy: The Absolute Best (CD booklet). Rhino Records. R2-73889.
  8. Weiss, Jeff (January 19, 2012). "L.A. Woman: Track List". LA Weekly. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  9. Wisnicki, Nathan (May 6, 2012). "L.A. Woman (40th Anniversary Edition)". PopMatters. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  10. Bray, Ryan (December 13, 2013). "Jim Morrison's Final Show with the Doors". consequenceofsound.net. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  11. Unterberger, Richie. "Boot Yer Butt – Review". AllMusic. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  12. Unterberger, Richie. "L.A. Woman – Review". AllMusic. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  13. Hermes, Will (February 2, 2012). "L.A Woman (40th Anniversary Edition) – The Doors". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
  14. Cinquemani, Sal (April 17, 2007). "The Doors: L.A. Woman". Slant Magazine. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  15. Terrail, Johan. CAMION BLANC: The Doors Analyse des Influences (in French). ISBN 978-2357794177.
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