"An American Prayer" is the ninth and final studio album by the American rock band The Doors, released in 1978. The album is unique in that it was created after the death of the band's iconic lead singer, Jim Morrison. Following Morrison's passing in 1971 and the band's breakup in 1973, the surviving members—keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger, and drummer John Densmore—reunited in 1978 to set some of Morrison's spoken word recordings to music. These recordings were made by Morrison between 1969 and 1970, and the band used them to create an audio collage of Morrison's poetry, interspersed with music and some additional spoken word excerpts.
The album is divided into five parts according to Manzarek, each representing a different phase of Morrison's life—from his childhood and early years to his career as a poet and musician, and finally a summation of his philosophy and life. The music for the album was recorded by the surviving members of The Doors, with the intention of showcasing a side of Morrison's artistic expression that had not been fully explored. The music was created in a style that deviated from Morrison's original vision for the project, which had involved orchestral music. Instead, the band chose a more rock-oriented approach, featuring musical elements from their classic hits like "The WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat)" and "Riders on the Storm," as well as some of Morrison's film and interview recordings.
An American Prayer was the only album by The Doors to be nominated for a Grammy Award in the "Spoken Word" category. The album was well-received by fans and critics alike, though it was also met with some mixed reactions due to its experimental nature and the blend of spoken word with rock music. It remains a significant posthumous release that offers insight into Morrison's poetry and the band's legacy, while also being a tribute to their late frontman.
