Waiting for the Sun - The Doors

Waiting for the Sun is the Doors' third album, released on July 3, 1968 on Elektra Records, and their only record to reach number one on the Billboard 200. Produced by Paul A. Rothchild, the album represents a shift toward more concise, structured songwriting compared to the extended improvisations of the first two records. "Spanish Caravan" features Krieger's classical and flamenco guitar training prominently, opening with a passage inspired by Isaac Albéniz's "Asturias" before the full band enters. Manzarek plays harpsichord on several tracks, adding period textures to pieces like "Yes, the River Knows" and "Wintertime Love." "Five to One" closes the album with one of the band's hardest-rocking performances, driven by Krieger's distorted guitar riff. The album's hit single was "Hello, I Love You," which reached number one. Morrison's songwriting on this album tends toward shorter, more pop-oriented structures, though the darker undercurrents of his lyrics remain. The album was recorded during a turbulent period for the band, with Morrison's increasingly erratic behavior and legal troubles beginning to strain the group's working relationships. Several songs originally intended for the album, including the long-form piece "Celebration of the Lizard," were left unfinished or abandoned.