The Doors Album: “Legacy: The Absolute Best”

I don't know about "definitive", but this is the most comprehensive "unboxed" Doors collection to date. (The original "Doors Box Set", in my opinion, contains much filler and substandard performances, and is for diehards and completists only.) This 2-disc collection contains all their chart hits (seven top 40 singles, including two #1's) and most of their better album tracks, including the two epics, "The End" and "When the Music's Over". Generally, the track choices are on the money, although I would have liked to see the title track of "The Soft Parade" included. Also, I have mixed feelings about "Celebration of the Lizard", a lengthy unreleased work which contains the original version of "Not to Touch the Earth", and has more archival than musical value. If you have no Doors in your CD library yet, however, this is the best collection out there.

I have no idea how many Doors "greatest hits" collections have been issued over the years, but this is as good as it's likely to get without simply buying all six albums.

The previous "Best of the Doors" was 2-cd set but was a transfer from a two-LP set and didn't take advantage of the longer CD running time, each disc running under 45 mins. This set not only includes all the Doors' most popular songs but puts them in chronological order, and adds the live track "Gloria" and the previously unissued studio version of "The Celebration of the Lizard."

"Lizard" is a curio item that seems to have been tacked on to force people like me (who already own all the Doors albums) to buy this one too. While "Lizard" is a great poem, the line about "a different steeple" being a notable exception, most of the music doesn't work that well, except for "Not to Touch the Earth." The live versions of "Lizard" are equally frustrating, running hot and cold but never having quite the impact the Doors were shooting for. This is clearly still a work in progress; perhaps if the Doors had continued to perform it they would have found a solid groove for it. (Ray Manzarek has said that he was never competely satisfied with live performances of "The End", either; but at least they nailed the studio version.)

IMPORTANT: Both "The End" and "Break on Through" include minor alterations from their original versions. There is some different vocalization by Jim on both songs, some of which you hear on the version of "The End" that was used in the film "Apocalypse Now." There's nothing inherently wrong with offering these alternative mixes but it does detract from the collection's claim to be definitive.

*This compilation has been deleted and replaced by yet another two-disc set, with some different songs.*

It is hard to describe in printed word The Doors' contribution to popular music. To say they were one of the greatest rock and roll bandsof all time is not enough. Lead by the greatest frontman ever, rock's poet Jim Morrison, The Doors' genius to this day permeates through the music world even today.

So, 38 years after their first album we have the two disc "Legacy: The Absolute Best", a 34 track collection of some of their bests songs. Now, most people will tell you that no "greatest hits" or "best of" or even boxed set can ever fully encompass The Doors' effect on music, but this collection is nonetheless loaded to the hilt with rock classics.

Here are some great reasosn to buy this collection

-All of their top 40 hits are here: from the big hits ("Light My Fire", "Hello, I Love You", "Touch Me") to the ones that barely squeaked in ("Love Me Two Times", "Unknown Soldier"), all of them are here.

-All the key minor hits and album tracks are here: "Back Door Man", "Roadhouse Blues", "When The Music's Over", "Crystal Ship", "L.A. Woman" (to be honest, and I know I'll be endlessly criticized for it, I like Billy Idol's version slightly better) and many others are available here.

-No tracks are edited. Most collections of many artists edit tracks down so weak songs or new songs can be added. That means epic tracks like "Riders On The Storm" and the epic 11 minute long "When The Music's Over" are all included in their full version.

-The previously unreleased complete version of "Celebration Of The Lizard" is here. 17 minutes of brilliance.

-Liner notes are brilliant.

I won't waste time: buy this album.

One of the few things most reviews presented so far have excluded to mention is that there are a few extra goodies in this package of greatest hits. For one, they put back in the "she gets high" lyrics in Break On Through (To the Other Side), which was originally taken out for controversy. So now the song sounds, for the first time, what they originally wanted it to sound like. Also, they have loudened morrison's voice in The End where he goes off in the "f-word" frenzy (which was included in the Apocalypse Now version of the song). And finally, there is the studio version of The Celebration Lizard. Unfortunately, Morrison sounds subdued and weary and unprophetic here...as if they recorded it casually on a saturday afternoon. The live version is by far much better, since it is raw, and pure, and true in emotion and brilliance. The studio version just puts Jim reading his lyrics to the ad libbed playing of Manzarek and Krieger. Nothing special, even for true fans dying to here it for the first time. Once again, The Doors are trying to reap profit of a double cd by adding a few changes to their music. This cd can be skipped. Do yourself a favor and by the original six studio albums.

Because The Doors have been "my band" for over thirty years now, I am like many fans who can't seem to get enough, whether it's a bootleg, an outtake, or an alternate version of one of their tunes. Well, I can say honestly that you can let me up--I've had enough. Part of the fascinating history of this wonderful band involves their proposed full album-side opus, Celebration of the Lizard, which sadly, was never completed for the Waiting for the Sun release. Now I can understand why. The marketing machine behind The Doors has preyed upon my obsession again and tossed me and others like me one more bone--the previously unreleased studio version of Celebration of the Lizard, which is the only new track on this anthology. How disappointing to finally hear this lack-luster and clumsy track, especially after the fine performance of this piece on the original Absolutely Live record back in the 70s. That performance was mesmerizing, intense, and executed beautifully before a live audience. My recommendation is, continue to love this band--as you should--but don't get duped into another release like Legacy because it only waters down the great heritage this band left us with. By the way, go see them live and they will knock your socks off!