Roadhouse Blues / Albinoni Adagio

Elektra issued E-46005 as a standard US 7-inch in 1978, drawing its A-side from the archive material connected to the An American Prayer release. The catalog number is the critical identifier here, separating this pressing from several other US Elektra Doors 45s that also carry the Roadhouse Blues title. This is a posthumous catalog release, arriving roughly seven years after Jim Morrison's death, with no active promotional campaign behind it. The Albinoni Adagio flip is unique to this pairing within the Doors singles run, which gives E-46005 a specific profile that collectors focused on completeness will recognize immediately.

The physical object is consistent with what Elektra was producing across its rock catalog in the late 1970s. The label carries the butterfly design in orange and yellow coloring, with the stylized butterfly graphic centered prominently on both sides. Side A reads Roadhouse Blues and the B-side carries the Albinoni Adagio credit, alongside the catalog number E-46005, publishing credits, and standard track designations. The vinyl is the lighter stock Elektra had migrated to by this point in the decade. Anyone who handles original late-1960s Doors 45s on Elektra regularly will register the difference in hand weight immediately; the earlier pressings carry a density that later issues simply do not replicate. The pressing quality on E-46005 is competent and functional, surface noise on well-preserved copies tends to be minimal, but the disc lacks the substance that characterized Elektra's earlier catalog output. There is no picture sleeve specific to this release documented in major collector catalogs, so the standard generic Elektra company sleeve is what you should expect. If you encounter a copy being offered with a dedicated picture sleeve, verify it carefully before paying any premium for it. The packaging overall reflects the utilitarian approach Elektra applied to catalog reissues of this era, with nothing in the physical presentation suggesting this was treated as anything other than a straightforward commercial release. Condition grading follows standard Goldmine guidelines without complication, and VG+ copies surface with enough regularity that sourcing a clean example takes patience but not serious effort or expense. The presentation is stripped down and the object itself does not reward extended handling the way a gatefold LP or a carefully produced limited issue would, but it is exactly what it presents itself as: a clean, official late-1970s Elektra pressing.

The content split is what gives E-46005 its actual interest within the broader Doors singles catalog. The A-side carries a live recording of Roadhouse Blues, which distinguishes this pressing from the studio version most listeners know from Morrison Hotel and from the earlier US Elektra pairings, including Roadhouse Blues / Unknown Soldier and Roadhouse Blues / Blue Sunday. The live take captures a rawer, more physical vocal from Morrison than the controlled studio performance, and for collectors specifically focused on live Doors material pressed to 7-inch, that distinction carries real weight. The source is noted as coming from the An American Prayer sessions archive, and verifying the precise concert origin against your own documentation adds useful context to how this recording fits into the broader live catalog. The B-side Albinoni Adagio creates a sharp contrast with the blues-driven A-side, and Elektra's decision to pair these two tracks reflects the eclectic curatorial approach the label applied to Doors reissue material during this period. There is also a separate pressing worth knowing about if you are cross-referencing: the Roadhouse Blues / Roadhouse Blues (mono) issue documents just how many catalog variants Elektra produced around this title, and keeping them distinct in your records matters. From a Discogs standpoint, the community data shows 24 collectors holding a copy and 35 with it on their want list, which reflects a modest but genuine collector interest without the demand pressure that drives significant price movement. This is not a pressing that commands the premiums attached to original Doors 45s from the late 1960s or documented promotional copies; it sits comfortably in the category of official, widely available catalog releases. Copies in strong condition trade at accessible prices, and there is no urgency in sourcing one quickly or paying above the low end of the market range.

E-46005 is a straightforward official Elektra US pressing that belongs in any collection focused on completeness across The Doors' domestic 45 catalog. It is not rare, it does not carry pressing anomalies that create premium variants, and the production reflects its era honestly. The live A-side has genuine appeal for collectors interested in Morrison's live vocal work pressed to 7-inch, and the Albinoni pairing makes it the only Doors single with that specific combination, which gives it a distinct position in the run. Acquire a clean copy when one surfaces at a sensible price; there is no reason to overpay.