August 21: The Doors Start Recording Their Softmore Album

In 1967, The Doors started recording their second album called Strange Days. They had just enjoyed success with their first album, which included big hits like "Break on Through." With that success, they felt the pressure to create something even better.

Recording at Sunset Sound

The Doors began working on Strange Days in May 1967. They recorded it at Sunset Sound Recorders in Los Angeles. They used an 8-track recording system, which was very advanced at the time. This allowed the band to try new things with their music. They even used cool instruments like Moog synthesizers to give some songs a futuristic sound.

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Exploring New Themes

The song “Strange Days” was inspired by the feeling of being out of place that many young people had during the 60s. The song talks about how modern life can feel strange and make people feel disconnected. The spooky music and lyrics really capture that mood.

Songs Inspired by Life

“People Are Strange” is another great song on the album. Jim Morrison and Robby Krieger wrote it after Morrison had a bad day. He felt like he didn’t fit in anywhere. Krieger suggested they go for a walk, and during that walk, the lyrics for the song came together. The song speaks to anyone who has ever felt like they don’t belong—a feeling that many people can relate to, even today.

The album also has the song “Love Me Two Times,” a bluesy track written by Krieger. The song is about desire and became one of the album's most popular songs. The band mixed poetry, rock, and blues, pushing the boundaries of what rock music could be.

Today, Strange Days is a reminder of a time when music was more than just entertainment. It was about expressing the deep, sometimes dark feelings of a generation

Legacy of Strange Days

Strange Days was released in September 1967 and was liked by many people. Although it didn’t do as well as their first album, it still helped establish The Doors as one of the most important bands of their time.

Today, Strange Days is a reminder of a time when music was more than just entertainment. It was about expressing the deep, sometimes dark feelings of a generation. The Doors’ willingness to take risks and try new ideas is what makes this album a classic.

Other Notable Rock Events From August 21

1965 - The Rolling Stones album Out Of Our Heads hit number one on the US albums chart. It was the group's first number-one album and stayed there for 3 weeks.

1966 - The Beatles performed in two different cities after a show was canceled due to rain. The first show was in Cincinnati and the second one in St. Louis. It was also the day that Paul McCartney was convinced they should stop playing live shows

1971 - Queen alongside acts like Hawkwind and Duster Bennett appeared on stage in England for the Tregye Festival.

1972 - A fight broke out at a Jefferson Airplane show which led to the arrest of band member Jack Casady.

1982 - Bono from the legendary Irish rock band U2 married his long-time girlfriend Allison Stewart.

1983 - Johnny Ramone had a 4-hour brain surgery after being knocked unconscious during a fight in New York.

1997 - Oasis had their album Be Here Now Become the fastest-selling album ever.

2000 - Legendary rock band, Survivor, filed a lawsuit against a record company for releasing a soundtrack to the TV show of the same name.

Rock Birthdays

1951- Glenn Hughes of Trapeze, Deep Purple (Bass)

1954 - Steve Smith of Journey (Drums)

1967 - Serj Tankian of System Of A Down (Vocals)

On This Day In History - August 21

Overall, August 21 was a definitive day for rock history. Not only did we see a band solidify themselves as rock icons, but we also saw some legends born that would shape the music we know today! Keep on rocking in the free world and I’ll see you next week.