L.A. Woman

L.A. Woman is the sixth studio album by the American rock band the Doors, and was released on April 19, 1971 on Elektra Records (see 1971 in music). The album was the last to feature the group's lead singer, Jim Morrison, who unexpectedly died at the age of 27 three months after the album's release. It saw the band continue to integrate elements of blues back into their music, a direction that they had begun with their previous album, Morrison Hotel. In addition, it saw long-time record producer Paul A. Rothchild depart, after a fallout over the band's performance in the studio. After his departure, the band would co-produce the album with sound engineer, Bruce Botnick.

Upon release, the album peaked at number nine on the Billboard 200 and reached number 28 on the UK Albums Charts It was preceded by "Love Her Madly" single in March 1971, which reached the Top 20 in the Billboard Hot 100. An additional single in support of the album, "Riders on the Storm", was also released to success on the Billboard singles charts, and managed to chart in the UK Singles Chart. Music critics Richie Unterberger and David Quantick have both noted that L.A. Woman is arguably one of the Doors' best albums, citing Morrison's unwavering enthusiasm in his vocal performance, and the band's stripped-down return to their blues rock roots.

L.A. Woman (song)

"L.A. Woman" is a song by American rock band The Doors. The song is the title track on their 1971 album L.A. Woman, the final album to feature Jim Morrison before his death on 3 July 1971.

In the song's bridge, 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. Morrison recorded his vocal part in the bathroom of the makeshift studio due to the room's natural reverb. Marc Benno was a second guitarist on the session, Jerry Scheff played electric bass guitar.

The 40th Anniversary edition of the album version begins with a guitar riff of "My Country, 'Tis of Thee".

Video

In 1985, 14 years after Morrison's death, Ray Manzarek directed a music video for the song. It was aired on MTV and included in the Doors film Dance on Fire.

Lyrics

A yellow sheet of lined A4 paper with the lyrics of "L.A. Woman" written by Jim Morrison, was auctioned in Berkshire, UK for £13,000 on Aug 4, 2009.