Forever Changing: The Golden Age of Elektra Records - 1963-1973 (Audio Version)

iTunes Review

Midway through this five-album survey of Elektra Records’ most important decade comes the epic that changed it all, accelerating the success of a company that was already changing the face of ’60s folk (Judy Collins, Tim Buckley) and rock (Love, Dylan cohorts the Paul Butterfield Blues Band). “Light My Fire” lifted the Doors from the Sunset Strip to a nationwide phenomenon, matching Jim Morrison’s chanting, purred vocal with an exquisitely jazzy Robbie Krieger guitar solo and a rhythm section that pushed like heavy surf on Venice Beach. Hearing it amid the work of labelmates Collins, Love’s Arthur Lee, the Stooges, the Incredible String Band and Clear Light — not to mention once impossibly rare pieces by the Stalk-Forrest Group (with Blue Oyster Cult’s future lineup almost fully in place already) and the Waphphle — may be your best shot at making it feel new. Which is only one of many reasons for the curious to pick up this wonderfully assembled set.