DOORS - THE BEST OF THE DOORS 1976, JIM MORRISON - 12" Viny LP Album

The Doors - The Best of The Doors (1976)

Let's face it, folks, The Doors weren't exactly known for playing by the rules. So, it figures that their "greatest hits" wouldn't exactly be your grandma's greatest hits collection. This 1976 compilation, just a couple years after the Lizard King shuffled off this mortal coil, isn't some sugar-coated retrospective. Oh, no. This is a punch to the gut, a whirlwind tour of everything that made The Doors dangerous, poetic, and, well, weird.

A Raucous Blend of Hits and Deep Cuts

This vinyl platter throws a curveball right from the start. Instead of the expected anthem "Light My Fire," Side One opens with the bluesy cover of Willie Dixon's "Who Do You Love?" It's a statement of intent – this ain't a pandering greatest hits record. It's a raw exploration of the band's musical spectrum. We get the swaggering garage rock of "Soul Kitchen" and the bubblegum-tinged rebellion of "Hello, I Love You," all before diving into the iconic, spooky soundscape of "People Are Strange." The side closes with the epic, genre-bending "Riders on the Storm," a track that seamlessly blends rock, blues, and a touch of psychedelia.

More Than Just Lizard King theatrics

Side Two leans into the band's seductive side with the slinky "Touch Me," but the darkness never quite recedes. "Love Her Madly" and "Love Me Two Times" showcase Morrison's lower register and the band's ability to groove. "Take It As It Comes" throws a curveball with its jazzy flourishes, keeping the listener on their toes. The haunting "Moonlight Drive" adds a touch of late-night melancholy before the album explodes in a blaze of glory with the full, extended version of "Light My Fire."

The Doors Uncensored

The Doors were more than just leather pants and brooding. Tracks like "The End" showcase their bluesy roots, while the haunting "Riders on the Storm" throws in a spooky thunderstorm for good measure. Ray Manzarek's keyboards weave a dark tapestry throughout, and Robby Krieger's guitar work is both scorching and nuanced. John Densmore's drumming? Tight as a drum, man. Tight.

Of course, The Doors weren't exactly strangers to controversy. Morrison's infamous Miami concert antics are the stuff of legend (and probably best left unsaid here). But that rawness, that willingness to push boundaries, is what made them so damn exciting. This ain't your parents' Byrds, folks. This is rock and roll on the precipice of a nervous breakdown.

Produced by the band themselves, along with longtime collaborator Paul A. Rothchild, "The Best of The Doors" isn't some sterile studio creation. These tracks were reportedly culled from the original multi-track recordings, which gives them a nice, live-in-the-studio feel. Think of it as a greatest hits album that doesn't shy away from the glorious, messy power of The Doors at their peak.