The Doors: L.A. Woman
Album 161 - April 1971
Episode date - April 1, 2020
L.A. Woman was the sixth studio album by the Doors, and their last with Jim Morrison.
At the time, Morrison was not in the best of shape, physically or mentally. His trial for allegedly exposing himself while onstage in Florida caused him a great deal of stress, while his intake of drugs and alcohol took a significant toll on his physical health. Overweight and exhausted, it seemed that the sessions for this album would not go well, especially when longtime producer Paul A. Rothchild quit, stating that the band’s material was not up to par, even equating it with “cocktail music.”
Somehow, though, his absence helped rather than hindered, as the band took over responsibility for production, making the project relatively easy and more pleasurable than expected. Artistically, it was the band’s best work since their debut in 1967. Unfortunately, Morrison would not live long enough to enjoy it, dying less than three months after the album’s release.
Featured tracks include:
The Changeling
Lover Her Madly
Been Down So Long
Cars Hiss By My Window
L.A. Woman
L’America
Hyacinth House
Crawling King Snake
WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat)
Riders on the Storm
April 1971 - Billboard Charted #9