13 is the first compilation album by American rock band the Doors, released by Elektra Records on November 30, 1970. The title refers to the thirteen tracks included, which feature a variety of songs from their five studio albums released up to that point and the cover shrinkwrap originally featured a clear sticker that read: "A Collection of Thirteen Classic Doors Songs". It is the band's only compilation album released while lead singer Jim Morrison was alive.
13 | ||||
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Compilation album by the Doors | ||||
Released | November 30, 1970 (1970-11-30) | |||
Recorded | 1966–1969 | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 43:59 | |||
Label | Elektra | |||
Producer | Paul A. Rothchild | |||
The Doors chronology | ||||
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The album reached No. 25 on the Billboard 200. It has been superseded by later Doors compilations, such as the highly successful The Best of the Doors (1985), and has not been reissued on CD.
13 was a project instigated by Elektra Records, who wanted product from the band for the Christmas season, to which the band reluctantly agreed. Morrison even agreed to shave off his beard for the album cover's photo shoot, but the label opted for a younger photo of the singer, which they had also done for the group's live album Absolutely Live, released in July of that year. As author Danny Sugerman observed in his memoir of the band, No One Here Gets Out Alive, "Elektra obviously wanted the 'pretty' Jim Morrison."[1] Morrison's image is also much larger than those of guitarist Robby Krieger, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, and drummer John Densmore, and Sugerman noted that, "Although Ray, Robby, and John had become accustomed to the attention directed towards their lead singer, it upset Jim." The album's back cover features the band posing with a small bust of Ludwig van Beethoven[2][3] (some have mistakenly claimed it is of occultist Aleister Crowley).[4]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Christgau's Record Guide | A−[6] |
MusicHound | 3.5/5[7] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
In a contemporary review in 1971, music critic Dave Marsh wrote that although the album does indeed contain "thirteen classic songs," it fails to deliver on any purpose other than compiling the most radio-friendly hits in one place. Marsh added that "no magnum opuses" were included in the collection. "No 'The End', no 'When the Music's Over', no 'Soft Parade' ... [it] would have been decidedly uncommercial to have them included here ... Of course 'Five to One' isn't here; funny thing, outside of 'Unknown Soldier' none of the Doors' more controversial subject matter is included."[9]
Details are taken from the 1970 U.S. Elektra album, which lists different songwriter credits than other Doors albums; other releases may show different information.[10]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original album (year) | Length |
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1. | "Light My Fire" | Robby Krieger, Jim Morrison | The Doors (1967) | 6:50 |
2. | "People Are Strange" | Morrison, Krieger | Strange Days (1967) | 2:10 |
3. | "Back Door Man" | Willie Dixon, Chester Burnett a.k.a. Howlin' Wolf | The Doors | 3:30 |
4. | "Moonlight Drive" | Morrison | Strange Days | 3:00 |
5. | "The Crystal Ship" | Morrison | The Doors | 2:30 |
6. | "Roadhouse Blues" | Morrison, Doors | Morrison Hotel (1970) | 4:04 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original album | Length |
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1. | "Touch Me" | Krieger | The Soft Parade (1969) | 3:15 |
2. | "Love Me Two Times" | Krieger | Strange Days | 3:23 |
3. | "You're Lost Little Girl" | Krieger | Strange Days | 3:01 |
4. | "Hello, I Love You" | Morrison | Waiting for the Sun (1968) | 2:22 |
5. | "Land Ho" | Morrison, Krieger | Morrison Hotel | 4:08 |
6. | "Wild Child" | Morrison | The Soft Parade | 2:36 |
7. | "The Unknown Soldier" | Morrison, Doors | Waiting for the Sun | 3:10 |
From the 1970 Elektra release:[10]
Musicians
Production
Chart | Year | Position |
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Billboard 200 | 1971 | 25[11] |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Canada (Music Canada)[12] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[13] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
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