The Best of The Doors (1985 album)

The Best of the Doors
The Best of the Doors
Greatest hits album by the Doors
Released	1985
Recorded	1966–1971
Genre	Rock
Length	89:09
Label	Elektra
Producer	Paul A. Rothchild; Bruce Botnick; The Doors;
The Doors chronology

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.

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
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[2]

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.^[3]

Side one
No.	Title	Original album (year)	Length
1.	"Break On Through (To the Other Side)"	The Doors (1967)	2:25
2.	"Light My Fire"	The Doors	7:05
3.	"The Crystal Ship" (Morrison)	The Doors	2:31
4.	"People Are Strange"	Strange Days (1967)	2:09
5.	"Strange Days"	Strange Days	3:06
6.	"Love Me Two Times"	Strange Days	3:13

Side two
No.	Title	Original 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 Sun	2:57
4.	"When the Music's Over"	Strange Days	10:55

Side three
No.	Title	Original album (year)	Length
1.	"Hello, I Love You"	Waiting for the Sun	2:14
2.	"Roadhouse Blues"	Morrison Hotel	4:02
3.	"L.A. Woman"	L.A. Woman (1971)	7:48
4.	"Riders on the Storm"	L.A. Woman	7:14

Side four
No.	Title	Original album (year)	Length
1.	"Touch Me"	The Soft Parade (1969)	3:10
2.	"Love Her Madly"	L.A. Woman	3:17
3.	"The Unknown Soldier"	Waiting for the Sun	3:22
4.	"The End"	The Doors	11:41

Personnel[]

The Doors

Jim Morrison – vocals
Ray Manzarek – organ, piano, keyboard bass
John Densmore – drums
Robby Krieger – guitar

Additional musicians

Douglass Lubahn – occasional bass guitar on the tracks that came from Strange Days & Waiting for the Sun except disc 2, track 7
Jerry Scheff – occasional bass guitar on the L.A. Woman tracks
Ray Neapolitan – bass guitar on disc 1, track 9
Lonnie Mack – bass guitar on disc 2, track 2
John Sebastian – harmonica on disc 2, track 2 (credited as "G. Puglese")
Harvey Brooks – bass guitar on disc 2, track 5
Paul Harris – orchestral arrangements on disc 2, track 5
Curtis Amy – saxophone solo on disc 2, track 5
Marc Benno – additional guitar on disc 2, track 3
Kerry Magness – bass guitar on disc 2, track 7
Leroy Vinnegar – acoustic bass on disc 2, track 10
Larry Knechtel – bass guitar on disc 1, track 2 (though was uncredited)

Technical

Paul A. Rothchild – producer of all tracks except the L.A. Woman selections
Bruce Botnick – co-producer of the L.A. Woman selections

Charts[]

Chart (1990)	Peak position
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[4]	14
Chart (1991)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[5]	14
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[4]	17
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[6]	18
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)^[7]	4
UK Albums (OCC)^[8]	17
US Billboard 200^[9]	32
Chart (1997)	Peak position
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)^[10]	9
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[11]	57
Chart (1998)	Peak position
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)^[12]	3
UK Albums (OCC)^[13]	37

Certifications[]


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Argentina (CAPIF)^[14]	Platinum	60,000^{^}
Australia (ARIA)^[15]	4× Platinum	280,000^{^}
Belgium (BEA)^[16]	Gold	25,000^*
Canada (Music Canada)^[17]	6× Platinum	600,000^{^}
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)^[18]	Gold	22,150^[18]
France (SNEP)^[19]	Platinum	300,000^*
New Zealand (RMNZ)^[20]	Platinum	15,000^{^}
Norway (IFPI Norway)^[21]	Gold	25,000^*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)^[22]	Gold	50,000^{^}
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)^[23]	Platinum	50,000^{^}
United Kingdom (BPI)^[24]	Platinum	300,000^{^}
United States (RIAA)^[26]	Diamond	10,000,000^[25]
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References[]

^ Ruhlmann, William. "The Best of the Doors [1973] – Review". AllMusic. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d Eder, Bruce. "The Best of The Doors – Review". AllMusic. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
^ The Best of the Doors (Album notes). The Doors. New York City: Elektra Records. 1985. LP labels.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "Dutchcharts.nl – The Doors – The Best of The Doors" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
^ "Australiancharts.com – The Doors – The Best of The Doors". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
^ "Charts.nz – The Doors – The Best of The Doors". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
^ "Swisscharts.com – The Doors – The Best of The Doors". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
^ "Doors | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
^ "The Doors Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
^ "The Doors: The Best of The Doors" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
^ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Doors – The Best of the Doors" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
^ "Norwegiancharts.com – The Doors – The Best of The Doors". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
^ "Doors | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
^ "Discos de oro y platino" (in Spanish). Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1995 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 1995". Ultratop. Hung Medien.
^ "Canadian album certifications – The Doors – Best of The Doors". Music Canada.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "Doors" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
^ "French album certifications – Doors – Best of the Doors" (in French). InfoDisc. Select DOORS and click OK.
^ "New Zealand album certifications – The Doors – Best Of The Doors". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
^ "Norwegian album certifications – The Doors – Best Of The Doors" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway.
^ Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (PDF) (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. p. 953. ISBN 84-8048-639-2. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (The Doors; 'The Best of')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
^ "British album certifications – Doors – Best Of". British Phonographic Industry.
^ Billboard https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/1563045/the-doors-a-billboard-chart-history. Missing or empty |title= (help)
^ "American album certifications – The Doors – The Best of the Doors". Recording Industry Association of America.

[1] Ruhlmann, William. "The Best of the Doors [1973] – Review". AllMusic. Retrieved August 7, 2020.

[AM-2] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d Eder, Bruce. "The Best of The Doors – Review". AllMusic. Retrieved August 7, 2020.

[Liner-3] The Best of the Doors (Album notes). The Doors. New York City: Elektra Records. 1985. LP labels.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

[ac_Netherlands_The_Doors-4] Jump up to: ^a ^b "Dutchcharts.nl – The Doors – The Best of The Doors" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 June 2016.

[nzchart1-5] "Australiancharts.com – The Doors – The Best of The Doors". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 June 2016.

[ac_New_Zealand_The_Doors-6] "Charts.nz – The Doors – The Best of The Doors". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 June 2016.

[ac_Switzerland_The_Doors-7] "Swisscharts.com – The Doors – The Best of The Doors". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 June 2016.

[ukchart1-8] "Doors | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 22 June 2016.

[ac_Billboard200_The_Doors-9] "The Doors Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 June 2016.

[ac_Finland_The_Doors-10] "The Doors: The Best of The Doors" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 22 June 2016.

[ac_Germany4_The_Doors-11] "Offiziellecharts.de – The Doors – The Best of the Doors" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 22 June 2016.

[ac_Norway_The_Doors-12] "Norwegiancharts.com – The Doors – The Best of The Doors". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 June 2016.

[ukchart2-13] "Doors | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 22 June 2016.

[14] "Discos de oro y platino" (in Spanish). Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2012-12-07.

[AustraliaThe_DoorsThe_Best_of_the_DoorsalbumCertRef-15] "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1995 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.

[BelgiumDoorsBest_of_the_DoorsalbumCertRef-16] "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 1995". Ultratop. Hung Medien.

[CanadaThe_DoorsBest_of_The_DoorsalbumCertRef-17] "Canadian album certifications – The Doors – Best of The Doors". Music Canada.

[FinlandDoorsBest_OfalbumCertRef-18] Jump up to: ^a ^b "Doors" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.

[FranceDoorsBest_of_the_DoorsalbumCertRef-19] "French album certifications – Doors – Best of the Doors" (in French). InfoDisc. Select DOORS and click OK.

[New_ZealandThe_DoorsBest_Of_The_DoorsalbumCertRef-20] "New Zealand album certifications – The Doors – Best Of The Doors". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 11, 2019.

[NorwayThe_DoorsBest_Of_The_DoorsalbumCertRef-21] "Norwegian album certifications – The Doors – Best Of The Doors" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway.

[22] Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (PDF) (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. p. 953. ISBN 84-8048-639-2. Retrieved 23 August 2019.

[SwitzerlandThe_DoorsThe_Best_ofalbumCertRef-23] "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (The Doors; 'The Best of')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.

[United_KingdomDoorsBest_OfalbumCertRef-24] "British album certifications – Doors – Best Of". British Phonographic Industry.

[25] Billboard https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/1563045/the-doors-a-billboard-chart-history. Missing or empty |title= (help)

[United_StatesThe_DoorsThe_Best_of_the_DoorsalbumCertRef-26] "American album certifications – The Doors – The Best of the Doors". Recording Industry Association of America.

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show v t The Doors
Jim Morrison Ray Manzarek John Densmore Robby Krieger
Studio albums	The Doors (1967) Strange Days (1967) Waiting for the Sun (1968) The Soft Parade (1969) Morrison Hotel (1970) L.A. Woman (1971) Other Voices (1971) Full Circle (1972) An American Prayer (1978)
Live albums	Absolutely Live (1970) Alive, She Cried (1983) Live at the Hollywood Bowl (1987) In Concert (1991) Message to Love: The Isle of Wight Festival 1970 (1996)
Compilations and soundtracks	13 (1970) Weird Scenes Inside the Gold Mine (1972) The Best of The Doors (1973) Greatest Hits (1980) The Doors Classics (1985) The Best of The Doors (1985) The Doors (1991 film soundtrack) (1991) Greatest Hits (1996) Essential Rarities (1999) The Best of The Doors (2000) The Very Best of The Doors (2001) Legacy: The Absolute Best (2003) The Very Best of The Doors (2007) The Future Starts Here: The Essential Doors Hits (2008) The Platinum Collection (2008) When You're Strange: Music from the Motion Picture (2010) The Singles (2017)
Bright Midnight Archives	The Bright Midnight Sampler (2000) Live in Detroit (2000) Bright Midnight: Live in America (2001) Live in Hollywood: Highlights from the Aquarius Theater Performances (2001) Live at the Aquarius Theatre: The First Performance (2001) Live at the Aquarius Theatre: The Second Performance (2001) Backstage and Dangerous: The Private Rehearsal (2002) Live in Hollywood (2002) Boot Yer Butt: The Doors Bootlegs (2003) Live in Philadelphia '70 (2005) Live in Boston (2007) Live in Pittsburgh 1970 (2008) Live at the Matrix 1967 (2008) Live in New York (2009) Live in Vancouver 1970 (2010) London Fog 1966 (2016) Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970 (2018)
Box sets	The Doors: Box Set (1997) The Complete Studio Recordings (1999) No One Here Gets Out Alive (2002) Boot Yer Butt: The Doors Bootlegs (2003) Love/Death/Travel Box Set (2005) Perception (2006) The Doors: Vinyl Box Set (2008) A Collection (2011)
Singles	"Break On Through (To the Other Side)" / "End of the Night" (1967) "Light My Fire" / "The Crystal Ship" (1967) "People Are Strange" (1967) "Love Me Two Times" / "Moonlight Drive" (1967) "The Unknown Soldier" / "We Could Be So Good Together" (1968) "Hello, I Love You" / "Love Street" (1968) "Touch Me" (1968) "Wishful Sinful" (1969) "Tell All the People" (1969) "Runnin' Blue" (1969) "Roadhouse Blues"(1970) "Love Her Madly" (1971) "Riders on the Storm" (1971) "The Mosquito" (1972) "Treetrunk" (1972) "Gloria" / "Moonlight Drive" (1983)
Featured singles	"Breakn' a Sweat" (2012)
Other songs	"Soul Kitchen" "Alabama Song" "Back Door Man" "The End" "Strange Days" "When the Music's Over" "Five to One" "Rock Is Dead" "Peace Frog" "L.A. Woman" "Hyacinth House" "Crawling King Snake"
Books	Wilderness: The Lost Writings of Jim Morrison The American Night No One Here Gets Out Alive
Video and film	The Doors Are Open (1968) A Tribute to Jim Morrison (1981) The Doors (1991) The Doors – 30 Years Commemorative Edition (1999) Soundstage Performances (2002) When You're Strange (2009) R-Evolution (2013) Feast of Friends (2014)
Tours	Roadhouse Blues Tour
Related articles	Discography Rick & the Ravens Bill Siddons Celebration of the Lizard Danny Sugerman Manzarek–Krieger "Craigslist" The Lost Paris Tapes Stoned Immaculate: The Music of The Doors Barbaturex morrisoni HWY: An American Pastoral Night Divides the Day – The Music of the Doors Light My Fire: A Classic Rock Salute to The Doors Pamela Courson Patricia Kennealy-Morrison George Stephen Morrison Paul A. Rothchild
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