Love Me Two Times / Moonlight Drive

Canada's Elektra EK 45624 pressing of Love Me Two Times has a yellow label and EK prefix, unlike the US release.

The Canadian pressing of Love Me Two Times / Moonlight Drive on Elektra EK 45624, issued in November 1967, is a distinct regional variant of the single drawn from the Strange Days LP. This 45 was manufactured and distributed specifically for the Canadian market, pressed with the yellow Elektra label that differentiates it from contemporaneous US pressings. The catalog number EK 45624 is the key identifier here; collectors should not conflate this with the American Elektra 45624, which carries different label typography and color schemes tied to that market.

The yellow label on this Canadian pressing is visually clean and period-correct for Elektra's late-1967 Canadian distribution run. The label design features the Elektra butterfly logo along with the catalog number EK 45624 printed clearly. The "EK" prefix is the immediate tell for Canadian origin, functioning as a regional identifier that Elektra applied consistently to its Canadian market product during this era. The typeface and layout on both sides are consistent with what you would expect from a Canadian Elektra pressing of this period, though collectors should inspect for any matrix etchings in the dead wax, as hand-etched or stamped matrix codes can further confirm pressing plant origin and help establish whether this is a first or subsequent Canadian run. The disc itself, on a well-preserved copy, should present with a solid pressing weight typical of late-1960s Canadian vinyl production. Surface noise levels on unplayed or lightly played copies tend to be acceptable, though as with any 57-year-old 45, condition varies considerably depending on storage history. The picture sleeve, if one was issued for this Canadian variant, would be a significant find; most copies of EK 45624 that surface are bare label copies without a sleeve. The label color on both Side One (Love Me Two Times) and Side Two (Moonlight Drive) should match: yellow ground with black print. Any copy showing a different label color for this catalog number warrants closer scrutiny of its actual origin.

What makes this specific pressing worth tracking down, beyond basic regional completism, is the combination of the pairing itself and the Canadian market context. Love Me Two Times was one of the stronger commercial singles the band released during the Strange Days cycle, and Moonlight Drive is a song with a longer history than many casual listeners realize, having been among the earliest Doors compositions. For deeper background on the track, the Moonlight Drive catalog entry covers related releases. The Strange Days album from which both tracks originate has been documented extensively; the Strange Days album page covers the LP variants in more detail. The Canadian 45 market for major American rock acts in 1967 operated somewhat independently, with pressings made to satisfy local retail demand rather than as export product from the US. This means EK-45624 was pressed in Canada for Canadian record shops, not simply shipped across the border. That distinction matters to regional pressing collectors who build sets around country-specific variants. On Discogs, copies of this Canadian Elektra 45 appear with some regularity but not in abundance; pricing reflects moderate scarcity rather than extreme rarity. Grades matter significantly here: a VG+ copy with intact yellow labels and minimal spindle wear is considerably more desirable than a heavily played example. Collectors building a complete set of Doors 45 variants by country will want this alongside the US original and any UK or European pressings. It sits alongside other Canadian Elektra product from this period in terms of collectibility tier. Those interested in the broader Strange Days-era release history, including live material from that period, might also cross-reference the Live At The Madison Square Garden release for period context on the band's live presentation of this material.

For Canadian Doors pressing collectors or anyone building a complete regional 45p set, EK-45624 is a legitimate target. It is not an ultra-rare pressing that commands extraordinary sums, but clean copies with bright yellow labels and solid vinyl are not trivially easy to source. If you encounter a well-graded copy at a fair price, it earns a place in any serious collection focused on original 1967 Doors releases. Skip it only if your focus is strictly on US market product.