Unboxing & Reviewing the new $500 The Doors - Self Titled from The Electric Recording Company ERC 

Mike unboxing ERC stuff is one of the most anticipated events on the whole internet.

You bought a $500 turd, and possibly saved some of the VC from making the same mistake. Hats off to you good sir!

Dang dude! Been listening to vinyl since I was 7. I'm now 70 and finished with vinyl. This is a culmination of many recent QC issues in the industry across the board. Thanks

For 500 bucks, I'd expect Jim Morrison's ghost to come out of the speakers and do a jig, lol

Hands down the most trusted and to the point honest reviewer of vinyl records on RU-vid or the entire internet for that matter. Huge respect and love for Mike at the In Groove. Best RU-vid channel for records by far.

I purchased the entire set of Doors 45RPM LPs from Analogue Productions last year and couldn't be happier. $60 for each is a bargain.

This was the first record I ever bought. I got to see The Doors at the L A Forum December 1968.

I love the 'No mercy' approach. It takes courage to go against the current. Well done Mike.

Have this on CD. Good enough.

Can’t wait for the Fremer rebuttal.

I knew that couldn’t be any good. As a huge Doors fan, I have the mono original along with all three reissues, and the mono mix sounds like crap. I appreciate you taking one for the team.

Thank you for the review. I have the AP 45, which sound awesome. Which one is your favourite copy out of all those copies you have? That was such an incisive review. Your honesty has to be commended. We need more of this in the community. 11/10 Many thanks

Love objective reviews…use to see the doors all over Los Angeles..and of course Love…

My copy is a very early 80s Canadian version pressed at the Don Mills plant in Ontario - I grabbed it, near mint, for $20. It sounds incredible.

Yay Mike! It's a milestone! You've discovered editing! The first minute of this video is the best. Just watching you build the story of this hack record distributor with all those quick shots of your past dealings with their products was so great. Keep it up! The live video esthetic is cool but you can see how effective editing can be.

Best comment I've ever heard in a review. "It's sh!t!" My wife asked me what I was laughing at, she just rolled her eyes at me.

The 40th anniversary editions of all of the albums were remixed from the multi-tracks but I don't think they were released on Vinyl at all. I listen to those remixes all of the time. I never listen to the original stereo mixes. I always appreciate your honesty Mike! Thank you.

500 bucks? For that, I'd have to have Jim, Ray, Robbie & John bring it to me in person . . . oh yeah, and Pam would have to dance to "Break on through" for me!!

I always appreciate a nuanced, understated, laid back review. :D SRSLY, how are these guys in business? Thanks for doing these. Folks deserve to know this stuff.

As M.L. Gore put it: "Never again is what you swore the time before," you'll buy again, and again, and again. Love the review!

Mike I really respect your integrity and how you tell it like it is. You know what you are doing and you cover all the issues. You care about the customer. Thanks.

I can't wait, get the Sharpee ready!

ERC does it again! I'm not the biggest Doors fan but I do have a copy in my collection; a decent sounding Electra reissue...

$500 for a new record?!!! A record that is readily available in a variety of issues and frankly has been played to death?!!! Madness!!!!

One thing is sure, Mike. The dynamic of your recording on this video is awesome, maaan! True RVG fan here, guys! 😆 I loved the quick conclusion after you got back after listening hahaha

Good job Mike, this is what makes you, you! Cut straight through the BS and be honest. It either sounds good, or it doesn’t. And nothing you’ve said about ERC today or in the past is unreasonable when it comes to a $500 record at limited quantities. Rarity doesn’t matter if quality doesn’t back it.

Since this recording needs help, maybe MoFi should take a stab at it with their DSD step and mastering. MoFi did wonderful on Surrealistic Pillow, another classic record from 1967, that also is not well recorded. But their double 45 version of the Airplane album kicks ass over every other version.

I love hearing the opinions of those who own this record and actually listened to it. Personally, I feel like I am in no position to make an opinion on this considering I don't have the record at all. Only our ears can judge what it is, I do appreciate the context surrounding the creation of this pressing, while it is very unintelligent to make a record from a defective tape I feel like everyone should also remain skeptical. Regardless, I appreciate your honesty and knowledge on this as always with every review you do.

"...so, apart from that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?" 🤣

Your passion, humour and professionalism never fails to shine through. Your videos are simply just great stuff. Thanks

I'm hoping that someday soon, we'll start seeing the software developed under Peter Jackson and recently implemented by Giles Martin being used to remix albums in a way we've only dreamed about. So many recordings were poorly done, or poorly cared for over the years. This could solve many if not most of the issues of deteriorating tapes or even hideous mastering/engineering.

Yes, the 7 1/2 ips R2R is amazing!

Daaamn. Thanks for your honesty Mike. Can’t wait to see the VC fallout over this one…

You would expect something really special for $500 like it being autographed by at least 3 of the Doors members what a shame and thank you Mike for the review cheers Carl

I just got the VMP Mono Cut by Bernie Grundman from the original Mono Master Tapes and was very impressed by the sound and separation and love the sound.

I'm watching this just for laughs. 😂

I love getting opinions like this. For all the money I've spent on records, I just couldn't bring myself to spend $500 on one title. So I like to listen to Mike who definitely knows what he's taking about, give me the straight story on these type of pressings.

Good review Mike! I picked up the RSD Doors first album mono today. At my record store for 32. It’s a Bernie Grundman. Pressing I was very happy with the sound! Yes they have to stop useing safety copy for release!

Gonna be great to see our advocate hold their feet to the multi hundred dollar coals

I buy these for My Son and He loves them.

Hey Mike, I've been critical of a few of your content choices but never your knowledge of record information and pressing quality. I watched this ERC title with the thought of maybe trying but put my AS 45 version on and remembered your past ERC reviews and would have been foolish to take a chance with that info. A day or so ago another RU-vidr a highly followed reviewer gave this the most glowing review ever even (orgasmic) but I can almost guarantee with certain manufactures how they will always be portrayed even before listening. Thanks for your effort, honesty that has always shown through.

I got one in '82 for a buck (used). It's okay. Top 100. I have a few tracks on my phone. By the way, they have CDs now. You can copy it to your phone. Records were great in the '70s but Dude!

I have heard great things about this release from several people who own it, and not one mentioned phasing issues, drop outs, or high frequency losses. It seems to me easy to say bad things about a release that only 449 other people will hear. It seems also that most of your audience don’t want to pay so much for a record in the first place, and you’re making them feel better about it.

This is yet another case of dressing up a turd (unuseable master tapes that have aged), so it can be resold to 350 unsuspecting buyers. Mike takes that mystery away, saves you the money. Good for him. My 1967 first reissue pressing of The Doors (gold Electra label with Award Winner for record sales symbol on the cover). This is a heavy hot stamper that blows this ERC away.

The Doors is my favorite band as well!!! I need a good 1st pressing of there 1st!!! i've had bad luck on fleebay! OH, You have every right to be that picky for $500.00!!!! well I watched your whole review here i guess i'll stick with my 3 pressings and be happy. i'm a sucker doors fan as well brother.

I believe Steve Hoffman was referring to stereo master tape, not the mono master tape which is well known to have basically disintegrated from 50 years of being used to master stereo reissues.

I knew you couldn’t resist this one. Can’t wait!

Love the 14:53 minute build up....then BOOM "it sounds like shit" Mike drops the Microphone, exit stage left "till next time" 😛

Daymn. I need to NOT get this!! Hahhahah. My fav band as well, or, was. Hahahah Debating on selling it all off. King Gizzard is my new top slot. You collection is absolutely stunning!

Would love to be able to afford an ERC release... but who am I kidding? I'll just stream it... 😅

Telling it how it is. No other record guy like Mike.

The fact of the matter is, no true audiophile would want to own a flawed reproduction like this Doors ERC reissue and pretend it sounds "phenomenal". A true audiophile seeks to find the best pressing of a particular title and doesn't settle for inferior quality. But yet, we have folks defending this heavily flawed ERC reissue pretending it sounds "phenomenal" when it sounds like a muffled tape with several obvious defects present. The folks defending inferior quality records are not real audiophiles, they are bandwagoners trying to feel important by owning products from an inferior niche record label. It was known before this product was released that it was going to be of inferior quality, yet ERC released it anyway in order to make some quick money off 300+ suckers who now pretend this is "the best thing they've ever heard". No legitimate company would release inferior quality products, but here we have ERC releasing a flawed LEDO tape as a "limited edition audiophile record". If MOFI released all their one steps in this shoddy condition, people would be demanding their money back and MOFI would go out of business.

no bullshit reviews thank you sir!

I’ve listened to it. I have 0 skin in the game because I don’t have a “VC” persona to keep up. My opinion is that is freaking amazing sounding. I’ve been at this hobby pretty much my entire life, so I’m not a noob. Besides, if it sucked, I’d just sell it, but there’s no way I’m parting with it.

Here is the opinion of someone who has no "Skin" in the game: Okay. Not an easy thing to do and write about. These three editions are so different from one another and they are all great, depending on what you are looking for personnally. My process was the following: 1-ERC side one 2-VMP side one 3-AP sides 1 and 2 4-AP sides 3 and 4 5-VMP side 2 6-ERC side 2 By starting out with the ERC, I wanted to have the purest source possible as a point of departure. The fact that there is no EQ or intervention between the tape and the cutting head is revealing when you follow this one up with the VMP. I also wanted to end with the ERC to see what I come back to from the other way around. This is not an audiophile recording, especially when it comes to "Break on through" and "Light my Fire“. There is a lot of variations of quality from track to track. But the overall impression is that with the ERC, there is more "organic" matter around the instruments. Their sound is more defined and has more depth. They are more clearly seperated and the vocals have more timbre. The Sound stage is narrow and deep with a good balance between the instruments. Putting the VMP on you realize you need to lower the volume a little. The keyboards are more prominent and the cymbals lose some definition and the drums some punch. It feels like I am sitting closer to the Keyboard monitor and this is removing a little definition and punch from the drums and the other Instruments. The loudness of the keyboards eventually starts getting on my nerves. The percussion on "Twentieth Century Fox" also eventually become too prominent and distract from the rest. The soundstage seems wider, but is it because it is a louder cut? The VMP is a very dynamic record and a great listen, especially when you consider the price compared to the ERC. But with the ERC it feels like you are in the studio with the Band, sitting in the sweet spot. With the VMP you feel like you are sitting in the booth with the engineers. But again, on some tracks you feel it more and on other tracks less so. Playing the AP offers a new dimension in terms of image and a wider soundstage. Unlike Michael I did not feel it was suffering from an exagerated stereo effect, and really enjoyed it. Although here also the keyboards are more prominent, but not as annoying as on the VMP. The different Instruments are well defined and more details come out of the 45RPM vinyl as well as great dynamics. But as the other two, audiophile quality varies from track to track. In conclusion, if I want to have a good time listening to great sounding rock, like Break On through, Back Door Man and Light My Fire and not worry too much if I’d had one too many, I‘d Go for the AP. But if I want to trip out on The End or The Crystal Ship and immerse myself in the total experience, I’d go for the ERC. I guess that’s why I gave my daughter my copy from VMP and kept the other two.

"It sounds like shit." 😂 The 'In' Groove review equivalent of Spinal Tap's "Shit Sandwich," I mean Shark Sandwich.

Oh boy, Mike nuking the VC for another month or so. But he’s always looking out for his clientele. Thanks for Mike. That’s why I buy from you. I went into this video knowing you were gonna be extra critical considering the Doors are one of your all time favorite rock bands. But I didn’t realize you was gonna roast the ever-loving shit out of them 😂 I wonder if this would’ve benefited from the Plageant Process. Which vinyl pressings do you recommend?

I'm a little confused, did you like the sound or not? 🤣Seriously, I love the "no holds barred" approach. Great job.

For those who have said how much this differs from Michael45..take a look at the vid he just put up. "The Most Impressive Boxset I Ever Bought" - it illustrates the difference. Michael45 spends most of the vid - as he has with a lot of vids - talking about the packaging, the presentation and the aesthetics. He spends very, very little time on the audio and even then with no depth. He, frankly, is not an audiophile to me as much as he is a collector. He buys fancy releases to own, to display like one would a painting. This is the difference between a music lover who collects (Mike) and just a music collector (45).

People buy these records for the same reason they pay 10,000 for a bottle of french champagne when there are$20 bottles that are better. It's a form of currency. It's a wealth store. I would not buy an ERC but you could argue that you would not buy erc for the sonic bliss, you are buying a hand made item ( with it's inevitable imperfections) and a true historic record of what remains of the recording.

350 quid!!! Fuck that. I would need one of the surving members to deliver it to my door for that much. 😂😂 Thought... I think Mike should open his own record factory . You just know you would get good shit.

Hey Mike,this video was a joke right,obviously a wind up.Great to see you have a sense of humour I have read & heard so many positive reviews,yours being the only one who dislikes it. The disrespect you have for this fantastic innovative British company is completely uncalled for. To suggest people who like it lack intelligence is an embarrassing statement. Your entitled to your opinion of course,but this was nothing short of your continuing hatchet job on ERC. Have a nice day 👍

Hi Mike, Could you do a pressings shoot-out of the The Doors debut?

Wow. I purchase the doors albums from target. One of the first records I've purchased. Returned because I didn't like the way it sounded

Soon to be sold on his Whatnot auction for a grand.

I was waiting for another review like this from you enjoyed It man

Where there's a demand, there's a buck to be made. ERC raking it in.

Their covers probably cost more than the box covers. Hand screening is not cheap. It also doesn't have normal manufacturing perfection. Hand screening is almost always imperfect.

The original master tape was lost somehow. Analogue Productions did a nice pressing in their Doors box set from a safety tape. I’m not sure whether this is a different tape ERC used. Of course, the AP pressing is a stereo mix, so yeah. Anyway, if you don’t have good pressings of all these Doors albums, the Analogue Productions box is the one to get, IMO. They all sound stellar, even the first album.

Mike, maybe you should get a friend to send their copy of a great sounding record from ERC so you can hear what they are listening to since you have not come across such a record. That way, you can verify whether they have good records or not. But if a company has a history of bad records, I would not even bother with them in the first place. I am a Doors fan and have the 2 record 45 cut of the self titled, so I like quality too. After all the negative reviews on ERC, I will never even bother with them.

MikeE has the extensive history with this LP and pressing history to evaluate in context. He clearly and rightly states the mono of this was always a bit of a dog. So 50+ year old tape being run in a process and media that is supposed to be “most” accurate would most logically expose the weaknesses of the tape. That seems logical to me. While there may be aspects of the recording or soundstage that have a better presence to M45, I think MikeE has lived with this LP and it’s downhill tape reality such that he can sense and hear those “finger nails on the chalkboard” aspect of this recording. Whether you and I would be so sensitive to it is an open question. But I believe the weakness of the source magnified in the ERC product magnified the flaws to a point of audible and mental distraction. Just my 2 cents…

In it incredible what passion is able to do. I only wish you will find what you are looking for in this record.

Thank you for your honesty Mike. Saving us $’s!

Thank you for an honest review. I enjoy your reviews of various pressings.

Keep them accountable Mike!!!

You know this means you could get $750 for it on your next WhatNot auction! lol

I also have the commercial 7 1/2 IPS tape. It does sound great, but agreed; it’s Apples / Oranges compared to Vinyl.

This is my second favorite rock album of all time after Pink Floyd The Wall. After showing us that stack of The Doors debut album versions, which one of those do you like the best? I was hoping you would tell us in this video. Do you plan to do a shoot out for this truly great album? This album is so extraordinary; it really deserves it.

Hah, I did not hesitate for a second on passing on this one, the original mono is horrible and I knew this was going to be crap, thanks for putting it out there like it is

Does the album include "A sucker is born eveey minute"?

Shoulda spent $500 on ECR 'Waiting For The Sun'. IMO!

14:53 your welcome!!

Thank you🔥 I guess they don't have a $500 magic wand..

Man, that is probablly my favorite album of all time, probably my most listened to album of all time too. And by far my favorite band of all time. I've got way too many copies of that album in lots of formats. But $500? I'd love it, but that's probably not going to happen.

I love your videos and trust your option on these releases but 500 for a record , it would need to come with a pair of white gloves for your butler to put it on the turntable 🤣🤣

Thank You Mike

Mike has a real hard on for these ERC guys. It’s actually quite comical. Next ERC review he should smash the vinyl with a mallet like Gallagher

wait, I have to grab the popcorn and beer

Yes Mike you knew what you were going to get ahead of time but you still tried to ignore the obvious, and had hope like the other 300 suckers that bought this piece of junk. sorry it turned out that way my friend. It's really hard to believe that they could put out such a poor product even that $25. but it makes for a great video thanks 🔥🔥💥😎❤️

This is pure pleasure! Your face at 8:29.. when it starts to go downwards regarding the praises 😁. Keep it up!! Love what your are doing

Since that 1980 Danny Sugarman book a minii industry has grown up around The Doors, not sure what Jim would think of it.

It's amazing Michael 45 had such high praise for it.

Ouch! Thanks for the honest review

That real 2 real is great! Would love to hear a review of that

It’s good to say it like it is!

So are the 45rpm Analogue Productions records the best thus far?

There was a Bernie Grundman interview with Chad of AP and they mention doing something very special with the first album so maybe a UHQR in the future . That would be interesting 😁😁

Great job Mike....love how your not afraid to call out ANYONE within the vinyl pressing manufacturing industry...even though you have more of a vested interest and relationship with these companies than most of us in the VC! Not going to lie...I loved hearing this....was giddy also this morning hearing on Rachel's Ghost that there was a possible speed issue on the latest UHQR pressing... I'm just sick of all these escalating prices and pressings with ERC, UHQR, and MOFI....these $100 plus copies are such a joke and the trend keeps going north for the "Perfect Audiophile" pressing. Can I afford these...yes(although ERC is pushing the envelope to the edge) I just refuse to purchase these overhyped overpriced reissues...do they sound better...maybe...maybe not🤔 I am definitely in the minority....but picked up today at my local shop an original UK Fleetwood Mac Mr. Wonderful and a 1980 NEMS Black Sabbath Sabotage pressing, each in minty condition.....would take each of these over a MOFI or UHQR pressing anyday.... long live crate digging for grails and supporting your local record stores 🍸👍🍺

That’s a shame. Sounds like the master tapes are deteriorating. The cover looks good though. I suspect it’s worth keeping for that reason alone in my opinion. I’m thinking the glue will dry out over time?

Amen on get rid of the big box and make the best actual jacket possible! Id even rather see a gatefold with cool studio or live in concert pics. As far as the ERC mono sounding like crap due to tape issues thats sad. They used plangent for a reason on the VMP mono Doors. Very disappointing to hear this Mike, ah well. Steve tried to tell us.