The Doors - Greatest Hits [Elektra]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
A great singles band that often got a little unraveled on its album-only epics, the Doors are predictably remembered as Deeper Artists than some of their (especially Jim Morrison's) pretensions merit. But those 45s really were great. They dominate this disc, with "Light My Fire" (the album version) and "Hello I Love You" banging by to complement the moodier "Riders on the Storm" (also at LP length) and a live "Roadhouse Blues" rescued from An American Prayer. Predictably, the record closes with a few other non-AM tracks, including "The End." But most of the real meat is in the stuff that made it to the jukeboxes. --Rickey Wright

Tracks:

Hello, I Love You
Light My Fire
People Are Strange
Love Me Two Times
Riders On The Storm
Break On Through
Roadhouse Blues (Live)
Touch Me
L.A. Woman
Love Her Madly
The Ghost Song
The End

Amazon.com

A great singles band that often got a little unraveled on its album-only epics, the Doors are predictably remembered as Deeper Artists than some of their (especially Jim Morrison's) pretensions merit. But those 45s really were great. They dominate this disc, with "Light My Fire" (the album version) and "Hello I Love You" banging by to complement the moodier "Riders on the Storm" (also at LP length) and a live "Roadhouse Blues" rescued from An American Prayer. Predictably, the record closes with a few other non-AM tracks, including "The End." But most of the real meat is in the stuff that made it to the jukeboxes. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews:

Good DOORS compilation.......2007-02-12

This particular GREATEST HITS collection is an ideal album.

The DOORS were one of THE most inconsistent bands in history-- for proof, compare MORRISON CAFE to their debut album, or stack up THE SOFT PARADE against STRANGE DAYS. The former are drivelbound, the latter are generally good quality.

The in-concert "Roadhouse Blues" is excellent, and Morrison's thoughts afterward chillingly prescient. The edited version here of "The End" is really ALL you need of this overhyped dabble into Freudian psychology. As for the rest of this set: solid material-- worth owning. Recommended.

TOTAL RUNNING TIME -- 55:50

Fair representation of their music.......2007-01-17

I would have to agree with the previous reviewer John, this CD is fair but neglects alot of great songs that would serve better as a broader representation of some of the Doors best music. Twentieth Century fox, your lost little girl, wishful sinful, there are so many songs that could have been included in a Greatest hits package. However the only way to get a true feel for this band is to listen to each of their albums. I always thought that "The Doors" and "STrange Days" was probably some of their best work. The Doors- "abosolutely Live" and L A Woman would also be essential to really get a feeling for how unique this band was for its time. Years ago I owned the Album "Thirteen" in 8 Track tape which was a better gretaest hits package, but I guess this is a fair place to start. If you are interested in the doors music, you must listen to "STrange Days"

The sound of The Doors: Don't you love it madly? .......2006-06-08

I have nothing but praise for this album, since it introduced me to the distinctive and often stellar music of '70s Rock band "The Doors", and, though flawed and hardly definitive, is a fairly comprehensive edition, containing some of the group's best and most enduring pieces, though the exclusion of several other "Doors" masterpieces should come as something of a disapointment to more discriminating fans.
As partial compensation, however, the flamboyance and charisma of lead singer Jim Morrison are frequently on display, particularly in the rambling "Roadhouse Blues", and in the jazzy, mesmeric, Rimbaud-like rhythms and imagery of "The Ghost Song", an excellent spoken-word piece.
Most of the songs here are familiar, and with good reason: listening to Morrison intone lyrics like "You know the day destroys the night/night divides the day/ try to run, try to hide/break on through to the other side/" is still electrifying, providing one with ample pleasure, without the necccesity of being a "hippie" or the assistance of mind-warping drugs.
The CD also has it's unintentionally evocative moments: during the now-slightly-campy yet strangely delightful improvisatory monologue by Morrison towards the end of "Roadhouse Blues", as hysterical fans shriek their assent with his...er...interesting perspectives, one can almost smell the Acid in the air and see the light reflected off the tinted glasses of crowds of long-haired hippies, stoned out of their gourds and swaying to the music.
Some of the less puerile and more serious aspects of Morrison's poetic vision are represented as well, particularly in songs like "Riders On the Storm" and "Break on Through". There are indeed many gems to be unearthed when sifting through the "Doors" rich oeuvre.
Nevertheless, as with all treasure troves, there are a few fake dubloons inevitably mingled amongst the gold...in this CD's case, the let-down comes in the form of the surprisingly conventional "Love Me Two Times", and...well, that's about the only dud there is. The other songs, without exception, are great.
My only other complaint with this collection, aside from it's exclusion of several beloved "Doors" songs to be found on other albums, is the fact that the last half of Jim Morrison's magnum opus "The End" has been truncated. The pamphlet on the inside cover of the CD case lists this as the version "from 'Apocalypse Now'". Still, I find the loss of such magnificent music-poetry immensely dissapointing, marring what is otherwise a fine overview.

I mean, c'mon!

OK was Touch Me really necessary?.......2006-02-10

Don't get me wrong, this release has some great music on it, including Break on Through, Light My Fire, The End, Love Her Madly, L.A. Woman, Roadhouse Blues and Riders on the Storm. BUT...it also has its fair share of bad music, such as Touch Me, near-unlistenable. Jim Morrison, this so-called American Poet (and he is a good songwriter) can't scrape together much more than "I'm gonna love you till the stars fall from the sky..." That and it's flat-out pretentious. I am sorry. Don't really care too much for Hello I Love You or the Ghost Song either, but that's just me. And where is The Unknown Soldier?
At least they skipped Wild Child...

i agree with the spotlight review.......2006-02-09

i love this cd and now im moving on to other albums by the doors. it served as a great introduction to the doors but now i want more. i would recommend this to anyone interested in their sound in the slightest bit, its a good starting point.

Average customer rating:

Doors - Greatest Hits
Doors
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Supergroups | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Classic Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0000563A1

Average customer rating:

Doors - Greatest Hits
The Doors
Manufacturer: Wea International
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Proto Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Supergroups | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000056H78
Release Date: 2001-01-09

Tracks:

Hello, I Love You
Light My Fire
People Are Strange
Love Me Two Times
Riders on the Storm
Break on Through (To the Other Side)
Roadhouse Blues [Live]
Touch Me
L.A. Woman
Love Her Madly
Ghost Song
End [From Apocalypse Now]
Wintertime Love [*]

Album Details

Japanese limited reissue collection with a 36page deluxe booklet with lyrics & additional photos.. Includes the version of 'The End' from Apocalypse Now, & the Japan only bonus track: 'Wintertime Love'.

Average customer rating:

Doors - Greatest Hits (+1 Bonus Track) ~ Doors
This CD is good
Thirteen essential recordings from a very influential 60's b
A nice sampling

Doors - Greatest Hits (+1 Bonus Track)
Doors
Manufacturer: Elekt
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Supergroups | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Classic Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0000088F2
Release Date: 1998-04-08

Album Details

Japanese Release featuring a Bonus Track: Winter Time Love.

Customer Reviews:

Doors - Greatest Hits (+1 Bonus Track) ~ Doors.......2005-03-29

The doors is my favorite 60's band after the Roling Stones. Morrison is an amazing singer, artist and the other guys are very accomplished muisicans and also great performers and artists in their own right. The lyrics are deep in meaning and sometimes one has no idea what Morrison is talking about. The book-let looks cheap and there is not much information at all, but the photos are very well done and Morrison looks stupendous. The other band memebers are not as nice looking and they should not included them on the cover. I love the lyrics, music, sound, Morrisons vocals. This is an astounding compilation.

This CD is good.......2004-09-14

I love this cd every song on it is wonderful. I can listen to it all day everyday. I would recomend this cd to anyone who has never heard the doors becuase it is so good and they can see how good the doors were. This cd will keep you going. If you could buy only 1 cd for the rest of your life let it be this one.

Thirteen essential recordings from a very influential 60's b.......2000-06-26

Though not all of the greatest hits are here, this CD packs the essentials. From 1967 to 1971, The Doors made some of the greatest music of our time, while daring musical boundaries. The band rarely used a bassist, relying more on Manzarek's sometimes haunting, sometimes lifting organ. Influential even now, almost 30 years after the demise of the Doors, more bands can credit them with more inspiration than any band from that era. To show the remaining Doors still have what it takes, they played at their induction in the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame with Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder filling in for Morrison. They played a blistering 3 song set from this Greatest Hits CD, including Light My Fire and Break On Through, both #1 hits from their debut CD. Though the remaining Doors have made attempts to revitalize the band, most notably a consideration of post-Saturday Night Fever John Travolta, the Doors are immortalized with this CD and the original band: Robby Krieger, John Densmore, Ray Manzarek, and Jim Morrison.

A nice sampling.......2000-06-22

This album is great for those individuals getting "aquainted" with the sound of the Doors.It contains samples of their classic hits plus a few that you hardly get to hear on the radio (like wintertime love off of their "waiting for the sun" album).As a die-hard Doors fan, I know this will turn you on to more of their material, as they do have a lot more for you to digest. If you're only going to invest in one Doors c.d, it may as well be this one because it will deliver and YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY!These tunes get me rockin' every time I play the c.d, after all these times.This is music you will FEEL!

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