On this day in 1967, STRANGE DAYS was released, marking a shift in The Doors’ sound. From “People Are Strange” and “Love Me Two Times” to “Horse Latitudes” and “When the Music’s Over,” the album explored new sounds and recording techniques, including the Moog synthesizer on the title track. Jim Morrison also asked not to appear on the cover, so photographer Joel Brodsky took to the streets of New York instead. Listen to STRANGE DAYS: found.ee/STRANGEDAYS-3

SAVE US. What do you do “When the Music’s Over”? #JimMorrison

New York City. Shot by Paul Ferrara. New York was one of many sources of inspiration for Jim, and the city found its way into The Doors’ music. “[Jim] said that 'People Are Strange' is 'about the people coming out of the New York subway as Jim Morrison was walking back from Andy Warhol’s Factory to our hotel in midtown Manhattan.” -Ray Manzarek

Jim Morrison + Ed Sullivan = one memorable night. On September 17th, 1967, The Doors made their national TV debut on The Ed Sullivan Show. Producers asked Jim to change one line in “Light My Fire.” He said he would. Then he sang it exactly as written. Needless to say, Ed Sullivan wasn’t thrilled. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

THE CROSSWORDS... Can you complete this Jim Morrison crossword puzzle? See how well you know Jim and comment your answers below. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Happy Birthday to Jac Holzman. One of the first to recognize what The Doors could become, Jac signed the band to Elektra Records in 1966 after seeing them perform at the Whisky a Go Go. Beyond giving the band creative freedom, Jac understood the importance of looking out for Jim while giving him the space to be himself. As Jac later reflected: “Jim and I were never really close friends, but there was a fundamental trust between us. He sensed that I would serve him and the band best by not being a part of the entourage, by preserving my objectivity, and by being available as needed 'in the clutch.'” Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

On September 14, 1968, The Doors took the stage at the Kongresshalle in Frankfurt, West Germany. The band opened the early show before headlining the late show, performing for an audience that included many U.S. soldiers stationed in Frankfurt. Jim delivered a particularly animated performance, bringing his unmistakable energy to the stage. Photos courtesy of Getty Images.

September 1965: Jim, John, Ray, and Ray’s brothers stepped into World Pacific Studios in Los Angeles to record a six-song demo that would become the blueprint for their sound and eventually their self-titled debut album, THE DOORS. “We had our own acetate with six songs... Jim slipped into their yellow bug... having heard his voice on tape for the first time, was beaming from the backseat.” - @JohnDensmore

On this day in 1967, The Doors played the Village Theatre in New York City. Photos courtesy of Getty Images.

Today is #InternationalLiteracyDay. Jim Morrison was more than a frontman. He was a poet, a seeker, and an avid reader whose writing was shaped by philosophy, classic literature, and surrealism. An old high school friend of Jim’s once said: “He had tons of books over there in his basement room and I’d go over there and look at them and I didn’t have a clue as to what most of that stuff meant. Morrison devoured that stuff when he was a teenager... he was so far advanced in terms of literature he took in and he really seemed to become what he read sometimes.” Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Roundhouse Blues. 📸: On this day in ’68, The Doors performed the first show of their European tour at the Roundhouse in London. The band played two shows, with approximately 2,500 fans in attendance across both performances. Photos courtesy of Getty Images.

THE OPENING OF THE TRUNK... #JimMorrisonPoetry Photo by Paul Ferrara.

“Just don’t report me to my bishop.” This footage captures Jim talking to Pastor Fred L. Stiegemeier backstage at the Bakersfield Civic Center on June 8th, 1968. 🎥: The Doors film, FEAST OF FRIENDS.

“Summer’s almost gone” Are you ready for it? #JimMorrison

Are you AWAKE? #JimMorrisonPoetry from AN AMERICAN PRAYER Photo by Paul Ferrara.

In August 1990, THE AMERICAN NIGHT was published. The release was a collection of Jim’s archived poetry, lyrics, scripts, and personal notebook entries. Do you have a favorite poem from THE AMERICAN NIGHT? Comment it down below. Photos by Paul Ferrara and Getty Images.

San Diego Sports Arena. August 22, 1970. "San Diego baby, gonna catch ya, gonna clean ya, gonna cook ya, gonna eat cha!" -Jim Morrison Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Happy Birthday to the late @johnLeeHooker Jim found inspiration and passion in the Blues, especially Hooker’s music. So much so that the band covered “Crawlin’ King Snake” on L.A.WOMAN. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Personal, private, solitary pain. Jim knew... Photos by Paul Ferrara.

Jim saying hi to fans when arriving at the Westbury Music Fair in New York in 1968. #JimMorrison