"You Make Me Real" is a song written by

Jim Morrison James Douglas Morrison (December 8, 1943 – July 3, 1971) was an American singer, songwriter, and poet who was the lead vocalist and primary lyricist of the rock band the Doors. Due to his charismatic persona, poetic lyrics, distinctive vo ...

that was first released on

the Doors The Doors were an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1965, comprising vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger and drummer John Densmore. They were among the most influential and controversial rock acts ...

1970 album ''

Morrison Hotel ''Morrison Hotel'' is the fifth studio album by American rock band the Doors, released on February 9, 1970, by Elektra Records. After the use of brass and string arrangements recommended by producer Paul A. Rothchild on their previous album, ' ...

''. It was also released as the only single from the album, reaching No. 50 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, but was ultimately surpassed in popularity by its B-side, "

Roadhouse Blues "Roadhouse Blues" is a song by the American rock band the Doors from their 1970 album '' Morrison Hotel''. It was released as the B-side of " You Make Me Real", which peaked at No. 50 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and No. 41 in Canada. " ...

". In France the single was issued with "

Peace Frog "Peace Frog" is a song by the Doors, which was released on their fifth studio album '' Morrison Hotel'' in 1970. Guitarist Robby Krieger explained that the music was written and recorded first, with the lyrics later coming from poems by singer J ...

" as the B-side.

Music and lyrics

"You Make Me Real" is one of several

hard rock Hard rock or heavy rock is a heavier subgenre of rock music typified by aggressive vocals and Distortion (music), distorted electric guitars. Hard rock began in the mid-1960s with the Garage rock, garage, Psychedelic rock, psychedelic and blues ...

songs on ''Morrison Hotel''. Rock critic

David Fricke David Fricke (born ) is an American music journalist who serves as the senior editor at ''Rolling Stone'' magazine, where he writes predominantly about rock music. One of the best known names in rock journalism, his career has spanned over 40 ye ...

called it a "three-minute preview of the garage-blues

napalm Napalm is an incendiary mixture of a gelling agent and a volatile petrochemical (usually gasoline or diesel fuel). The name is a portmanteau of two of the constituents of the original thickening and gelling agents: coprecipitated aluminium ...

the Doors would take into arenas throughout 1970." Tony Thompson compared it to the "ragged frat rock" of

Rick & the Ravens Rick & the Ravens was an American surf rock and frat rock band founded in 1961, known as the forerunner of the Doors. Members Ray Manczarek, John Densmore, and Jim Morrison renamed the group in the latter half of 1965 after joining forces with R ...

and to the "keep 'em dancing' rock 'n' roll" of

Billy Lee Riley Billy Lee Riley (October 5, 1933 – August 2, 2009) was an American musician, singer-songwriter, and record producer. His most memorable recordings include "Rock With Me Baby", "Flyin' Saucers Rock and Roll"Variously spelled as "...Rock & Roll" ...

. The song's composition had started in 1966 and the group performed it regularly when they were the house band at the

Whisky a Go Go The Whisky a Go Go (informally nicknamed The Whisky) is a historic nightclub in West Hollywood, California, United States. It is located at 8901 Sunset Boulevard on the Sunset Strip, corner North Clark Street, opposite North San Vicente Boulev ...

. The track begins with

Ray Manzarek Raymond Daniel Manzarek Jr. ( Manczarek; February 12, 1939 – May 20, 2013) was an American keyboardist. He is best known as a member of the rock band the Doors, co-founding the group in 1965 with fellow UCLA School of Theater, Film and Te ...

's keyboards, followed by Krieger's guitar, before Morrison's vocals begin. Krieger plays a

guitar solo A guitar solo is a melody, melodic passage, instrumental section (music), section, or entire piece of music, pre-written (or improvised) to be played on a classical guitar, classical, electric guitar, electric, or acoustic guitar. In 20th and ...

in the middle of the song. Like parts of "Roadhouse Blues" and several other Doors songs, "You Make Me Real" was inspired by Morrison's girlfriend

Pamela Courson Pamela Susan Courson (December 22, 1946 – April 25, 1974) was the long-term companion of Jim Morrison, singer of the Doors. Courson stated she discovered Morrison's body in the bathtub of a Paris apartment in 1971. She died three years after h ...

. The lyrics incorporate sexual innuendo such as the line "So let me slide in your tender sunken sea." In the

refrain A refrain (from Vulgar Latin ''refringere'', "to repeat", and later from Old French ''refraindre'') is the Line (poetry)">line or lines that are repeated in poetry or in music">poetry.html" ;"title="Line (poetry)">line or lines that are repeat ...

Morrison sings "You make me real, you make me feel, like lovers feel, you make me throw away mistaken misery, make me free, love, make me free" and the song ends with Morrison loudly exclaiming "Make me free."

Reception

Cash Box ''Cashbox'', also known as ''Cash Box'', is an American music industry trade magazine, originally published weekly from July 1942 to November 1996. Ten years after its dissolution, it was revived and continues as ''Cashbox Magazine'', an online ...

'' described "You Make Me Real" as "a sampling of rowdy rock in the manner of old fashioned material but with an instrumental refinement" and as a "rousing rhythm side with flashy Morrison vocal." ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

'' called it "a rousing rocker" on which the Doors "really etloose," saying that it is a "perfect discotheque item that's loaded with sales appeal." ''

Record World ''Record World'' magazine was one of three major weekly music industry trade magazines in the United States, with ''Billboard'' and '' Cashbox''. It was founded in 1946 as ''Music Vendor''. In 1964, it was changed to ''Record World'' under the ...

'' called it "a rocking one just like old times." Nonetheless, the single release only reached No. 40 on the ''Cash Box'' Top 100 and No. 50 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. In

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

the song reached No. 41.

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

critic Thom Jurek said that the song "underscores the blues-rock motif f ''Morrison Hotel'' with roiling electric piano, stinging guitar vamps, and Densmore's swaggering shuffle." ''

Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is an American daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1847, it was formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper", a slogan from which its once integrated WGN (AM), WGN radio and ...

'' critic Lew Harris said that it represents "the group's contribution to the Rock Revival, if only in basic structure" and particularly praised Manzarek's "

Jerry Lee Lewis Jerry Lee Lewis (September 29, 1935October 28, 2022) was an American pianist, singer, and songwriter. Nicknamed "The Killer", he was described as "rock 'n' roll's first great wild man". A pioneer of rock and roll and rockabilly music, Lewis m ...

piano." Robb Baker said in the ''Chicago Tribune'' that "You Make Me Real" is free-wheeling, bluesy rock... where Jim Densmore's drums fight with Robby Krieger's old time rock and roll guitar until both suddenly stop and Manzarak's piano absolutely tinkles across the room," calling the song "really, really beautiful." ''

The New Rolling Stone Album Guide ''The Rolling Stone Album Guide'', previously known as ''The Rolling Stone Record Guide'', is a book that contains professional music reviews written and edited by staff members from ''Rolling Stone'' magazine. Its first edition was published in 1 ...

'' stated that the strain of Morrison's voice lends grit to the song. ''

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. The magazine was first known fo ...

'' critic Narendra Kusnur considered it among Morrison's most underrated songs, particularly praising his vocal performance. ''Classic Rock'' critic Max Bell praised the chord breaks as being "insane". On the other hand, music journalist Gillian G. Gaar considered "You Make Me Real" to be weaker than its B-side, "Roadhouse Blues". Tony Thompson said that is not one of the Doors' great songs and wonders why it was chosen over "Roadhouse Blues" and other ''Morrison Hotel'' tracks to be the lead single from the album.

Personnel

According to Heinz Gerstenmeyer: The Doors *

– vocals *

–

Wurlitzer piano The Wurlitzer electronic piano is an electric piano manufactured and marketed by Wurlitzer from 1954 to 1983. Sound is generated by striking a metal reed with a hammer, which induces an electric current in a pickup. It is conceptually similar to ...

tack piano A tack piano (also known as a harpsipiano, jangle piano, and junk piano) is an altered version of an ordinary piano, in which objects such as thumbtacks or nails are placed on the felt-padded hammers of the instrument at the point where the ha ...

Robby Krieger Robert Alan Krieger (born January 8, 1946) is an American guitarist and founding member of the rock band the Doors. Krieger wrote or co-wrote many of the Doors' songs, including the hits " Light My Fire", " Love Me Two Times", " Touch Me", and " ...

– guitar *

John Densmore John Paul Densmore (born December 1, 1944) is an American musician. He is best known as the drummer of the Rock music, rock band the Doors and as such is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He appeared on every recording made by the band, ...

– drums Additional musicians * Ray Neapolitan – bass

Other releases

"You Make Me Real" was included on the Doors' 2003

compilation album A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one Performing arts#Performers, performer or by several performers. If the recordings are from ...

'' Legacy: The Absolute Best''. A live version from a 1969 show was included on the Doors' 1983

live album An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track or cassette), or digital. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early 20th centur ...

Alive, She Cried ''Alive, She Cried'' is the second official live album by the American rock band the Doors, released in October 1983 by Elektra Records. It is the follow-up to the 1970's ''Absolutely Live'', produced by Paul A. Rothchild. The album's title was ...

''. An early version of the song was released on the Doors' live album '' London Fog 1966''. ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...

'' critic Dave Simpson called this version "tightly wound" and "thrillingly focused."

References

{{Authority control The Doors songs Songs written by Jim Morrison Song recordings produced by Paul A. Rothchild 1966 songs 1970 singles Elektra Records singles