The Doors’ first major hit, “Light My Fire”, was chiefly initiated by guitarist Robby Krieger rather than singer Jim Morrison, challenging the view of the band as driven solely by its charismatic frontman. Its success demonstrated the group’s collaborative songwriting and ability to combine extended live-style improvisation with a concise, commercially successful single.

Morrison asked each band member to write a song over a 1966 weekend, and Krieger returned with the basis for “Light My Fire”, partly inspired by the Rolling Stones’ “Play With Fire”. John Densmore added a bossa nova-influenced rhythm, Ray Manzarek created the opening keyboard riff, Morrison contributed lyrics, and producer Paul Rothchild shaped the ending; the seven-minute album version was edited to under three minutes for release as a single, reaching No. 1 in 1967.