The Doors – Live In Europe 1968
Picture: C+
Sound: B- Extras: D Film: B-
One of the most popular titles on VHS & Beta back in
the early days of music on video was The Doors – Live In Europe 1968,
produced around the time the band and Morrison were being rediscovered in the
Classic Rock cycle. This time around,
the sound has been remixed and upgraded as much as possible to Dolby & DTS
5.1, which is better than hissy mono or Pro Logic Stereo, but that does not
make it a stellar audio presentation either.
However, it is the best version of this title we have seen, even as
compared to its brief appearance on the also-defunct 12” LaserDisc format. Tracks include:
1) Light My
Fire
2) Love Me
Two Times
3) Back
Door Man
4) Spanish
Caravan
5) Hello, I
Love You
6) When The
Music’s Over
7) Unknown
Soldier
8) Light My
Fire (second version)
9) Five To
One
10) Alabama Song
The brief 58-minutes-long program brings together some
vital footage of Morrison and the band that has often been overexploited and
played out, but is essential to understanding the popularity of the band and
the music. Many feel Morrison was
overrated, but as Oliver Stone’s 1991 film on the band shows, it is not that
simple. The appeal has top do with what
was exposed about the man honestly as he slowly drifted into
self-destruction. At the time of this
program was made, Stone was not as known as he is now, but Grace Slick &
Paul Kanter (who knew the band from their own band Jefferson Airplane, before
several transformations into its own self-destruction), offer observations of
why the band and Morrison were so important and their own experiences with
him. It helps.
The full screen image is a documentary mix of film and
video, but this one leans on the side of film, including some fine monochrome
footage of the band in action. The 5.1
sound is the best, with the DTS having a slight edge on the Dolby, but the
simple stereo tracks are included for easy playback on portables and some PCs,
as weak as it is. There are no extras,
but fans and the curious will not be disappointed, especially those who only
know the band through Stone’s film. The
DVD case claims this is archival, and though I wish it were longer, they are
right.
- Nicholas Sheffo
