L.A. Woman saw The Doors continue to integrate elements of blues back into their music, a direction begun with their previous album, Morrison Hotel. It was also recorded without record producer Paul A. Rothchild after he fell out with the group over the perceived lack of quality of their studio performances. Subsequently, the band co-produced the album with longtime sound engineer Bruce Botnick.
Track listing
1. The Changeling
2. Love Her Madly
3. Been Down So Long
4. Cars Hiss by My Window
5. L.A. Woman
6. L’America
7. Hyacinth House
8. Crawling King Snake
9. The WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat)
10. Riders on the Storm
Flip through the gallery to learn more about L.A. Womanby The Doors
L.A. Woman was the sixth studio album by The Doors, released on April 19, 1971 on Elektra Records. It was the last album to feature Jim Morrison, who died three months after the album's release
Paul A. Rothchild Photo By: K & K Ulf Kruger OHG/Redferns/Getty Images
Record producer Paul A. Rothchild, who worked with the band on their first five albums, attended the early recoding sessions but quit following friction with the band. This included his dissatisfaction with the song "Love Her Madly," which he felt was a step backwards artistically
Bruce Botnick Photo By: K & K Ulf Kruger OHG/Redferns/Getty Images
Paul Rothchild left before any master takes were complete, recommending that the Doors co-produce L.A. Woman with Bruce Botnick. Bruce was the sound engineer who had worked with Rothchild on the band's previous recordings
Elvis Presley’s Bassist & Guitarist Photo By: Chris Walter/WireImage/Getty Images
For recording of the album, The Doors hired Elvis Presley's bassist Jerry Scheff and rhythm guitarist Marc Benno to round out their sound. Scheff contributed on every track except “L'America
Six Days Photo By: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
All songs on L.A. Woman were completed in a few takes on a professional-quality 8-channel recorder. The album was finished completely in just six days
Blues Day Photo By: Chris Walter/WireImage/Getty Images
Jim Morrison was a blues enthusiast and proclaimed the final recording session as "blues day.” On that day, they recorded "Crawling King Snake," "Cars Hiss By My Window,” and "L.A. Woman
Mr. Mojo Risin’ Photo By: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
In the bridge of "L.A. Woman," Morrison repeats the phrase "Mr. Mojo Risin'," which is an anagram of "Jim Morrison.” The song was recorded at The Doors Workshop on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood, Los Angeles, between December 1970 and January 1971
Riders on the Storm Photo By: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Jim Morrison recorded his main vocals and then whispered the lyrics over them to create the echo effect on "Riders on the Storm." This was the last song recorded by the members of The Doors, according to Ray Manzarek, as well as Morrison's last recorded song to be released in his lifetime
