Customer Reviews

Best of the Doors

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If your collection has room for only one Doors album, this Canadian 2-CD set wins hands down. Rhino released The Very Best of the Doors a couple months ago with the same cover art, but it is only one disc and contains only half the songs--although it adds "Twentieth Century Fox" not found here. The 1985 two-disc set with the same title had a running time of only 90 minutes and contained only 19 songs--and they are all included here.

The 37 tracks found here (plus the multi-media track "Roadhouse Blues") covers all of the studio albums with Jim Morrison, plus a couple of rarities: "Who Scared You" and "Whiskey, Mystics and Men." For good measure they even throw in a track from one of the two post-Morrison Doors albums. "No Me Moleste Mosquito" (aka "The Mosquito") is from 1972's Full Circle. The Doors were solid musicians, but with Krieger and Manzarek taking over vocal duties the single peaked at a disappointing No. 85.

Granted, the inclusion of that song won't be enough to lure the die-hard fan. However, if you're a casual fan but still looking for a comprehensive look into this influential band, this is well worth owning. In fact, about the only essential songs missing are "Ship of Fools" from Morrison Hotel and "Crawling King Snake" from L.A. Woman. But with a playing time of just under two and a half hours, this is a winner. It even beats 1997's box set since many of those tracks were live versions. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

This new edition of "The Best Of The Doors" is undeniably superior to the previous 1985 release. This is the best Doors compilation set out and a great introduction to their music and sound. The famous classics like "Light My Fire" (with it's immortal organ intro) are here but I also appreciated this set because it also has the unique, fan-favorite gems and rare numbers like "No Me Moleste Mosquito," which is funny and fun. Among the highlights: "People Are Strange" remains an alluring, rich cabaret-styled number that has a memorable melodic sound. I was happy that "Moonlight Drive" was included because it is one of the most romantic, dreamy and alluring of The Doors songs, with the poetic lyrics and dreamy slide guitar. "Summer's Almost Gone" has some of Robby Krieger's most elegant slide guitar-playing. "The WASP (Texas Radio)" is a cool, driven poetic number with a western feel. "L.A. Woman" is still a fun and alive song. "Love Me Two Times" is a nice, radio-friendly tune while "When The Music's Over" remains an epic, provocative, sometimes visceral song. CD 2 is a bit more rich, starting with the ghostly, jazzy "Riders On The Storm" which also has deep lyrics. "Break On Through" remains a great revolutionary song while "Roadhouse Blues" is an exhilarating, fun ride. It is great that here we find "Backdoor Man," which is one of the greatest of all Doors songs, and one of the most popular, I thought it was a shame it wasn't in the first edition, and was puzzled why, but here it's included and sounds as fresh as it ever has. It's blues mixed in a haze of driven rock. "Love Street" is a lovely song while "The Spy" is a 007ish love ballad. "The Crystal Ship" is still hypnotic, poetic and alluring like few songs I've heard. "Five To One" is still hard-pounding and edgy. But the masterpiece remains "The End," with it's hypnotic, Eastern sound, poetic lyrics and a climax which ends in a violent haze of Oedipal sex. There are some other great songs here, and any big of The Doors should get this set. It is the best showcasing of their music and flips in and out of all the musical genres they covered. And no matter how many good covers other bands like The Cult, Creed and Stone Temple Pilots do, it is always the best to hear Doors songs with the deep, haunting voice of Jim Morrison. A gem for any enthusiast of classic rock and modern music.

The other reviewers said it but I'll say it again. If you want only DOORS album, this is the best. AND it is the best of the best ofs. AND it even beats out the boxed set IMHO. If you are new to the Doors, then this is the perfect primer.

One or two classic tracks are left out, but for what you get on this double CD offering you shouldn't complain. The remastering breathes new life into the songs and the (used) price can't be beat.

If you have every Doors album already, then I'd say save your money. If you want a handy best of for your car, burn these tracks yourself from your collection. The 2 post Morrison albums are good too, I got mine as a single CD set on eBay.

May the music of The Doors live on forever.

I have been looking for a thorough Doors anthology for a number of years and this is the one! This 2 cd Canadian import set is the best Doors compilation currently available. The set is remastered and contains a few bonuses like the songs "No Me Moleste Mosquito" sans Morrison, the great b-side "Who Sacred You" and enhanced cd footage. There have been many so-called "Best Of The Doors" and "Greatest Hits" compilations over the years but this import set has the best song selection for the budget minded. The sound is excellent and the only omission I regret is "Twentieth Century Fox".

The set contains all the usual radio hits like "Light My Fire", "Break On Through", "Riders On The Storm", "Roadhouse Blues", "LA Woman", "The End", etc. However, the greatest benefit of the set is it includes lost classics and concert favorites like "Moonlight Drive", "The Wasp", "When The Music's Over", "Soul Kitchen", "Love Her Madly", "Peace Frog", "Waiting For The Sun", "Back Door Man", "Five To One" and "Universal Soldier". The set is great for the person who is only familiar with the hits because it contains many more great songs the casual fan would not be familiar with. The music for the unfamiliar is a combination of Morrison's psychedelic musings, Ray Manzerek's organ tones and Robby Krieger's guitar playing. This is essential for fans of sixties and psychedelic music and those who thought the box set contains too many rarities and not enough of the hits. Pick this up before it goes out of print. It is doubtful this 2 cd set can be bettered by yet another anthology.

A great over all collection. If you needed one CD of The Doors, this would be it.

This is an amazing album. Like others have said all the studio albums are covered. Peace Frog, which on another Doors compilation album is not included is on this import. The obscure songs you don't hear on radio are easy to find on here. The best feature on this album (I think it is pretty cool) is that on "Break on Through" You can hear Jim say 'high'. It sounds like he is saying "she gets high". On ALL radio versions of this song 'high' is omitted. I am not sure why. There are a lot worse things in music!?!?

I admit to being a rabid enough Doors fan that I would buy a collection like this just for the interview with Ray Manzarek (& I don't even like him that much). Word of warning to others like me: There Is No Interview! The cardboard sleeve surrounding the cd case says there is, but without that this European version is the same as the Canadian one - "Roadhouse Blues" footage but no interview. Other than that & the usual complaints about not including "Wild Child", or putting in "Mosquito" instead of "Tight Rope", this is about the best 2cd comp out there. "Legacy" has "Wild Child" but it wastes time on "The Celebration of the Lizard", which only people like me would really want. Eventually we'll be able to make our own custom comps in the store (if they still have music stores), or on the internet like the Beastie Boys Anthology, but until then, not everybody will be happy. The 4 star review is cause they keep releasing these things for no other reason than to make money, & I'm still mad about the interview. The music is all 5 stars of course.

The Doors are another band that you love to listen to. I have came across many of their CDs like MORRISON HOTEL which is a classic. This CD covers almost all their hits. I loved this CD alot but the remastered sound was really something else I never heard the doors sound better than this. This includes the full versions of all the songs. This also includes a live recording that any doors fan will love titled Roadhouse Blues (LIVE). This includes a booklet filled with pictures of Jim Morrison, Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek, and John Densmore. This is the best greatest hits album of The Doors. Enjoy!

This is a very good selection of newly remastered Doors classics. It flows well from one song to another and really jams along in a great montage of THE DOORS best works.

Unlike the older 2 Disc best of set (which is also good, of course) since this is all on one CD it is more convenient when listening to the Doors in the car or on a walkman.

A great buy; all Doors fans should own it.

Simply put: Out of about the 300 CDs I own this is the best. It not only contains all of the radio classics, but also some rare tracks, and video footage (and it can be found for a good price in Canada). If every Greatest Hits album followed the standards set by this one, the world would be a much better place