Rick & the Ravens
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1961 |
| Founder | Rick Manczarek |
| Defunct | 1965 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
| Products | Singles, demo recordings |
Rick & the Ravens was an American band specializing in surf rock and frat rock, established in 1961, and is widely regarded as the forerunner to the Doors. The group was renamed in late 1965 by members Ray Manzarek, John Densmore, and Jim Morrison following their collaboration with Robby Krieger.
The band issued three singles through Aura Records and created a six-track demo acetate, which was subsequently re-recorded by The Doors.
Line-ups
The initial ensemble consisted of Rick Manczarek on guitar, Jim Manczarek handling organ and harmonica, Patrick Stonier playing saxophone, Roland Biscaluz on bass, and Vince Thomas on drums. The bassist and drummer originally served as session musicians brought in specifically for performances. The band's name was partially inspired by guitarist Rick Manczarek.
In 1962, Ray Manczarek relocated from Chicago to Los Angeles, joining the group as a vocalist and occasional pianist. It is noteworthy that Ray modified the family name from "Manczarek" to "Manzarek" prior to his involvement with The Doors.
Performances
Their weekend shows catered primarily to college audiences, especially students from the UCLA Film School, at a venue known as the Turkey Joint West on Santa Monica Boulevard. This establishment was a British-style pub operated by the Santa Monica Soccer and Social Club and has been called Ye Olde King's Head since 1974. The band's repertoire included original compositions along with renditions of blues classics such as Muddy Waters' "I'm Your Doctor, I Know What You Need", Richard Berry's "Louie Louie", Barrett Strong's "Money", and Willie Dixon's "Hoochie Coochie Man".
According to an interview with Manzarek, the first song performed by Jim Morrison with Rick & the Ravens was Richard Berry’s "Louie Louie". At that time, Morrison had not officially joined the group; Manzarek invited him onto the stage spontaneously. Morrison was caught off guard during his debut performance and strained his voice. After bonding over mutual musical and artistic interests, Manzarek extended an invitation for Morrison to become a member of the band, which he accepted.
The 1965 World Pacific Demo
On September 2, 1965, six tracks were recorded at World Pacific Studios in Los Angeles that would later appear as Doors songs: "Moonlight Drive", "My Eyes Have Seen You", "Hello, I Love You", "Go Insane" (listed as "Insane" on the acetate), "End of the Night", and "Summer's Almost Gone". This session was completed within three hours. Morrison reportedly experienced great excitement upon hearing his voice recorded for the first time. The demo was officially released in full on The Doors: Box Set in 1997, mastered from Rick Manzarek’s original acetate—one of only five copies produced.
Evolution into the Doors
The 1965 demo by Rick & the Ravens included Jim Morrison on vocals, Ray Manczarek playing piano and providing backing vocals, John Densmore on drums, Rick Manczarek on guitar, Jim Manczarek handling harmonica, and Patricia "Pat" Hansen on bass guitar. It is important to note that Robby Krieger, who would later become the guitarist for the Doors, did not participate in this recording.
Following dissatisfaction with the demo's feedback and Morrison's compositions, both Jim and Rick Manczarek, alongside Sullivan, departed from the group, believing it was "going nowhere fast." Acting on Morrison's advice, the ensemble rebranded itself as the Doors approximately one month after the demo session. Robby Krieger joined as guitarist in October 1965; he had previously collaborated with Densmore in the Psychedelic Rangers. Initially formed as a five-piece band, the group transitioned to a quartet when Manzarek assumed bass responsibilities using a Fender Rhodes Piano Bass, which led to Sullivan's exit in December 1965. This change solidified the iconic Doors lineup: Morrison, Manzarek, Krieger, and Densmore.
Every track from the Rick & the Ravens demo was subsequently re-recorded and featured on later Doors albums. "End of the Night" was included on their 1967 self-titled debut; "Moonlight Drive" and "My Eyes Have Seen You" appeared on Strange Days; while "Hello, I Love You" and "Summer's Almost Gone" were part of 1968's Waiting for the Sun, partly due to Morrison's alcohol-related difficulties limiting fresh compositions. A verse from "Go Insane" was incorporated into the "Celebration of the Lizard" suite, which was released in a live format on 1970's Absolutely Live and as a studio version on 2003's Legacy: The Absolute Best. Rick Manczarek passed away in 2021, eight years after Ray Manzarek died in May 2013.
Former members
- Rick Manczarek – guitar (1961–1965; deceased 2021)
- Jim Manczarek – organ, harmonica (1961–1965)
- Patrick Stonier – saxophone (1961–1965)
- Roland Biscailuz – bass (1961–1965)
- Vince Thomas – drums (1961–1965)
- Ray Manzarek – piano, vocals (1962–1965; deceased 2013)
- Jim Morrison – vocals (1965; deceased 1971)
- John Densmore – drums (1965)
- Patty Sullivan – bass (1965)
Discography
| Release year | Title | Label | Catalog Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Soul Train / Geraldine | Aura Records | Aura Records 4511 |
| 1965 | Henrietta / Just For You | Aura Records | Aura Records 4506 |
| 1965 | Big Bucket "T" / Rampage | Posae Records | Posae Records 101 |
These singles were primarily distributed for promotional purposes and were never intended for mass commercial release. On the "Soul Train / Geraldine" single, credit is given to "Ray Daniels feat. Rick & the Ravens," highlighting Ray Manczarek under the pseudonym "Ray Daniels" as the lead artist with the Ravens serving as his backing band. Promotional campaigns presented the group as "Rick & the Ravens featuring the Voice of Ray Daniels." These marketing strategies were discontinued once Jim Morrison joined the ensemble.
Incorrect Attributions
Promotional recordings have circulated among various Doors bootlegs, frequently being mistakenly labeled as official Doors tracks.