TOP 100 SONGS OF 1967 ― NUMBER 36

50 years ago this year these songs were released. I took the top 100 from Rolling Stone for 1967 and put them in the order in which I think they should have listed, since this was the decade of the music I grew up on. Enough of the formalities, here we go. Enjoy.  

PEOPLE ARE STRANGE ― THE DOORS

Genre ―  Psychedelic Rock 



Video 

"People Are Strange" is a single released by the American rock band the Doors in September 1967 from their second album Strange Days which was also released in September 1967. The single peaked at the number 12 position of the U.S. Hot 100 chart[1] and made it to the top ten in the Cash Box charts. It was written by Jim Morrison and Robby Krieger although credit was given to The Doors evenly.

Writing ― 

"People Are Strange" was composed in early 1967 after guitarist Robby Krieger and a depressed Jim Morrison had walked to the top of Laurel Canyon.[ The band's drummer, John Densmore, recalled the song's writing process in his book Riders on the Storm. He and Doors guitarist Robby Krieger, who had then been roommates, were visited by Jim Morrison, who was acting "deeply depressed." At the suggestion of Krieger, they took a walk along Laurel Canyon. Morrison returned from the walk "euphoric" with the early lyrics of "People Are Strange." Krieger, intrigued by the new lyrics, was convinced that the song was a hit upon hearing the vocal melody.

[Morrison said] 'Yeah, I feel really good about this one. It just came to me all of a sudden ... in a flash - as I was sitting up there on the ridge looking out over the city. His eyes were wild with excitement. 'I scribbled it down as fast as I could. It felt great to be writing again.' He looked down at the crumpled paper in his hand and sang the chorus in his haunting blues voice. — John Densmore

Overview ― 

According to its Allmusic review, the song "reflects the group's fascination with the theatrical music of European cabaret." The song is about alienation and being an outsider, and Jim Morrison may have addressed the song both to the hippie culture, to outsiders in general or to users of drugs such as LSD, or both. Drummer John Densmore believes that the song was the manifestation of Morrison's "vulnerability".

Personnel ― 

Musicians
Jim Morrison – lead vocals
Ray Manzarek – Vox Continental, backing vocals, tack piano
Robby Krieger – guitar, backing vocals
John Densmore – drums, backing vocals
Douglass Lubahn – bass guitarProduction 

Production

Paul A. Rothchild – producer, backing vocals
Bruce Botnick – engineer, backing vocals

Covers ― 

• In 1987, Brave Combo covered this song on their album, "Musical Varieties."
• In 1992, by Edward Furlong on his Japan album Hold on Tight.
• In 1998, by Alvin and the Chipmunks on their album The A-Files: Alien Songs.
• In 2000, by Twiztid on their album Freek Show.
• In 2002, by pianist George Winston on his album Night Divides the Day - The Music of the Doors.
• In 2005, Tori Amos covered it live.
• In 2007, Evanescence also covered the song numerous times while touring on the Family Values Tour 2007.
• In 2007, by Bob Brozman on his album Post Industrial Blues.
• In 2008, by the psychobilly band The Lucky Devils on their album Goin' Mad.
• In 2008, by Canadian group Johnny Hollow on their second album, Dirty Hands.
• In 2011, it was parodied by The Skimmity Hitchers (a band from the South West of England) on their album Game, Sett and Natch under the name "People Arr Strange".
• In 2012, the song was covered in Ukrainian by singer Yuriy Veres and Kamyaniy gist rock band (album 60/70). Source.
• Butch Walker performed a cover of the song for a tribute album to The Doors.
• Tiny Tim also covered the song.[7]
• Inês Laranjeira covered it on the Portuguese show "Idolos", where the theme was "The Greatest Bands Ever".
• The French artist Yodelice covered the song especially for the French/German TV station ARTE: "Summer of Arte" program

From Wikipedia and Google