The Best of The Doors (1985 album)

Last updated
The Best of the Doors
Jimmorrison2.jpg
Greatest hits album by
Released1985 (1985)
Recorded1966–1971
Genre Rock
Length89:20
Label Elektra
Producer
The Doors chronology
The Doors Classics
(1985)
The Best of the Doors
(1985)
Live at the Hollywood Bowl
(1987)

The Best of The Doors is a compilation album by American rock group the Doors. Released in 1985, the double LP set contains 18 songs from their first six albums with lead singer Jim Morrison, including charting singles and selected album cuts. [1] Danny Sugerman contributed a short essay which discussed the band's origins, influences and Morrison's personality, and was printed inside the gatefold sleeve.

Contents

When the album was released on compact disc in 1991, it reached number 32 in the U.S. and in the top twenty in several other countries. In February 2007, the album was certified as Diamond 10× by the Recording Industry Association of America.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [2]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Sputnikmusic4.5/5 [4]

In a retrospective review for AllMusic, Bruce Eder gave the album a rating of four and a half out of five stars. He commented that, when it was released in 1985, The Best of the Doors was the most comprehensive collection to date and provided a good overview. [2] However, he noted:

Good as it is, the compilation misleads somewhat by removing the material from its original context and also shuffling the order, so that songs off of The Soft Parade bump up against tracks from L.A. Woman. The hits can stand on their own, but overall the music lacks the broader impact that it was intended to have when heard juxtaposed with the other tracks on their respective original albums. [2]

Eder added that more recent albums, which also benefit from remastering, "renders this collection somewhat less attractive than it was on its initial release". [2]

Track listing

Original album

All tracks are written by the Doors (Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger and John Densmore), except as noted. Details are taken from the 1985 U.S. Elektra release; other releases may show different information. [5]

Side one
No.TitleOriginal album (year)Length
1."Break On Through (To the Other Side)" The Doors (1967)2:25
2."Light My Fire"The Doors7:05
3."The Crystal Ship" (Morrison)The Doors2:31
4."People Are Strange" Strange Days (1967)2:09
5."Strange Days"Strange Days3:06
6."Love Me Two Times"Strange Days3:13
7."Alabama Song" (Weill, CD-only bonus track)The Doors3:16
Total length:24:01
Side two
No.TitleOriginal album (year)Length
1."Five to One" Waiting for the Sun (1968)4:25
2."Waiting for the Sun" Morrison Hotel (1970)3:57
3."Spanish Caravan"Waiting for the Sun2:57
4."When the Music's Over"Strange Days10:55
Total length:22:20
Side three
No.TitleOriginal album (year)Length
1."Hello, I Love You"Waiting for the Sun2:14
2."Roadhouse Blues"Morrison Hotel4:02
3."L.A. Woman" L.A. Woman (1971)7:48
4."Riders on the Storm"L.A. Woman7:14
Total length:21:25
Side four
No.TitleOriginal album (year)Length
1."Touch Me" The Soft Parade (1969)3:10
2."Love Her Madly"L.A. Woman3:17
3."The Unknown Soldier"Waiting for the Sun3:22
4."The End"The Doors11:41
Total length:21:39

Personnel

Per album liner notes: [5]

The Doors

Technical

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Argentina (CAPIF) [18] Platinum60,000^
Australia (ARIA) [19] 4× Platinum280,000^
Belgium (BEA) [20] Gold25,000*
Canada (Music Canada) [21] 6× Platinum600,000^
Finland (Musiikkituottajat) [22] Gold22,150 [22]
France (SNEP) [23] Platinum300,000*
New Zealand (RMNZ) [24] Platinum15,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway) [25] Gold25,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [26] Gold50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [27] Platinum50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [28] Platinum300,000^
United States (RIAA) [29] Diamond10,000,000 [30]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

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