STAR COLLECTION (VOL. I + II)

"Star Collection (Vol. I + II)" is a compilation of The Doors that was released in 1977. It's nothing more than the join of two previous compilation albums from the band, "Star Collection (Vol. 1)" released in 1973 and "Star Collection (Vol. 2)" released in 1974, issued on the same package. The cover of "Star Collection (Vol. I + II)" is similar to the cover of "Star Collection (Vol. 1)". The only differences are the inscription of "Vol. I + II" and the E of Electra instead the M of Midi.

"Star Collection (Vol. I + II)" has twenty one tracks. "Light My Fire", "Back Door Man", "Soul Kitchen" and "The Crystal Ship" are from "The Doors" of 1967. "Light My Fire" brought the world fame and recognition of the band, bringing The Doors to the top of the charts and a symbol of that generation of the late 60's. "Back Door Man" was originally a blues song written by Willie Dixon and recorded by Howlin' Wolf, in 1961. This version is a great cover. "Soul Kitchen" is a nice rock song played with energy. It's a tribute to the restaurant "Olivia's" in Venice Beach, where Morrison and Manzarek met for the first time. "The Crystal Ship" is a love song inspired by Morrison's first love, Mary Werbelow. Like many of the songs written by Morrison, it has a mysterious and dark sound. "Unhappy Girl", "My Eyes Have Seen You" and "Horse Latitudes" are from "Strange Days" also of 1967. "Unhappy Girl" has lyrics about a woman and has a humoristic feeling. It's a mellow psychedelic song that represents a naive, innocent and beautiful moment. "My Eyes Have Seen You" is a short, simple and nice rock song with the same dark, evil and impetus vein of most of the songs of their earlier days. It's a love and a perverse song. Only they would able to do such thing. "Horse Latitudes" is a spoken word by Morrison with the band providing noises in the background. It's a strange track, the weirdest thing the band ever made. It's more an experimental than a true song. "My Wild Love", "Hello, I Love You" and "Love Street" are from "Waiting For The Sun" of 1968. "My Wild Love" is performed in a Cappella style. Morrison's vocals are backed up by the band's members vocals, performing different sorts of sounds, with their mouths and clapping hands. "Hello, I Love You", despite be considered one of the most pop songs of them, it's a great and very catchy song. I never understood the dislike of many fans about it. "Love Street" is a nice and soft ballad with great piano and guitar arrangements, complemented by the beautiful voice of Morrison. "Wishful Sinful", "Runnin' Blue", "The Soft Parade", "Touch Me" and "Wild Child" are from "The Soft Parade" of 1969. "Wishful Sinful" is a good and beautiful ballad. It's one of the best ballads created by them with fantastic orchestral arrangements. This is one of the highlights on "The Soft Parade". "Runnin' Blue" has a country style feel, with violin and the use of brass and string instruments. Krieger shares the vocal duties with Morrison for the chorus, a rarity in their entire career. "The Soft Parade" is a great progressive music with nice arrangements and strange lyrics. It has an excellent and unforgettable vocal performance by Morrison. "Touch Me" is a notable song for the extensive use of brass and string instruments and because the use of a saxophone solo by Curtis Amy. The orchestral arrangements work well and accent Morrison's vocals. "Wild Child" is a guitar driven song that sounds similar to many other songs of them. It's a song with excellent arrangements, particularly on the guitars. "Waiting For The Sun", "Roadhouse Blues", "Maggie M'Gill", "Land Ho!" and "Peace Frog" are from "Morrison Hotel" of 1970. "Waiting For The Sun" is slightly a psychedelic song that changes from the quiet to heavy passages, with an excellent musical work and a very melodic vocal performance. "Roadhouse Blues" has some memorable lyrics that reflect the rock lifestyle of many musicians in those times. It's a blues/rock song with great works of harmonica and piano and with the guitar helping to keep the rhythm. "Maggie M'Gill" has great guitar work and has some beautiful keyboard parts. Isn't one of their best songs, but it's nice and interesting to hear. "Land Ho!" is a song with some creativity, fine musicianship and good guitar parts. There are some beguiling and subtle harmonic dissonances during the haunting slower section that I like. "Peace Frog" has good lyrics and good rhythm, nice guitar and good keyboard performance. "Riders On The Storm" is from "L.A. Woman" of 1971. "Riders On The Storm" is a legendary track, one of their best. It was the last song recorded by The Doors, as well as Morrison's last recorded song.

Conclusion: As I mentioned above, "Star Collection (Vol. I + II)" is nothing more than the two previous compilations of The Doors, "Star Collection (Vol. 1)" and "Star Collection (Vol. 2)" joined together in one double compilation. As I wrote on my previous reviews about both those compilations, I've mentioned that they were two sister compilations, and that the best way to listen to them was listen both together, as I always did. I also said that "Star Collection (Vol. 1)" isn't as good as "Star Collection (Vol. 2)", because is less balanced and the selection of tracks is less good too. So, with "Star Collection (Vol. I + II)" we have the problem solved. Thus, "Star Collection (Vol. I + II)" can be joined to "The Best Of The Doors" of 1973, "The Best Of The Doors" of 1985 and "The Very Best Of The Doors" of 2007 as their best compilations.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)