Greatest Hits

The Doors Greatest Hits Japanese CD pressing, catalog number WPCR-537, was released on Elektra through Warner-Pioneer in Japan in December 1995. This is a promo copy, identifiable by the promo sticker on the rear inlay and promo text printed directly on the CD center ring. The release ships with an OBI strip and includes a Japan-only bonus track, making it distinct from the standard international version of the same compilation. A separate Japanese variant exists with an orange OBI bearing the words 'super best,' so the two should not be confused when cataloging.

The photo shows the jewel case with OBI strip in place, and reveals quite a bit about the physical presentation. The cover art is dominated by a large, tightly cropped black-and-white photograph of Jim Morrison, his face filling most of the frame. His expression is intense, eyes looking slightly off-camera, hair falling loosely around his face. Behind the portrait, the background is a strong, flat red that bleeds to the edges of the cover. The band name 'The Doors' appears in the upper left area in red, and 'Greatest Hits' is printed in the lower right quadrant in black. The overall design is bold and minimal, leaning heavily on Morrison's image as the central visual anchor. The OBI is a standard vertical strip printed in red and white, carrying Japanese text alongside the catalog number WPCR-537 and what appears to be pricing or barcode information. Japanese katakana text runs along the strip identifying the release, and the layout is clean and uncluttered in the way Warner-Pioneer Japan OBIs from this period typically present. The rear inlay would carry the promo sticker as noted in the Discogs data. The disc itself has promo text printed on the center ring, which is the detail that firmly identifies this as a promotional copy rather than a standard retail issue.

The thirteen-track running order places 'Wintertime Love' as the Japan-exclusive bonus track, closing the disc after 'The End (From Apocalypse Now).' That sequence is worth noting: the compilation already carries some unusual selections, including 'The Ghost Song' from the 1978 posthumous release and the Apocalypse Now edit of 'The End,' so appending 'Wintertime Love' gives this pressing a noticeably different feel at the close compared to the Western release. 'Roadhouse Blues' is listed here as the live version, which collectors familiar with the track sourcing across various compilations will want to flag. The core selections are otherwise predictable for a mid-nineties hits package: 'Light My Fire,' 'Riders On The Storm,' 'L.A. Woman,' and 'People Are Strange' are all present, covering the commercial peaks of the band's catalog reliably. The promo designation separates this copy from standard retail stock, and promo CDs from Japanese pressings of this era tend to move through the collector market at a modest premium over standard copies, particularly when the OBI is intact. On Discogs, only 5 collectors currently list this pressing in their collections against 26 who have it on their want list, a ratio that signals reasonably strong demand relative to available supply. That said, the want count itself is not enormous, so this is a solid find rather than a genuinely scarce item. Collectors building out a Japan-specific Doors library alongside releases like The Doors Complete Studio Recordings will want this for the bonus track and the promo designation alone. Those working through the deeper Elektra Japan catalog may also want to cross-reference The Doors Box Set for additional Japan-market releases from around the same period. The OBI variant question is worth resolving before purchasing: the orange 'super best' OBI version and this standard red and white OBI promo are two distinct objects, and they should be treated separately in any collection log.

This is a worthwhile addition for collectors focused on Japanese Doors pressings, promo copies, or the bonus track 'Wintertime Love.' The intact OBI, the promo markings on the disc and rear inlay, and the Japan-only thirteenth track give WPCR-537 enough distinguishing characteristics to justify seeking it out. It is not a rarity in absolute terms, but the Discogs demand ratio and the promo status make it more interesting than a standard retail copy of the same title.