What was the first single released by The Doors?

“Break On Through (To the Other Side)” was The Doors’ first single.

Elektra Records released the song in January 1967, pairing it with “End of the Night” as the B-side. It also opens The Doors, the band’s self-titled debut album. The recording introduces several elements that became central to the group’s sound, including Jim Morrison’s urgent vocal delivery, Robby Krieger’s guitar, Ray Manzarek’s keyboard bass, and John Densmore’s rhythmic blend of rock with bossa nova influences.

The single reached only number 126 in the United States, so it was not the band’s first major commercial breakthrough. That distinction belongs to “Light My Fire,” which followed as a single later in 1967 and reached number one. “Break On Through” nevertheless became a staple of The Doors’ live performances and a defining statement of their early psychedelic-rock style.