To commemorate The Doors' 40th anniversary this year, the folks at Warner Music and Rhino are pulling out all the stops.
Here in the States, we have Perception. A deluxe box set comprising some twelve discs, Perception constitutes the most ambitious, elaborate repackaging of the Doors' original catalog ever undertaken.
All six original albums, from 1967's The Doors to 1971's L.A. Woman have been completely remastered by the three surviving members along with original producers Paul Rothchild and Bruce Botnick in double disc editions. In addition to the original remastered recordings, there is an accompanying second DVD disc for each album. Each DVD features the original album remastered in Dolby 5.1 surround sound, along with rare, often unreleased video content including live performances, video films, rehearsal footage and more.
If all of this weren't enough, each original CD also includes several bonus tracks (including both alternate studio takes and previously unreleased material), completely new liner notes for each album, and it all comes in this big ol' box that opens itself like — what else? — a door. Whew!
But that's just what we get here in the States.
Over in Europe, the Doors 40th anniversary is apparently an even bigger deal. Take what they are releasing just in France — where Jim Morrison himself is "reportedly" dead and buried. Of course if you believe that, you probably think Elvis is really dead, too.
In addition to the Perception box (with two extra tracks not on the stateside version no less), the French are getting something like ten or so additional new collections of rare and unreleased material. They are even getting at least one additional boxed set. Oh yeah. You heard me right.
The reason I know this is because in my day job, I edit "content" for a digital music provider, or what we in that particular trade call "metadata." And earlier this week, I spent an entire day on a project entering data for the various Doors 40th anniversary releases for a number of European countries.
Here's just a sample of what France gets:
For starters, there will be a boxed set devoted entirely to what are being called "bootleg recordings." There are also a number of new collections of live recordings. These include two complete early performances recorded at the Aquarius Theatre that can be bought either separately or as (what else?) a multiple disc set. Another multiple disc set collects performances from Detroit and other cities. These can also be purchased separately but a bonus performance from what I believe was Philadelphia can only be obtained by getting the complete boxed version.
Article comments
1 - Vern Halen
Jim, as it turns out, was wrong: I'm sure many Doors fans petitioned the Lord with prayer, and this is their answer. Of course, you don't always get the answer you wanted. Those outtakes & alternates should've been sorted & released separate from the box, along with each individual album. Who's got the $$$ for (re)buying the complete Doors' studio canon? And who's got the time to sit & listen to it? Unless you're a true hippieman and haven't worked since that time back on Maggie's farm.
2 - Glen Boyd
It's a lotta bucks -- more than I've got for sure -- to shell out for the handful of unreleased material that you get. Thats for sure Vern. But Rhino did do a really nice packaging job, and the 5.1 sound mixes are pretty sweet.
Just remember, in the final analysis what Morrison actually concluded (shouted actually) was that "You CANNOT petition the Lord with prayer."
Remember that Vern --LOL-- and thanks for the comment.
-Glen
P.s. On a personal note, that first song of yours doesn't sound half bad. More later in a PM...
3 - QH
Comparing Kurt Cobain to Jim Morrison is absurd!! Jim Morrison paved the way for the KC of the world!
4 - Glen Boyd
And exactly WHERE did I compare the two QH?
I only asked the question at the end of the article if Cobain might get similiar treatment in forty years?
You know---cause they're both dead?
Thanks for the comment.
-Glen
5 - El Bicho
"You know---cause they're both dead?"
What? I didn't even know they were sick.
6 - Glen Boyd
Good news El Bicho. I hear Morrison's actually working on a farm somewhere in Oregon (they actually interviewed him on Coast to Coast with George Noory or the old Art Bell show).
I also have it on very good authority that Elvis is flipping burgers somewhere in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
As for poor ol' Kurt, well I hear from very reliable sources that Courtney did it -- but he's definitely dead.
Sorry to burst the bubble there.
Thanx for the comment (and I hope you recognize the sarcasm here -- and that it is of a decidedly good nature).
LOL...
-Glen
-Glen
7 - El Bicho
I actually ran into Jim as at the 40th Anniversary event in West Hollywood, but he asked me not to mention he was there...whoops. Is Mr. Rose around? I need to remove this comment.
8 - QH
He was underrated as a poet, not overrated like you stated. It seems like you were comparing JDM to Kurt Cobain.
And it is insulting that people still make jokes about him being supposedly "dead" and the same goes for Elvis.
Great talent is always mocked, I suppose!