Tune in to classic rock radio and you’ll likely hear this cat laying down grooves on his maple neck Fender Precision…

A bassist, composer, and co-writer of “One Way of Another,” “Union City Blue,” and “Eat to the Beat” – Nigel Harrison anchored Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Blondie during their classic run which included such seminal sides as Parallel Lines (1978), Eat to the Beat (1979), and Autoamerican (1980).

“One Way or Another” https://youtu.be/valVixMpzQY

“Union City Blue” https://youtu.be/Hvqgb1D6Opw

“Eat to the Beat” https://youtu.be/dh6L_7770pM

Dig Nigel’s bass solo! “Atomic” https://youtu.be/O_WLw_0DFQQ

Harrison also worked the harmonic and rhythmic foundation for one of rock’s great unheralded ensembles – Silverhead – helmed by Michael Des Barres. Silverhead waxed two magnificent sides: Silverhead (1972) and 16 and Savaged (1973).

Nigel was the bassist with Ray Manzarek’s Nite City, and Chequered Past with bassist Tony Sales moonlighting on guitar, Des Barres, Frank Infante, and Sex Piston on busman’s holiday Steve Jones.

 Silverhead “Sixteen and Savaged” https://youtu.be/4j1MW55y99Y

 Nite City on their signature tune: https://youtu.be/emPdI-Oo3pw

Chequered Past “A World Gone Wild” https://youtu.be/tJW2x-jER3I

Nigel’s punchy octaving riffage on “Heart of Glass” made “disco” (somewhat) acceptable to rockers!

“Heart of Glass” https://youtu.be/WGU_4-5RaxU

Ray Manzarek dubbed him “The Fifth Door” and he was offered a full-time gig with the iconic ensemble which he turned down in favor to anchor an ensemble wherein he had more of a creative input: Clear Light. Encouraged by Mama Cass Elliott to migrate to the City of Angels in the mid-1960s, the late Doug Lubahn was a prolific sideman / session cat, producer, composer, and author whose career spanned two generations of classic rock .

On Doors’ record dates, Doug deftly approximated and further embellished Manzarek’s left-hand keyboard figures. Doug contributed to significantly to the band’s hallowed canon, performing on Strange Days (1967), Waiting for the Sun (1968) and Soft Parade (1969) on seminal tracks including “Moonlight Drive,” “Love Me Two Times,” “People are Strange,” “Hello I Love You,” and “Wishful Sinful,” among others.

Dig Doug with The Doors:

“Moonlight Drive” https://youtu.be/iNilmUzcB0s

“Wishful Sinful” https://youtu.be/siU2inT0OuI

A watershed ensemble which incorporated jazz, folk, prog, psychedelic and pop – go figure why Clear Light did not scale the commercial heights they so richly deserved.

Produced and engineered by Paul Rothchild and Bruce Botnick of Doors fame,dig Doug with Clear Light:

“Mr. Blue: https://youtu.be/h4hpd4lcwpo

“Black Roses” https://youtu.be/IvkYzF3xmLs

In 1970 Doug was a founding member of jazz rock pioneers Dreams, featuring Randy and Michael Brecker, Billy Cobham, and John Abercrombie.

Dig Doug with Dreams: “

“New York” https://youtu.be/nSRl55V2OiQ

“Dream Suite” https://youtu.be/dEJdIh_Mjgg

An accomplished vocalist, Doug also toured and/or recorded with Billy Squire (Emotions In Motion / 1982), The Monkees, and Ted Nugent, among others.

Dig Doug in the MTV era with Billy Squire with “Emotions in Motion” which featured a killer bass motif: https://youtu.be/ATE3m3HOmMw

Coda: Doug also authored a fine memoir: My Days with The Doors and Other Stories.