Video: '1966, Original Music By The Doors In A Ford Training Film'

(May 1966) — A little-known Los Angeles rock group calling itself The Doors spent several hours in a local studio this month recording music for an industrial training film commissioned by Ford Motor Company.

The group, which has yet to secure a recording contract, was engaged by Parthenon Pictures to provide a musical soundtrack for a company film titled “Love Thy Customer.” Recording took place at Rampart Studios, where the musicians performed while viewing the film on a monitor.

Because the assignment called for instrumental accompaniment, lead singer Jim Morrison did not record vocals. He is reported, however, to have contributed percussion effects and other background elements during the session.

Video: 'The Doors - 1966 - Ford Training Film "Love Thy Customer" ( Isolated Instrumental )'

Observers described the music as a series of loosely structured passages, some of which bear resemblance to material the group has been developing in live performances. Among the segments noted were themes similar to songs known as “I Looked at You,” “Build Me a Woman,” and “The Soft Parade.”

Studio personnel indicated the recording required multiple takes and lasted several hours, a typical process for film synchronization work. The finished soundtrack would be used internally by Ford for employee training purposes.

While the band remains largely unknown outside Los Angeles club circles, its participation in the project reflects a growing trend of commercial firms employing rock musicians for industrial and promotional films.

No release of the recording is planned, and the soundtrack is expected to remain part of the company’s internal training materials.