This listing is for The Best Of The Doors VHS Video Tape.  

Actors: Doors

Run time: 1 hour and 13 minutes

Release date: October 21, 1997

Studio: Universal Studios Home Entertainment

For those who don't want to go through the trouble of sitting through "Dance On Fire," "Live At The Hollywood Bowl," or "The Soft Parade," here's "The Best Of The Doors." It is basically a collage of videos featured in all three programs with a few new additions and editing changes. Of course, there's the double-edge fact that both sets have videos you can only find in one or the other. The first video here, "Strange Days," is not in any of the other three, it is a surreal, Fellinisque sideshow to one of the band's darkest, most evocative songs. Doors fans will have a blast with the video's opening, which is the illusion that the cover to the "Strange Days" album has sprung to life. Ray Manzarek, the band's organist, makes a few appearances, most notably as a priest. This is followed by the video for "Break On Through," a publicity clip done for the band's debut album. It's still fun and exhilarating, a few months ago I saw it air on MTV. It is Jim Morrison's first appearance in the video and he makes his presence known. Next comes an interview clip from 1969 where an older-looking, beard-sporting Morrison is talking about poetry and how it is woven into the band's music. The video borrows clips also from "Live At The Hollywood Bowl" and we get footage of Morrison reciting "The Celebration Of The Lizard" and following it with a part of "Spanish Caravan," this is said to be one of The Doors' calmest, least-visceral concerts and aside from the great music, it shows. There is a well-assembled music video for "The Unknown Soldier" which skillfully mixes war footage with Doors concert sequences showing Morrison faking an execution and vomitting blood. "The Changeling" follows, showing the band in super-star mode as they walk through air-ports, perform concerts and talk to fans. 

One of the more interesting pieces is footage of the band recording "Wild Child" in the studio, it's interesting to watch them put together the song and sometimes disagree on certain parts (drummer John Densmore calls the song's ending "the stupidest thing I've ever heard"). It's also fun to watch Robby Krieger play his trademark slide guitar for this song. Doors fans will especially want this video for the "Gloria" piece which was banned by MTV when first released but not anymore considering on the 30th anniversary of Morrison's death VH1 aired it. It's a fun, dirty video showing Morrison acting erotic on stage and clips of him with whom I suspect is Pamlera Courson getting intimate in a room. The video is never "pornographic" and it's a fun song. The medley of "Whiskey Bar," "Backdoor Man" and "Five To One" is one of the interesting concert moments, showing the band's ability for some good hard rock. I have never been a big fan of the "L.A. Woman" video Ray Manzarek directed, I love the song, but the video doesn't go much with it and it never amounts to anything as interesting as the other videos assembled. "Wishful Sinful" could have been left out, it's not exactly timeless, visceral Doors. However, the Ed Sullivan performance of "Light My Fire" is featured and truly evokes the Doors spirit, showing Morrison all in black leather defying the Sullivan people and saying "higher" on network TV. Morrison's last known interview is featured which was done when he was getting ready to go to trial for supposedly exposing himself at a 1969 Miami concert. This is followed by an atmospheric, stylish and very recent music video done for a cut from "An American Prayer" titled "The Ghost Song." The band members, in their present aged form, perform the song to images of Morrison and dancing Indians. The ending is a fun rendition of "Hello I Love You" showing the band performing in London and a hot babe dancing to the tune (the chick in black was obviously not filmed in 1968 mind you). Over-all, it's a good fix for Doors fans. 

Thanks for checking out this item!  We have many related items listed, so be sure to check our other listings for similar items!  We DO combine orders for savings on shipping so add multiples to your cart.  Reasonable offers are highly considered, unreasonable ones are not... :-)!  Still have a ton of "not listed" inventory, so if you looking for something specific, please inquire as we may just be able to find it for you.  We ship 6 days a week, so the faster you pay, the faster we ship!  Thanks again for your visit and even more so if you purchase something!  Im sure you will be as happy as we are!