ESSENTIAL RARITIES (THE BEST OF THE '97 BOX SET)

"Essential Rarities (The Best Of '97 Box Set)" is a compilation of The Doors and was released in 1999. It was released as part of the Box Set "The Complete Studio Recordings" which was released in 1999. "Essential Rarities" was released in 1999 as a single CD. It contains studio cuts, live cuts and demos taken from "The Doors Box Set" released in 1997.

So, all the tracks have been released on the 1997 Box set, with the exception of the bonus track "Woman Is A Devil", which was edited from the 1969 Elektra Studios "Rock Is Dead" sessions, and wasn't included in original the Box set. It has also some tracks that appear in a more complete form than their Box set versions. For instance, "Roadhouse Blues" has a thirty-five second musical section that was cut from the song and "Who Scared You?" has an extra verse.

"Essential Rarities (The Best Of '97 Box Set)" has fifteen tracks. "Hello To The Cities" represents the presentation of the band on a live show. It was taken from a live recording on Ed Sullivan Show in 1967 and at Cobo Hall, Detroit in 1970. It's a very short track with less than a minute, a presentation to all the cities. "Break On Through (To The Other Side)" was originally recorded on "The Doors". This version was recorded live at the Isle of Wight Festival, England in 1970. It's a great version because it has an extended introduction with a back and forth playing of the keyboards and guitar, and a lengthy guitar playing. "Roadhouse Blues" was originally recorded on "Morrison Hotel". This version was recorded live at Madison Square Garden, New York in 1970. This is another great version of the song. "Hyacinth House" was originally recorded on "L.A. Woman". This version is a demo recorded at Robby Krieger's home studio in 1969. This is a faster version, without keyboards and drums. It's a good version and is cool to have Densmore on the bongos. "Who Scared You?" was never released on any of their studio albums. This version was recorded at Elektra Studios in 1969. It's a bluesy song more focused on Morrison's vocals than any other instrument. It has a cool beat and a cool chorus too. "Whiskey, Mystics And Men" was never released on any of their studio albums. This version was also recorded at Elektra Studios in 1970. It's a nice song, one more bluesy song with a cool story. Probably, it was a leftover song of "Morrison Hotel". "I Will Never Be Untrue" was never released on any of their studio albums. This version was recorded live at the Aquarius Theatre, Hollywood in 1969. It's a slow blues song, that at sometimes can be funny due to its lyrics. "Moonlight Drive" was originally recorded on "Strange Days". This version is a demo recorded at World Pacific Studios in 1965. Originally, it's a very catchy song. On this version Morrison sounds a little bit different and the recordings aren't quite the best. "Queen Of The Highway" was originally recorded on "Morrison Hotel". This version is an alternative version that was recorded at Elektra Studios in 1969. It's another catchy song. This new version sounds like something you'd hear in a lounge singing room with a piano to a group of friends. "Someday Soon" was never released on any of their studio albums. This version was recorded live at the Seattle Centre in 1970. This song starts out slow but then starts to pick up higher. It's a good song that could be part of "Waiting For The Sun" or "Morrison Hotel". "Hello, I Love You" was originally recorded on "Waiting For The Sun". This version is a demo recorded at World Pacific Studios in 1965. It's a faster version and where we have a harmonica being played after every verse. It's very cool. "Orange County Suite" was never released on any of their studio albums. This version was recorded at Elektra Studios in 1970. It's a blues song that is slow and provides a good story. "The Soft Parade" was originally recorded on "The Soft Parade". This version was recorded live on PBS Television, New York in 1969. Originally it's a great song that goes through so many styles that it's mind blasting. But, this version was recorded on the television which means that it was recorded badly. Still, it's cool. "The End" was originally recorded on "The Doors". This version was recorded live at Madison Square Garden, New York in 1970. It's probably the most known, better and progressive song of The Doors. What I can say about this version? I can say that it's even lengthier. A version with about more six minutes extended.

"Essential Rarities" has an extra track "Woman Is A Devil" which was never released on any of their studio albums. It's the only track that wasn't on the Box set. This version was also recorded at Elektra Studios in 1969. This is a song very calm and reserved, which sounds like from it was played in a smoky pub with the wonderful guitar playing by Krieger.

Conclusion: "Essential Rarities (The Best Of '97 Box Set)" is a collection of rare demos and live tracks previously available only as a bonus disc in "The Complete Studio Recordings". It's a bunch of stuff that many hard core fans need, and that probably some have already purchased as part of the Box set or as bootlegs. If not, this is a good way to get a bunch of pretty good cuts, highlighted by the 1969 outtakes "Woman Is A Devil", and "Who Scared You?" and the 1965 demo "Moonlight Drive". Still, this is just for hardcore fans since there just isn't anything that is noteworthy for the casual listener, apart from possibly those three previously mentioned tracks. However, those are still specialized items.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)