The Best of the Doors
The Doors

The first thing which strikes home on hearing this album is how fresh it sounds. A raft of very great music from the frantic 'Break On Through' to the beautifully doleful and theatrical 'The End'.

The organ classic, 'Light My Fire', and the magical 'Riders On The Storm' are the most familiar tracks on this album, but most of the lesser-known cuts stand up as well. 'The Crystal Ship' is Jim Morrison at his most poetical, 'Strange Days' is Jim at his most psychedelic.

'When The Music's Over' explodes into a New Orderish vein, so who followed who? 'People Are Strange' is sparkling pop, 'The Unknown Soldier' a potent protest song. 'Waiting For The Sun' has tremendous rhythm changes, with the keyboard wizardry of Ray Manzarek to the fore. Robby Krieger shows his flamenco roots on the folky 'Spanish Caravan', and John Densmore goes mad on 'Touch Me', as crashing cymbals abound. The latter is almost Motown with its swinging brass, while 'Love Her Madly' and 'Hello, I Love You' still sound futuristic. A fab collection.

- Paul Rance/booksmusicfilmstv.com.