L.A. Woman is the sixth and last studio album that the American rock band The Doors recorded with lead singer Jim Morrison, who died in July 1971. The album's style is arguably the most blues-rock-oriented of the band's catalog.
In 2003, the album was ranked number 362 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
Production
Following the departure of their record producer Paul A. Rothchild (who dismissed the group's differing style on "Riders on the Storm" as "cocktail music") around November 1970, the Doors and engineer Bruce Botnick began production on the album at The Doors Workshop in Los Angeles. Most of the tracks were recorded live, except for a few overdubbed keyboard parts by Ray Manzarek.
Botnick later produced and mixed a new 5.1 Surround version of the album, which was released on DVD-Audio, December 19, 2000. It was produced from the original eight-track analog 1" master tapes.[2]
Early LP editions of the album were uniquely packaged: the album's cover was die-cut to remove a near-rectangular piece of it, with a sheet of transparent plastic on which the cover photo of the Doors was printed, glued in place in its stead. Later pressings featured a conventional cover without the die-cut hole and plastic window, and with the group photo printed on the cover itself.
Release and reception
The band embarked on a tour to promote the album, although it would only comprise two dates. The first was held in Dallas, Texas on December 11 and reportedly went well. The second performance took place at The Warehouse in New Orleans, Louisiana, on December 12, 1970, where Morrison apparently had a breakdown on stage. Midway through the set he slammed the microphone numerous times into the stage floor until the platform beneath was destroyed, then sat down and refused to perform for the remainder of the show. Drummer John Densmore recalls the incident in his biography Riders on the Storm, where after the show he met with Ray and Robbie; they decided to end their live act, citing their mutual agreement that Morrison was ready to retire from performing. By the time the album was released, in April 1971, Morrison had moved to Paris, France, where he died three months later, on July 3, 1971.
Track listing
All songs written by Jim Morrison, Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek, and John Densmore except where noted.
Side one
1. "The Changeling" (Jim Morrison, The Doors) – 4:21
2. "Love Her Madly" (Robby Krieger, The Doors) – 3:20
* The 40th Anniversary Mix includes a longer fade-out making it 3:38.
3. "Been Down So Long" (Jim Morrison, The Doors) – 4:41
4. "Cars Hiss by My Window" (Jim Morrison, The Doors) – 4:12
* The 40th Anniversary Mix includes an additional verse making it 4:58.
5. "L.A. Woman" (Jim Morrison, The Doors) – 7:49
* The 40th Anniversary Mix includes the guitar intro "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" making it 7:59
Side two
6. "L'America" (Jim Morrison, The Doors) – 4:37
7. "Hyacinth House" (Jim Morrison, The Doors) – 3:11
8. "Crawling King Snake" (Tony Hollins, Bernard Besman, John Lee Hooker) – 5:00
9. "The WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat)" (Jim Morrison, The Doors) – 4:16
10. "Riders on the Storm" (Jim Morrison, The Doors) – 7:09
* The 40th Anniversary Mix has a shorter fadeout during the storm
40th Anniversary Edition bonus tracks
11. "Orange County Suite" (Jim Morrison) – 5:45
12. "(You Need Meat) Don't Go No Further" (Willie Dixon) – 3:41
Personnel
The Doors
* Jim Morrison – lead vocals
* Ray Manzarek – Hammond C-3 organ on track 1, tack piano on tracks 2, 5, Vox Continental organ on track 2, rhythm guitar on track 3, Gibson G-101 organ on track 6, Wurlitzer electric piano on track 8, Fender Rhodes Electric Piano on tracks 5, 10
* Robby Krieger – guitar
* John Densmore – drums
Additional musicians
* Marc Benno – rhythm guitar on tracks 3, 4, 5, 8
* Jerry Scheff – bass
Technical staff and artwork
* Bruce Botnick - co-producer, engineer
* Carl Cossick - album concept/design
* The Doors - co-producers
* Wendell Hamick - photography/visual effects
* Bill Siddons - personal management