- Ray Manzarek -- vocals, keyboards, bass (1973)

  backing musicians:

- Larry Carlton -- lead guitar (1973)
- Mailto Correa -- congas, percussion (1973)

- Paul Davis -- percussion (1974)

- Mark Fennelly -- guitar (1974)

- Steve Foreman -- percussion (1973-74)
- Milton Holland -- percussion (1973)

- John Klemmer -- sax (1974)

- Gary Mallaber -- drums, percussion (1974)

- Mark Pines -- guitar (1974)

- George Segal -- banjo (1974)
- Jerry Scheff -- bass (1973)

- Joe Walsh -- guitar (1974)
- Tony Williams -- drums, percussion (1973) 

- The Doors

- Michael McClure and Ray Manzarek
- Nite City

- Darryl Read and Ray Manzarek
- Rick and the Ravens

Genre: rock

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  The Golden Scarab

Company: Mercury

Catalog: SRM-1-703

Country/State: Chicago, Illinois

Year: 1973

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: minor ring wear; cut out hole top right corner; includes original lyric insert

Available: 2

GEMM Catalog ID: 5568

Price: $10.00

The Doors, The Doors, The Doors ...  yeah some three and a half decades after The Doors called it quits (ignoring the ill advised post Jim Morrison reunions), that's what keyboardist Ray Manzarek remains best known for.  Following the band's 1972 decision to call it quits Manzarek set off in pursuit of what's proven to be a sporadic solo career.   He's released some interesting work (only a small portion of it discussed here) and he's carried The Doors legacy with considerable dignity.

Signed by Mercury, Manzarek's 1975 debut "The Golden Scarab" found him sounding considerably more relaxed than on the final two post-Morrison Doors albums ("Full Circle'' and '"Other Voices"). With longtime Doors producer Bruce Botnick handling the boards and with support from Doors sessions bassist Jerry Scheff, guitarist Larry Carlton and drummer Tony Williams (the latter two aptly displaying some of their classy jazz moves throughout the album),  the collection highlighted Manzarek's passable voice on a musically diverse set which curiously downplayed his unique organ runs.  Apparently intended as a concept piece, at least to my simplistic ears the plotline was vague, though it seemed to have something to do with Egyptology - witness material like the pseudo-funky title track, 'Solar Boat' and the instrumental 'The Moorish Idol'.  Bouncing between tuneful, straightforward rock and more experimental endeavors like 'Oh, Thou Precious Nectar Filled Form (or) a Little Fart', it wasn't the year's most consistent release, nor was it likely to change your life one way or the other, but still had it's share of minor pleasures.  Carlton turned in several noteworthy guitar solos including a killer performance on 'Solar Boat. Other highlights included the bossa nova styled 'He Can't Come Today' and the three songs that came the closest to recalling The Doors' rock catalog - 'Downbound Train', the bluesy 'Purpose of Existence Is?, and 'Choose Up and Choose Off''.  For some reason Manzarek's voice sounded way better on these three rockers ...  Mercury also tapped the album for a pair of singles:

- 1974's 'Solar Boat' b/w ''  (Mercury catalog number 73477)

- 1974's 'Downbound Train' b/w 'Choose Up and Choose Off ' (Mercury catalog number 73601)

This was a set that's grown on me over the years and may be the best post-Doors release by any of the band members.  Nice Goldfinger-styled makeup there guy ...  

"The Golden Scarab" track listing:

(side 1)
1.) He Can't Come Tomorrow   (Ray Manzerek) - 4:35
2.) Solar Boat   (Ray Manzerek) - 5:15
3.) Downbound Train   (Chuck Berry) - 5:27
4.) Golden Scarab   (Ray Manzerek) - 6:42

(side 2)
1.) Purpose of Existence Is?   (Ray Manzerek) - 6:42
2.) The Moorish Idol (instrumental)  (Ray Manzerek) - 5:40
3.) Choose Up and Choose Off   (Ray Manzerek) - 4:42
4.) Oh, Thou Precious Nectar Filled Form (or) a Little Fart   (Ray Manzerek) - 4:58

Manzarek has a nice website at:

http://www.raymanzarek.us/

Genre: rock

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  The Whole Thing Started With Rock & Roll Now It's Out of Control

Company: Mercury

Catalog: SRM-1-1014

Country/State: Chicago, Illinois

Year: 1974

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: --

Available: 1

GEMM Catalog ID: 5567

Price: $20.00

Sporting one of the year's clumsier titles,1974's "The Whole Thing Started With Rock & Roll Now It's Out of Control" found Ray Manzarek teaming up with producer Bob Brown and an eclectic cast of supporting musicians that ranged from Patti Smith, to Lou Reed sidekick/guitarist Dick Wagner, and even Joe Walsh.  As on his earlier solo album Manzarek proved an okay singer.  He didn't have a great deal of range and on material like the title track exhibited a tendency to bellow his way through a song.   It didn't matter all that much on up tempo tracks where he was surrounded by orchestration and female backing singers, but was much more noticable on slower numbers.  Musically the album was quite varied with Manzarek and company taking stabs at a bunch of genres.  

- One of the most commercial tracks on the album, the title track reflected Manzarek's longstanding affection for boogie woogie rock.  

- 'The Gambler' had the set's best melody and Manzarek's best vocal performance, making it a personal favorite.  

- Showcasing John Klemmer on sax, 'Whirling Dervish' was a mildly entertaining jazz-rock fusion instrumental that even incorporated a bit of what sounded like Klezmer music at the end.  

- Kicked along by a female backing chorus and some cheesy synthesizers 'Begin the World Again' started out as a surprisingly funky (!) song, before mutating into a Doors-influenced number. 

- Perhaps the strangest track was 'I Wake Up Screaming'.  The song started out as a pretty good rocker showcasing lyrics penned by Jim Morrison,  Manzarek and Danny Sugarman writing the music.  About midway through pre-fame beat poetess Patti Smith kicked in a heavily processed spoken word segment.  The track ended with a 'Riders On the Storm' rainstorm sound effect.

- 'Art Deco Fandango' sounded like it was inspired by a drunken pub crawl in New Orleans.  Complete throwaway.

- My favorite track, 'Bicentennial Blues (Love It or Leave It)' showcased a nifty rocker that sported both Santana-styled moves, before kicking into a reggae influenced midsection and then going back to the Latin influence and fading out with a lengthy Doors-styled keyboard section (there was also a nice little nod to his earlier Doors contributions).

- 'Perfumed Garden' closed the album with another mid-tempo commercial number that was destroyed by dorky lyrics and a needless Donna Summer-styled segment of male and female orgasmic groaning.  Definitely unsexy !

Give Manzarek credit for avoiding keyboard overkill (something lots of his competitors weren't able to do), and for loosening up and being willing to explore different genres, even if they didn't always work out.  Elsewhere Mercury tapped the album for a single in the form of:

- 1975's 'The Whole Thing Started With Rock & Roll Now It's Out of Control' b/w 'The Whole Thing Started With Rock & Roll Now It's Out of Control' (Mercury catalog number 73664)

"The Whole Thing Started With Rock & Roll Now It's Out of Control" track listing:

(side 1)
1.) The Whole Thing Started With Rock & Roll Now It's Out of Control   (Ray Manzarek - Danny Sugarman - Dick Wagner) - 2:33

2.) The Gambler   (Ray Manzarek - Danny Sugarman) - 5:25

3.) Whirling Dervish (instrumental)  (Ray Manzarek - Paul Davis) - 5:24

4.) Begin the World Again   (Ray Manzarek) - 6:39

(side 2)
1.) I Wake Up Screaming   (Ray Manzarek - Danny Sugarman - Jim Morrison) -  3:34

2.) Art Deco Fandango   (Ray Manzarek) - 3:02

3.) Bicentennial Blues (Love It or Leave It)   (Ray Manzarek) - 7:58

4.) Perfumed Garden   (Ray Manzarek) - 5:56