The Doors of Perception
My CD library includes a two- CD volume of The Best of The Doors (Elektra #960345-2) from 1985. The disc was digitally remastered at Digital Magnetics, Los Angeles, California by Bruce Botnick (!) and comes with the usual caveat: “The music on the Compact Disc was originally recorded on analog equipment. We have attempted to preserve, as closely as possible, the sound of the original recording. Because of high resolution, the Compact Disc can reveal limitations of the source tape.” Silly me, I thought digital remastering was an opportunity to “fix” stuff resident on the analog masters. I listened to parts of a few familiar songs through my Hifiman HE400I open-back headphones plugged directly into my old Sony CD player and didn’t hear much “depth.” When I get the time and inclination, I’ll play a few tracks on my 5.2 system with Goldenear Technology Triton Two main speakers and the new Bookshelf Reference X for surrounds, and hopefully the soundstage will then open up. Here’s my question for music editor Mike Mettler: Is it worth my time to try and find the 2006 DMC/ Elektra/rhino upgrade of Morrison Hotel, the Doors release that was covered in the December 2020/January 2021 issue’s Remaster Class?
Jeffrey A. Hays
/ Edmond OK
Mike Mettler replies: In a word, yes! Sorry, Jeffrey, I didn’t intend to be flip. Let’s keep in mind that CD technology was truly in its infancy in the mid-1980s, so oftentimes many early releases in the format were little
more than straight digital transfers, even if you see the word “remastered” in the credits. Just ask Jimmy Page, who, shall we say, went fully ballistic upon hearing how abjectly poor the first- gen Led Zeppelin catalog CDS on Atlantic sounded. That resulted in Page—zep’s founder, guitarist, and hands- on producer of all their albums— endeavoring to personally remaster the entire Zep catalog shortly after that digital debacle himself. But I digress. Bruce Botnick is a brilliant producer/ engineer who understands the sonic scope of The Doors catalog like no one else, and while he did whatever he could to help get their core Elektra catalog onto CD back in the day, I would wholly recommend you seek out obtaining Botnick’s handiwork on the 2006 Dmc/elektra/rhino version of
you asked about, especially if your ears are surround sound-inclined. That said, I would also strongly suggest the 2020 Elektra/rhino 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition 2CD/1LP box set, also handled by Botnick, which is light years ahead of the limited entries found on your 1985 collection (the latter of which, I should further note, had been reissued, upgraded, and actually remastered for CD in 2000, with revised cover art to boot). Happy Doors re-listening!
Morrison Hotel Morrison Hotel Best of Hotel