A COLLECTION (6CD)

Review Nº 567

"A Collection" is a very special compilation of The Doors and was released in 2011. This is a package that includes their six studio albums, "The Doors" and "Strange Days", both from 1967, "Waiting For The Sun" from 1968, "The Soft Parade" from 1969, "Morrison Hotel" from 1970 and "L.A. Woman" from 1971. All these albums were recorded when Jim Morrison was alive and was member of the band. It doesn't include their ninth very special studio album "An American Prayer", also featuring Jim Morrison, but recorded and released only after his dead, by the remaining band's members.

As I've already reviewed all these six albums previously on Progarchives, in a more extensive way, I'm not going to do it again. So, if you are interested to know, in more detail, what I wrote about them before, I invite you to read those my reviews. However, in here I'm going to write something about them in a more short way. So, of course, I'm not going to analyze them track by track, as I made before, but I'm only going to make a global appreciation of all those albums. "The Doors": "The Doors" is considered the great masterpiece from th e band, one of their most progressive albums. This is a perfect album with no weaknesses. Some of the songs included on this album, such as "Light My Fire", "Alabama Song (Whisky Bar)", "Break On Through (To The Other Side)" and "The End" are successes that have been immortalized by the band and who contributed to immortalize the band too. When we heard "Light My Fire" and "The End" we can see why The Doors is considered one of the most important bands to the foundation of progressive rock.

"Strange Days": Although not as good as "The Doors", "Strange Days" can still be considered a masterpiece. The album consists of songs that didn't make part of their debut album. "Strange Days" is a great album, well balanced and with great songs like "When The Music's Over", which follows the same musical formula of "The End" of "The Doors". It's a fantastic album if you enjoy their first album and it's also very special for people like me who love more their earlier musical works. "The Doors" and "Strange Days" are the best representative albums of the style of The Doors.

"Waiting For The Sun": After the first two very strong psychedelic albums, their third album appeared softer and full of ballads, which has been criticized by fans and critics. However and despite not be as good as "The Doors" and "Strange Days" are, it still is a great album, very well balanced and that maintain the same musical formula of the two previous albums. It's one of their best works and remains a perfect partner to their two first albums. All in all, it's a very good album, not up to the level of the two preceding ones, but still is a great piece of psychedelic, blues, jazz and rock.

"The Soft Parade": "The Soft Parade" is considered the weakest studio album of The Doors. A big change in the production didn't help the album's success, especially the addition of brass and string arrangements. It was much criticized and even be considered as a sellout commercial album. I can't agree with most of the critics about it. It's true that it's less good than their previous albums but it has a handful of good songs and quality enough to be seen as a good album of their psychedelic style. And I'm not pretty sure if "The Soft Parade" is weaker than "Morrison Hotel" is. "Morrison Hotel": After their more experimental previous work "The Soft Parade", which wasn't very well received, the group went back to their more traditional roots. On this album, there is a slight steer toward the blues, which would be fully explored by the band on their next studio album "L.A.Woman". Nothing complex here, but the arrangements are good, the same happens with the recording and the mixing. As I said before, I'm not sure if "The Soft Parade" is weaker than "Morrison Hotel" is. Anyway, "The Soft Parade" and "Morrison Hotel" are the weakest studio albums of The Doors.

"L.A. Woman": "L.A.Woman" is a great album and represents one of the best works of The Doors. It represents a clear change into their musical direction, from their earlier psychedelic musical period to a more blues/rock oriented style. Personally, I must confess that I'm not a great fan of blues. So, I prefer their earlier psychedelic period. However, "L.A.Woman" is an album full of great songs, especially "Riders On The Storm", which is a masterpiece. Though I prefer the earlier phase of The Doors, maybe here they were most inventive. It's their best album since "Strange Days".

Conclusion: "A Collection" is a very nice compilation album because it has all the six studio albums released by The Doors when Jim Morrison was in the band. So, it comprises all the essential works that you really must have from The Doors. But, if you already have all the six studio albums you don't need to buy this compilation, because it hasn't anything new to offer, like bonus tracks. Still, if you are a beginner with the band and you don't have all these albums yet, this is an excellent alternative to own all the essential discography from The Doors. If you aren't a great fan, how I am, and you don't need to buy the original albums, it's the better option, because you maybe save in money and space.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

No-frills, compact presentation of the six Doors studio albums that had Jim Morrison on lead vocals - which for many will be the only Doors albums they particularly need. Indeed, for some it will be too many - not everyone gets on with The Soft Parade - but I'm much happier to have it as part of this sleek package, since at least it isn't taking up too much room. As an instant, cost-effective way to get the true Doors classics (the debut, Strange Days, and L.A. Woman) and their second-tier albums all in one fell swoop, this package is really hard to beat, even if three of the albums here stand head and shoulders above the rest.