STAR COLLECTION (VOL. 1)

"Star Collection (Vol. 1)" is a compilation of The Doors and was released in 1973. This compilation is, in a certain way, twin of another compilation, the "Star Collection (Vol. 2)", which was originally issued separately and released in the next year, in 1974. Each compilation is housed in its own original unique portrait style bordered picture covers featuring a large photo with a smaller picture of the other band's members. Vinyl and sleeve on both compilations were both in superb conditions and, at the time that they were released, they were, without any doubt, a must for any collection for The Doors fans. I own a copy of both compilations. However, and just only for information purposes, it seems that there is a special version of a "Star Collection" with two record set which includes Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 in the same package.

"Star Collection (Vol. 1)" has ten tracks. It features tracks from five of their six studio albums wh en Morrison was alive and was member of The Doors. It has two tracks from "The Doors" of 1967, one track from "Strange Days" also of 1967, one track from "Waiting For The Sun" of 1968, one track from "The Soft Parade" of 1969 and five tracks from "Morrison Hotel" of 1970. However, it hasn't any tracks from their sixth and last studio album when Morrison was member of the band, the album "L.A. Woman". So, "Light My Fire" and "Back Door Man" are from "The Doors". "Unhappy Girl" is from "Strange Days". "My Wild Love" is from "Waiting For The Sun". "Wishful Sinful" is from "The Soft Parade". "Waiting For The Sun", "Roadhouse Blues", "Maggie M'Gill", "Land Ho!" and "Peace Frog" are all from "Morrison Hotel".

"Waiting For The Sun" is a great song. It's slightly a psychedelic song that changes from the quiet to more heavy musical passages, with an excellent musical work and a very melodic vocal performance. It represents the highlight of "Morrison Hotel" and is a song with some progressive lines. "Roadhouse Blues" has some memorable lyrics, lyrics that reflect the rock lifestyle of many musicians in those times. It seems that it was inspired by Morrison's lifestyle. It's a blues/rock song with great works of harmonica and piano and with the guitar helping to keep the rhythm. "My Wild Love" is a song 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. It's, in reality, a very weird song, and it isn't, definitely, one of the highlights of The Doors. "Unhappy Girl" is a song very similar to "You're Lost Little Girl" of the "Strange Days" too. Its lyrics are about a woman and have a bit of a humoristic feeling. Musically, it's a mellow psychedelic song that represents a naive, innocent and very beautiful musical moment. "Light My Fire" was the first great success of the band. It has brought the world fame and recognition to the band in the summer of 1967, bringing The Doors to the top of the charts and a symbol of that generation of the late 60's. This is one of the songs that contributed to immortalize The Doors. "Maggie M'Gill" is one of the best songs on "Morrison Hotel". It's full of a great guitar work and it has some beautiful keyboard parts. This is one of the songs on that album with some harder sound. It isn't one of their best songs but it's nice and interesting to hear. "Back Door Man" was originally a blues song written by Willie Dixon and was recorded by Howlin' Wolf, in 1961, and it became considered a classic of the Chicago blues. This version of The Doors is the bluesiest number on that album and represents a great cover. "Land Ho!" is a nice and pleasant song to hear with some creativity, fine musicianship and with some good guitar parts too. It's a fun song, with a kind of a childish feel to it. There are some beguiling and subtle harmonic dissonances during the haunting slower section that I like. "Peace Frog" is a song that blends seamlessly with "Blue Sunday" of "Morrison Hotel" too. Because they're two very short songs, it was very common that some radio stations played both songs together. "Peace Frog" has good lyrics and good rhythm, nice guitar and good keyboard playing. "Wishful Sinful" is a very good and beautiful ballad, which is simply beautiful from start to finish. Actually, it's one of the best ballads created by them with some fantastic orchestral arrangements. This song represents, without any doubt, one the highlights on "The Soft Parade".

Conclusion: Somehow, I always felt the two compilations, "Star Collection (Vol. 1)" and "Star Collection (Vol. 2)" linked together. For many years, they were my only albums from The Doors and I got used to hearing them together. It seems that I wasn't the only one to feel that. A record label decided to edit both compilations in a double LP. "Star Collection (Vol. 1)" isn't bad, but we can't say that we are in presence of a great collection of songs. I always thought that "Star Collection (Vol. 2)" is better than "Star Collection (Vol. 1)" because the selection of the tracks is better and well balanced. Overall, the repertoire is very unbalanced. Half of the songs on "Star Collection (Vol. 1)" are from one of their weakest albums, if not the weakest, "Morrison Hotel". So, if you want to buy a great compilation of The Doors, you must buy "The Best Of The Doors" of 1973, "The Best Of The Doors" of 1985 or "The Very Best Of The Doors" of 2007.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

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