Legacy: The Absolute Best [Best of, Original recording remastered]

 

 

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The Doors was only around for 4 years (1967-1971) and in that short time they made only 6 studio albums. They had several hit songs, but also an equal number of cool non-hit fan favourites. There are more Doors hit compilations than actual albums! Many of these have slightly varying song selections (and covers), depending on the country they're being sold in. Some of these come in single CD or double CD versions. The sound and mixes vary for many discs, with some positive results from remastering and negative results from remixing. It's hard to know which to get.

I've had exposure to a lot of Doors music, so I compared before buying. I've owned the single Greatest hits album, and the 1985 Best Of double CD, and the 2007 Very Best Of 2CD/1 DVD package. My one brother bought the box set of all the studio albums, and my other brother bought the previous Very Best Of double CD.

Personally, I love the Doors but I can't listen to all the studio albums in their entirety (just the first 2 albums). I hate it when people talk of Morrison as the sole genius... all 4 members contributed in creating very unique and interesting music, so let's give the band it's due but also acknowledge the reality that The Doors were a great rock band and nothing more profound than that.

I wanted a collection that had all the songs from the Best Of double CD set, plus all the songs from the first 2 albums that I loved... plus "Not to Touch the Earth" and the hard to get "Gloria" which was a hit in the 1980's when it was released. And I wanted the sound quality to be GOOD!

Compared to the 1985 Best Of double CD, all of the more recent (i.e. post-2000) CD's have great remastering, which makes everything louder, crisper, cleaner and clearer. However, the remixed versions (usually done by the surviving band members themselves) are a completely different listening experience. Yes, those versions sound fresh and clear and are the best sounding... but they are not true song mixes, in that Jim Morrison's voice is significantly lower in the mix, to be on par with the the instruments and show 4 equal parts but the voice can get very lost while listening to the CD's in the car. Also, the remixes simply put Morrison's vocal in the centre (i.e. in both speakers) and pan the instruments to right or left speakers, where they are louder and you can clearly hear their unique performances. This is very interesting to a musician who wants to lift the parts, but not to someone who just wants to hear the song in its best available form today.

Summary:
This Legacy CD set sounds amazing and gives you the real song mixes. It contains all the hits and all the cool fan favs... except for "Love Street". Compared to other collections, you gave up "Love Street" but gain "Gloria", "Not to Touch the Earth", "20th Century Fox", etc. Other than that it's all here and the price is a bargain.

Personally, I can listen to both discs play from beginning to end (actually, I'd eliminate the last track on CD 2, which is for collectors only), so, for me, this beats all other collections hands down... I don't need any other Doors CD's (well over half of all their recorded songs are here).

Perhaps if you already have all the Doors' albums, this is somewhat superfluous. But I didn't. I had the previous 2-CD best-of collection, which was great. But the quality of sound on this collection (due apparently to great remastering) is absolutely SPECTACULAR. And it has many more Doors' songs -- which I think we all agree are phenomenal. Plus, the price is very fair for 2 CDs that have over 75 minutes apiece on them.

Despite being famously frugal with my dollar, I do not for a moment regret "upgrading" my previous best-of collection with this incredibly excellent one. Top group, their top songs, huge quantity, incredible sound quality, and a good price. Go for it!

I don't know about "definitive", but this is the most comprehensive "unboxed" Doors collection to date. (The original "Doors Box Set", in my opinion, contains much filler and substandard performances, and is for diehards and completists only.) This 2-disc collection contains all their chart hits (seven top 40 singles, including two #1's) and most of their better album tracks, including the two epics, "The End" and "When the Music's Over". Generally, the track choices are on the money, although I would have liked to see the title track of "The Soft Parade" included. Also, I have mixed feelings about "Celebration of the Lizard", a lengthy unreleased work which contains the original version of "Not to Touch the Earth", and has more archival than musical value. If you have no Doors in your CD library yet, however, this is the best collection out there.

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3.0 out of 5 stars Not exactly the band's "absolute best"
Some of the very best Doors songs are missing from this collection: "You're Lost, Little Girl", "Love Street", "The Soft Parade", "Ship of... Read more

Published on July 3 2004 by JR Hercules

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent As Casual Fans 1st Purchase
"Legacy" is a solid 2-disc set that expands on the 1985 "Best Of The Doors" by including 16 cuts("Soul Kitchen","My Eyes Have Seen... Read more

Published on Jun 3 2004 by B. J O'Connor

5.0 out of 5 stars the best.
The Doors are an awesome band and Jim Morrison was a genius. Highly recommended along with American Prayer.

Published on May 21 2004 by Justin Allen

5.0 out of 5 stars Their Best
Definetely one of my favorite classic artists of all time. If you are new to the Doors, this is for you. Read more

Published on May 12 2004 by successfulpsycho

5.0 out of 5 stars Latest "Best Of" Is Not For Everyone
There's a lot of kvetching going on among my fellow reviewers. Most of the 1- to 3-star reviews complain about yet another repackaging of Doors material, but that shouldn't... Read more

Published on April 12 2004 by Steve Vrana

3.0 out of 5 stars good music, but...
I debated which Doors CD to buy, choosing this one thinking it was the best bargain. Probably not a wise decision. The music is fine, takes you right back to the 60s-70s. Read more

Published on Mar 22 2004

4.0 out of 5 stars Hello, I love this.
I've heard alot of complaints about yet another "Doors" collection being out, but I'm glad this one is, because it's easily the best one ever. Read more

Published on Mar 8 2004 by H3@+h

5.0 out of 5 stars What could be bad?
I am new to the Doors. I bought this cd about six or seven months ago and didn't like it. This happens to me with bands a lot. Read more

Published on Mar 7 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars Aside from a Box Set, this is their Best Compilation album
Although there have been many recent greatest hits albums. Only "The Doors Legacy" is complete with original remasters of their best. Read more

Published on Feb 12 2004 by RoastBeefSalad

5.0 out of 5 stars It's The Doors- What can I say?
I really tend to dislike Greatest Hits albums, because I dislike the whole theory that if you have a "best of" or "greatest" compilation you're cool or suddenly know so much about... Read more

Published on Jan 25 2004

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