"Indian Summer" is a composition by Jim Morrison and Robby Krieger that appears on The Doors' 1970 album Morrison Hotel, though it was originally recorded in 1966 during the sessions for the band's debut album. The song's placement on Morrison Hotel, four years after its creation, gives it a unique character as one of the band's earliest compositions presented in the context of their more mature work. Performed at approximately 127 beats per minute in the key of D, the track has a gentle, pastoral quality that sets it apart from the blues-rock intensity that dominates much of the album. Krieger's electric guitar solo is warm and lyrical, with a delicate touch that complements the song's intimate, romantic atmosphere. His playing draws from his background in flamenco and folk guitar, bringing a fingerstyle sensitivity to the electric instrument that was distinctive among rock guitarists of the era. Morrison's vocal delivery is unusually tender and restrained, matching the song's reflective mood. The track's early composition date and later release create a fascinating time capsule, revealing the breadth of The Doors' musical sensibility even in their formative period and their willingness to revisit and recontextualize earlier material.
