Ray Manzarek
Organ Solo on
Break On Through (To The Other Side)

About

Ray Manzarek's organ solo is the sole improvisation on "Break On Through (To the Other Side)," the opening track of The Doors' 1967 self-titled debut album and the band's first single. Manzarek solos at a brisk 184 BPM in E with a rock feel, his Vox Continental organ cutting through the song's driving bossa nova-influenced groove. The organ solo provides an instrumental break within the song's compact structure, with Manzarek's keyboard work serving the dual role that defined The Doors' sound—providing both the harmonic foundation typically handled by a bassist and the lead instrumental voice. The band's four-piece lineup without a bassist made Manzarek's role uniquely central to their music.

Ray Manzarek was 26 to 27 years old at the time.