Classic Albums – The Doors (1967) (Eagle DVD)
Picture: C+ Sound: C+ Extras: C+ Episode: C+
Though
there is some controversy about whether Jim Morrison was really a great Rock
Music performer or not, it can be said he was more than iconic enough to
deserve some respect despite self-destructing so soon. When I saw that the great Classic Albums documentary series was
taking on The Doors 1967 debut
album, I was hoping for yet another winner.
Unfortunately, this has the most miss opportunities and incompleteness
since they covered Elton John’s Goodbye
Yellow Brick Road.
For
starters, there are people who never get interviewed and though they do come up
with some credible current musicians (Henry Rollins, Perry Ferrell; they should
have added even more) they also have too many poetry reading moments and Ray
Manzarek as usual shares his never-ending stories about working with Jim to the
point that you wonder if he ever talks about anything else. And why does he smile and seem happy all the
time talking about it?
It is
bizarre, but even worse is giving the album credit where it may not deserve
it. The best had to do with comparisons
to The Beatles as if al they made was sappy, happy pop, the biggest of misconceptions
here. Many of the songs on this album
deal with death, but it is quickly forgotten that Sgt. Pepper’s ends with a suicide song, but I guess that was not
drenched in death enough for someone here.
At least
the music can speak for itself, even when this installment cannot.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is a little soft, in part from the
varied quality of the stock footage, but it looks good otherwise. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo is good, though
since some of their music was released in multi-channel DVD-Audio editions (that
are getting harder to find) the sound here can sound especially limited. Extras include 38 more minutes of interviews
and we could see why some were cut.
For more
DVDs with The Doors, try these links:
Live In Europe – 1968
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/1300/Doors+-+Live+In+Europe+1968
Soundstage Performances/No One
Here Gets Out Alive
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/2038/The+Doors:+Soundstage+Performance
The Doors (1991 Oliver Stone film)
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/5126/The+Doors+–+15+Year+Anniversary
- Nicholas Sheffo
