The Doors: L.A. Woman (Rhino High Fidelity series, indie exclusive) [RHINO]

Why you'll love it

This Rhino High Fidelity edition was cut from the original analog master tapes by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal Media. L.A. Woman reached No. 9 on the Billboard 200, with "Love Her Madly" in the Top 20 and "Riders on the Storm" charting too.

This edition

• Rhino High Fidelity series
• Indie exclusive
• 180g vinyl
• Cut from the original analog master tapes by Kevin Gray
• Heavyweight gatefold jacket
• Obi strip
• Insert with recollections from the band and studio staff
• Stereo mix

About the album

After the strings and horns of The Soft Parade, the Doors went back to basics. In late 1970 they set up in Los Angeles with longtime engineer Bruce Botnick now co-producing, and made the most direct, blues-soaked record of their career, a band playing together in a room and enjoying it.

Jim Morrison sounds loose and lived-in, and Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger and John Densmore play like they've got nothing left to prove. The title track rolls down the freeway for nearly eight minutes, "Love Her Madly" is pure radio, "The Changeling" struts on a funky groove, and they tip their hats to John Lee Hooker with "Crawling King Snake." Then there's "Riders on the Storm," with Manzarek's electric piano drifting through the rain, still one of the most atmospheric closing tracks in rock.

It was the last album Morrison made with the band, and critics have long counted it among their finest. The insert collects memories from the people who were in the room, which is as close as most of us will get to the session without a time machine and a very good excuse.

Also at Kops: more The Doors on vinyl · browse Rock

Tracklist

Listen

On Elektra / Rhino (cat# RHF1 75011), a reissue of the 1971 album.