L.A. Woman Songs Ranked
L.A. Woman is the sixth studio album by the American rock band the Doors, released on April 19, 1971, by Elektra Records. It is the last to feature lead singer Jim Morrison during his lifetime due to his death three months after the album’s release, though he would posthumously appear on the 1978 album An American Prayer. Even more so than its predecessors, the album is heavily influenced by blues. It was 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. Critics Richie Unterberger and David Quantick have both called L.A. Woman one of the Doors’ best albums, citing Morrison’s vocal performance, and the band’s stripped-down return to their blues-rock roots. Here are all of L.A. Woman songs ranked.
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10. Hyacinth House
“Hyacinth House” is one of the slower tracks with a slower blues rock tempo and more focus on the extraordinary psychedelic rock keyboard additions.”
9. Cars Hiss by My Window
“As a blues fan, I think this song is very cool. Not a lot to it, just Jim singing the blues with minimalist backing. And where does he get this high-pitched yelp from at the end?”
8. Crawling King Snake
“Crawling King Snake” is one of the sexiest songs I’ve ever heard. As anecdotally as it may appear “Crawling King Snake” had a major influence on my liking of and trying to play the Blues.”
See more: The Doors Albums Ranked
7. L’America
“Absolutely perfect blues rock album by The Doors. The tinges of Doors style Psychedelic Rock are still there though so don’t worry. This one is up there with their debut album in terms of each song being impeccable. This is a real monster of an album”
6. The Wasp (Texas Radio and the Big Beat)
“I really think this album is The Doors finest achievement. They blended a great group of songs together on this one. Maybe they were able to keep Jim sober for long enough stretches on this one to make it work.”
5. Been Down So Long
“Been Down So Long” is primal and the most “shouty pub blues” of all the songs on the record. The guitar is supreme, and you can tell that Jim really does want the girl in the song to giver him all her love. I think he really strains the very last notes out his voice on the last refrain of the “Well, I’ve been down for so damn long” line.”
4. Love Her Madly
“The lead single off of L.A. Woman, “Love Her Madly” is typical Doors with a great guitar lick, nice keyboard solo and silky (or in this case, rough, but still great) Jimbo vocal. I say typical because this was their recipe for success, but it was an awesome way to succeed.”
See more: The Doors Songs Ranked
3. The Changeling
“The organ riff that Ray plays is absolute genius. Robby syncs in with his bluesy guitar swings, and John provides a thumping beat to it all. And then there’s Jim. We are not going to see another man like him, I’m telling you.”
2. L.A. Woman
“The best track off the final Morrison era Doors album L.A. Woman would have to be the title track. Starting off with the blare of a car engine, the song then shifts gears with a sweet bassline along with a nice bassline. Morrison’s powerful vocals are the main highlight, easily one of the best performances of his career. The song, all about the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles, goes through various ‘sections’ so to speak, of varying tempo.”
1. Riders on the Storm
“Jim Morrision could’ve overblown his vocals, Ray Manzarek could’ve used an annoying keyboard tone, but instead Jim Morrision sings a really calm vocal and Manzarek uses a really cool atmospheric keyboard tone, and it makes the song much better.”