L.A. Woman

File:Jim Morrison mug shot.jpg

The Doors had achieved commercial and critical success by 1969, but for much of that year they were blacklisted from radio playlists and their concert bookings dwindled after singer Jim Morrison had been charged with profanity and indecent exposure at a concert in Miami, Florida.{{cite web|url=http://www.doors.com/miami/one.html|title=The Miami Incident|work=Doors.com|access-date=May 10, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120628235302/http://www.doors.com/miami/one.html|archive-date=June 28, 2012}} Morrison had mentioned leaving the group at the end of 1968, only to be convinced by keyboardist Ray Manzarek to stay on another six months.{{sfn|Hopkins|Sugerman|1980|p=190}}{{cite book |last=Davis |first=Stephen |author-link=Stephen Davis (music journalist) |year=2004 |title=Jim Morrison: Life, Death, Legend |publisher=Penguin Publishing |isbn=1-59240-064-7 |page=181}} On September 20, 1970, Morrison was convicted for the Miami incident. In a 1970 interview with Ben Fong-Torres, Morrison said of Miami, "I think subconsciously I was trying to get across in that concert, I was trying to reduce it to absurdity. And it worked too well."{{cite web|url=http://www.thedoors.com/news/lizard-king|title=Interview with Jim Morrison|website=Thedoors.com|last=Fing|first=Ben|author-link=Ben Fong-Torres|date=March 30, 1970|access-date=July 15, 2016}}

In November 1970, shortly after Morrison's trial ended, the Doors entered Sunset Sound Recorders in Los Angeles to record early versions of the songs "L.A. Woman", "Riders on the Storm" and "Love Her Madly". The new songs were a departure from the heavily orchestrated pieces on the earlier album The Soft Parade, which burdened the group with long, drawn-out recording sessions.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-soft-parade-mw0000652096|title=The Soft Parade – Review|work=AllMusic|last=Unterberger|first=Richie|access-date=May 10, 2015}} The simplified and straightforward style, progressing from Morrison Hotel, was well-received, noted by Jazz & Pop magazine as "a return to the tight fury of early Doors' music".{{cite book|last=Densmore|first=John|title=Riders on the Storm: My Life with Jim Morrison and the Doors|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_XIxmn-_70IC|date=November 4, 2009|page=70|publisher=Random House Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-307-42902-5}}{{cite book |last=Weidman |first=Ritchie |title=The Doors FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Kings of Acid Rock|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HjPcWkEPSR8C&pg=PT382–383 |date=October 1, 2011 |publisher=Backbeat Books |pages=382–383 |isbn=978-1-61713-110-3}} The band conflicted with their record company, Elektra Records, who released the Doors' first compilation album, 13, to have a product for the Christmas market. It was released without the band's input, and featured a large image of a younger Morrison, upsetting him enough to threaten signing with another label.{{sfn|Hopkins|Sugerman|1980|p=318}} As their contract required one more album, the group were unable to follow through with the threat, so they continued rehearsing the new material.{{cite book|title=Break On Through: The Life and Death of Jim Morrison|pages=420–423|last1=Riordan|first1=James|last2=Prochnicky|first2=Jerry|year=2006|publisher=First Harper|isbn=978-0-688-11915-7}}{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/13-mw0000857474|title=13 – Review|work=AllMusic|last=Eder|first=Bruce|access-date=October 15, 2015}}

Record producer Paul A. Rothchild, who worked with the band on their first five albums, attended the early sessions but quit following friction with the band. This included his dissatisfaction with the song "Love Her Madly", which "drove [him] out of the studio." He felt that recording the composition was a step backwards artistically, calling it "cocktail music." Rothchild has denied a popular rumor that claimed he directed the remark toward "Riders on the Storm", explaining that he thought that song and "L.A. Woman" were "excellent in rehearsal". He maintains that his cocktail music comment was said to "make [the group] angry enough to do something good."{{cite web |last=Jackson |first=Blair |title=BAM Interview with Paul Rothchild |url=http://archives.waiting-forthe-sun.net/Pages/Interviews/OtherInterviews/rothchild_bam.html?fb_ref=Default |access-date=October 15, 2015 |work=archived.waitingforthesun.net}} Rothchild was frustrated that the group was slow in developing new material, especially as the band contained three songwriters. He was unable to persuade Morrison to consistently attend rehearsals.{{cite book |last1=Riordan |first1=James |title=Break On Through: The Life and Death of Jim Morrison |last2=Prochnicky |first2=Jerry |publisher=First Harper |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-688-11915-7 |page=299}} As Bruce Botnick revealed in the book Love Becomes a Funeral Pyre, another issue that led to Rothchild's leaving was the emotional devastation he felt at the death of Janis Joplin, having worked with her on Pearl.{{cite book |last=Wall |first=Mick |title=Love Becomes a Funeral Pyre |publisher=IPG Books |year=2015 |isbn=978-1-61373-408-7 |page=310 |author-link=Mick Wall}} Rothchild left before any master takes were complete, recommending that the Doors co-produce L.A. Woman with Botnick, the sound engineer who had worked with Rothchild on the band's previous recordings.{{cite web |title=Bruce Botnick: The Doors, MC5, Pet Sounds |url=http://tapeop.com/interviews/74/bruce-botnick/ |access-date=October 18, 2015 |work=Tapeop.com}}

File:L.A. Woman - Billboard ad 1971.png advertisement, May 1, 1971]]

The group and Botnick organized a makeshift recording studio at their private rehearsal space, the Doors' Workshop, a two-story building at 8512 Santa Monica Boulevard.{{cite book|last=Hoskyns|first=Barney|author-link=Barney Hoskyns|title=Waiting for the Sun: A Rock 'n' Roll History of Los Angeles|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w7oB2UKVxgQC&pg=PA189|year=2009|publisher=Backbeat Books|isbn=978-0-87930-943-5|page=189}} They could then record in a more comfortable and relaxed setting while avoiding the expenses of a professional studio.{{cite web |url=http://www.goldminemag.com/article/robby-krieger-reopens-the-door-to-the-‘l-a-woman’-sessions|title=Robby Krieger reopens the Doors to the L.A. Woman sessions|last=Junior|first=Chris M.|work=Goldminerag.com|access-date=October 15, 2015}} A mixing console previously owned by Elektra was installed upstairs in the Workshop, while studio monitors, microphones, and keyboards were set up downstairs. To compensate for the lack of an isolated vocal booth, Morrison recorded in the bathroom doorway, singing into the same microphone used on the Doors' final tour.{{cite book|last=Davis|first=Stephen|title=Jim Morrison: Life, Death, Legend|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_oRdvoEOoXMC&pg=PA395|year=2005|publisher=Penguin Publishing Group|isbn=978-1-59240-099-7|pages=395–396}}{{cite book|last=Weidman|first=Richie|title=The Doors FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Kings of Acid Rock|publisher=Backbeat Books|page=123|year=2011|isbn=978-1-61713-110-3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HjPcWkEPSR8C&pg=PT123}} According to Botnick, Morrison was easy to work with and spent long hours in the studio with little consumption of alcohol.{{cite AV media notes|title=L.A. Woman|others=The Doors|type=40th Anniversary edition CD booklet|year=2007|publisher=Rhino Records|last=Botnick|first=Bruce|author-link=Bruce Botnick|id=R2-101155}}

For recording, Elvis Presley's bassist Jerry Scheff and rhythm guitarist Marc Benno were brought in to provide additional backing. Densmore characterized Scheff as "an in-the-pocket man" for his steady supportive role, and praised how Scheff "allowed me to communicate rhythmically with Morrison, and he slowed Ray down, when his right hand on the keyboards got too darn fast".{{cite web|url=https://www.teamrock.com/features/2014-11-10/l-a-woman-and-the-last-days-of-jim-morrison|title=L.A. Woman and the last days of Jim Morrison|last=Bell|first=Max|work=Teamrock.com|access-date=October 19, 2015}} By all accounts, Morrison – a huge Presley fan – was excited by Scheff's participation. In addition, Benno was asked to participate as a result of his recent notoriety from working with Leon Russell.{{cite web|first=Jordan|last=Runtagh|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/doors-l-a-woman-10-things-you-didnt-know-20160419|title=L.A. Woman: 10 Things You Didn't Know|website=Rollingstone.com|access-date=July 15, 2016|date=April 19, 2016}} The songs were completed in a few takes on a professional-quality 8-track recorder,{{efn|With the exception of "Hyacinth House" which was recorded on a four track tape machine, as confirmed by guitarist Robby Krieger.{{cite web

|first=Alan |last=Paul

|title=The Doors' Robby Krieger Discusses Some of the Best Tracks on Reissued L.A. Woman Album

|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/gw-archive/interview-doors-robby-krieger-discusses-some-best-tracks-reissued-la-woman-album |website=Guitar World |date=May 7, 2012

|access-date=March 14, 2021}}}} and the album was finished in six days. Morrison was a blues enthusiast and proclaimed the final recording session as "blues day", recording "Crawling King Snake", "Cars Hiss by My Window", and "L.A. Woman". The album had a raw, live sound with overdubs mostly limited to additional keyboards. Botnick explained, "The overall concept for the recording session was to go back to our early roots and try to get everything live in the studio with as few overdubs as possible".{{cite book|last=Marcus|first=Greil|author-link=Greil Marcus|title=The Doors: A Lifetime of Listening to Five Mean Years|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=08kiBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA16|date=April 9, 2013|publisher=PublicAffairs|isbn=978-1-61039-236-5|page=16}} Mixing was completed at Poppi Studios in West Hollywood, by which time Morrison had moved to Paris.{{cite web|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/doors-la-woman/|title=Revisiting the Doors' Last Album with Jim Morrison, L.A. Woman|website=Ultimate Classic Rock|last=Giles|first=Jeff|date=April 19, 2015|access-date=March 23, 2020}}

The band began recording without much material and needed to compose songs on the spot, either by jamming or talking through ideas. In a 1994 interview, guitarist Robby Krieger stated, "Rothchild was gone, which is one reason why we had so much fun. The warden was gone."{{cite web

|first=Alan |last=Paul

|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bands/robby-krieger-the-doors-retrospective |title=The Doors' Robby Krieger Sheds Light — Album by Album |website=Guitar World |date=January 8, 2016

|access-date=August 17, 2020}} Despite its troubled beginnings, L.A. Woman contains some of the Doors' most critically acclaimed songs, as well as some of their most blues-oriented.{{cite web|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/the-doors-l-a-woman-top-100-classic-rock-songs/|title=No. 18: The Doors – 'L.A. Woman'|website=Ultimate Classic Rock|last=Swanson|first=Dave|date=April 25, 2012|access-date=March 23, 2020}} Lyrically, the album deals with contemporary topics such as love, life in Los Angeles, and complex aspects of the human experience.{{cite web|url=http://www.americansongwriter.com/2012/02/the-doors-l-a-woman/|title=The Doors 'L.A. Woman'|work=Americansongwriter.com|last=Inman|first=David|access-date=October 18, 2015|date=February 20, 2012}} Manzarek explained the band did not "approach the album with one vision, but after we started working on the songs, we realized that they're talking about L.A. They're about men, women, boys, girls, love, loss, lovers-lost, and lovers-found in Los Angeles". The album, as a whole, demonstrated Morrison's songwriting abilities, combined with his poetic phrasing and enthusiasm for Los Angeles but still a desire to leave the city with his partner, Pamela Courson.{{sfn|Hopkins|Sugerman|1980|p=295}} Artistically, L.A. Woman saw the band mixing blues and rock,{{cite magazine|title=The Rolling Stone: History of Rock & Roll|last=Bangs|first=Lester|author-link=Lester Bangs|magazine=The Rolling Stone|page=281|year=1980|isbn=0-394-51322-3}} with some elements of psychedelic and jazz rock of their early career.{{cite book |first=Melissa Ursula Dawn |last=Goldsmith |year=2019 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D6W-DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA95 |title=Listen to Classic Rock! Exploring a Musical Genre |page=95 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1440865787}}

L.A. Woman opens with the Morrison-penned track "The Changeling", which the Doors wanted to be the album's first single. Taken from one of Morrison's journals written in 1968, Holzman overruled the group's decision in favor of "Love Her Madly" and the non-album B-side "(You Need Meat) Don't Go No Further".

Morrison also contributed "Been Down So Long", a song inspired by folk singer Richard Fariña's book Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me and Furry Lewis's tune, "I Will Turn Your Money Green". A conventional blues song reminiscent of Morrison's potential imprisonment from earlier Doors performances, the lyrics showed depression, liberation, and sexuality. Additionally, Morrison wrote the blues number "Cars Hiss by My Window". Unlike most of the other tracks, it was composed in the studio.{{sfn|Hopkins|Sugerman|1980|page=295}} Manzarek recalled that "Jim said it was about living in Venice [Beach], in a hot room, with a hot girlfriend, and an open window, and a bad time. It could have been about Pamela Courson".{{sfn|Hopkins|Sugerman|1980|page=295}} Of the remaining self-written material on L.A. Woman, Krieger wrote "Love Her Madly", which echoed his songs of romance and insecurity.{{cite web|url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/the-doors-love-her-madly-lyrics-uncovered/|title=The Doors "Love Her Madly"|website=Ultimateclassicrock.com|last=Dukes |first=Billy|date=September 9, 2011 |access-date=July 10, 2016}} He wrote the song, at his house, to alleviate his boredom during Morrison's trial.{{cite web|url=http://teamrock.com/feature/2014-04-23/the-story-behind-the-doors-love-her-madly|title=The Story of the Doors' 'Love Her Madly'|website=Teamrock.com|last=Bell |first=Max|access-date=July 10, 2016}}

L.A. Woman closes its first side with the title track, the lengthiest song on the album. Thought of as Morrison's final goodbye to Los Angeles, it communicated his mixed feelings of passion and disdain for "the city of night".{{cite book|last1=Riordan|first1=James|last2=Prochnicky|first2=Jerry|title=Break on Through: The Life and Death of Jim Morrison|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0AxZ9avGYhEC|date=October 30, 1992|publisher=HarperCollins|isbn=978-0-688-11915-7|pages=429–430}} The lyrics feature an anagram for Jim Morrison: "Mr. Mojo Risin{{'"}}.{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01278z4 |title=Mr Mojo Risin' |date= June 29, 2011 |work=BBC Radio 2 |access-date=March 15, 2021}} Krieger's electric guitar effect at the introduction impersonates the sound of an accelerated automobile engine.{{cite web |first=Lindsay |last=Planer |title=The Doors – 'L.A. Woman' Review |url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/la-woman-mt0011298210 |website=AllMusic |access-date=July 12, 2022}}

In addition to "The Changeling", the Doors chose to incorporate three other compositions written before 1971: "L' America", "Crawling King Snake", and "The WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat)". "L'America" was intended for the soundtrack of director Michelangelo Antonioni's 1970 counterculture film Zabriskie Point, but ultimately rejected. Manzarek recalled, "Antonioni was interested in using it in Zabriskie Point. So we played it for him, and it was so loud, it pinned him up against the wall. When it was over, he thanked us and fled. So he turned to Pink Floyd, as European filmmakers tend to do when they want rock & roll."{{cite news

|first=Jeff |last=Weiss |date=January 19, 2012

|url=https://www.laweekly.com/l-a-woman-track-list/ |title=L.A. Woman: Track List |newspaper=LA Weekly |access-date=June 8, 2022}} Previously titled "Latin America", it was originally written and recorded during the sessions for Morrison Hotel,{{cite book |last=Krieger |first=Robby |author-link=Robby Krieger |year=2021 |title=Set the Night on Fire: Living, Dying, and Playing Guitar with the Doors |publisher=Hachette |isbn=978-0316243544 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e4EeEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT265 |page=265}} and the only work during the L.A. Woman sessions with a few drum overdubs.{{cite web|url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/doors-l-a-woman/|title=The Story behind the songs of the Doors' last hurrah, L.A. Woman|website=Ultimateclassicrock.com|last=Allen |first=Jim|date=April 19, 2016 }} The Doors' arrangement of the traditional "Crawling King Snake" dates back to their early tours, and was sometimes coupled with Morrison's poem "Celebration of the Lizard".{{cite book|title=Love Becomes a Funeral Pyre|last=Wall|first=Mick|pages=314–315|publisher=IPG Books|isbn=978-1-61373-408-7|year=2015}} "The WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat)" is a reworking of Morrison's sample of poetry first appearing on the group's souvenir books in 1968.{{sfn|Hopkins|Sugerman|1980|page=295}}

L.A. Woman also features "Hyacinth House", with lyrics written by Morrison and music by Manzarek. The song shows Manzarek being influenced by the Polish composer Frédéric Chopin's Polonaise in A-flat major, Op. 53, during its organ solo.{{cite AV media notes|title=Legacy: The Absolute Best|type=booklet|year=2003|publisher=Rhino Records|title-link=Legacy: The Absolute Best|last=McLee|first=David|id=R2-73889}} The final track was "Riders on the Storm", a collective effort by the Doors. Based on the arrangement "Ghost Riders in the Sky" and the line "delicate riders of the storm", taken from Hart Crane's poem "Praise for an Urn", the track melded Morrison's hitchhiker imagery from his own poetry projects. The faint, ghostly backdrop heard throughout the song was the last recording of Morrison as a member of the Doors.{{cite book|title=Love Becomes a Funeral Pyre|last=Wall|first=Mick|pages=318–319|publisher=IPG Books|isbn=978-1-61373-408-7|year=2015}}

After Morrison recorded poetry at Village Recorders on December 8, 1970, he felt encouraged to play some L.A. Woman material on tour.{{cite AV media notes|title=An American Prayer|type=booklet|year=1995|publisher=Elektra Records|last=Lisciandro|first=Katherine|id=CD-61812}}{{cite web|first=John |last=Haeny |author-link=John Haeny

|url=http://johnhaeny.com/the-making-of-jim-morrisions-an-american-prayer/ |title=The Making of Jim Morrision's An American Prayer |website=Johnhaeny.com |date=July 23, 2013 |access-date=August 2, 2022}} On December 11, the Doors performed in front of two sold-out audiences at the State Fair Music Hall in Dallas.{{cite web|url=http://consequence.net/2013/12/video-rewind-jim-morrisons-final-show-with-the-doors/|title=Jim Morrison's Final Show with the Doors|website=consequence.net|author=Bray, Ryan|access-date=July 14, 2016|date=December 13, 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://www.dallasobserver.com/news/for-your-weekend-listening-pleasure-the-doors-farewell-at-fair-park-in-december-1970-7133548|title=FOR YOUR WEEKEND LISTENING PLEASURE: THE DOORS' FAREWELL AT FAIR PARK IN DECEMBER 1970|newspaper=The Dallas Observer|last=Wilonsky|first=Robert|access-date=October 10, 2015}} The band opened the first concert with an extended "Love Her Madly", but struggled on older material as they had not played live since the Isle of Wight FestivaI that August.{{cite book|title=Break On Through: The Life and Death of Jim Morrison|page=457|last1=Riordan|first1=James|last2=Prochnicky|first2=Jerry|year=2006|publisher=First Harper|isbn=978-0-688-11915-7}} The set included "The Changeling" and "L.A. Woman" and closed with "When the Music's Over". The concerts were well received, proving the Doors were still a capable live act and leading to an extra performance in Louisiana.{{cite web|url=http://www.uncut.co.uk/features/the-doors-la-woman-and-jim-morrison-s-tipping-point-20996|title=L.A. Woman and Jim Morrison's Tipping Point|work=uncut.co.uk|access-date=October 9, 2015|date=July 4, 2013}} Audience recordings from the Doors' performances of "Love Her Madly", "The Changeling", "L.A. Woman", and the Morrison Hotel track "Ship of Fools" were included on the 2003 album Boot Yer Butt: The Doors Bootlegs.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/boot-yer-butt!-mw0000329174|title=Boot Yer Butt – Review|work=allmusic.com|last=Unterberger|first=Richie|access-date=October 10, 2015}}

On December 12, the Doors played the Warehouse in New Orleans for what turned out to be their last live performance with Morrison.{{cite web|url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/jim-morrison-plays-final-show-with-the-doors/|title=44 Years Ago: Jim Morrison Plays Final Show With the Doors|work=ultimateclassicrock.com|last=Whittaker|first=Sterling|access-date=April 12, 2015}} Midway through the set, a drunk Morrison began slurring the lyrics to "Light My Fire", interrupted with speeches and jokes. He sat in front of the drum platform in between Krieger and Manzarek's solos, but did not stand up to finish the song.{{cite book|title=Break On Through: The Life and Death of Jim Morrison|pages=438–439|last1=Riordan|first1=James|last2=Prochnicky|first2=Jerry|year=2006|publisher=First Harper|isbn=978-0-688-11915-7}} After prompting by Densmore, he tried to sing, before bashing the mic stand into the stage until its wood splintered. The Doors agreed to stop touring and focus on completing L.A. Woman.{{sfn|Hopkins|Sugerman|1980|p=309}}{{cite web|url=http://www.doorshistory.com/doors1970.html|title=Doors Interactive History – 1970|work=doorshistory.com|access-date=October 10, 2015}}

For years, fans speculated over the possible recordings of the New Orleans concert. In 2011, George Friedman, a stage manager of the Warehouse, revealed he had a reel to reel recording of the gig secured in a safety deposit box.{{cite web|url=http://mildequator.com/performancehistory/concertinfo/1970/701212.html|title=A Warehouse|work=mildequator.com|last=Gunn|first=Gordon|access-date=February 19, 2016}} He explained he discovered the tapes "when Beaver Productions moved its offices out of the Warehouse, Uptown into a building at the Riverbend. The Doors tape, along with a stack of other Warehouse show tapes, were cast off and left behind as debris during the move". Despite the confirmation of their existence, there has yet to be an official release of the recordings.

{{quote box|width=23em|I'm glad that L.A. Woman was our last album{{nbsp}}... It really captured what we were all about. The first record did, too, but L.A. Woman is more loose, it's live{{snd}}it sounds almost like a rehearsal. It's pure Doors.| – Robby Krieger reflecting on the album during a 2012 interview{{cite web|url=http://www.musicradar.com/us/news/guitars/interview-robby-krieger-on-the-doors-la-woman-jim-morrison-and-skrillex-527068|title=Interview: Robby Krieger on The Doors' LA Woman, Jim Morrison and Skrillex|publisher=musicradar.com|last=Busso|first=Joe|access-date=May 26, 2015|archive-date=October 16, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016035052/http://www.musicradar.com/us/news/guitars/interview-robby-krieger-on-the-doors-la-woman-jim-morrison-and-skrillex-527068|url-status=dead}}}}

L.A. Woman was released on April 19, 1971. It reached number nine on the Billboard 200, remaining on the charts for 36 weeks, and reached number 28 in the UK, spending four weeks on the UK Albums Charts. The first cover pressing had a burgundy-colored, curved-corner cardboard cutout sleeve, framing a clear embossed cellophane insert, glued in from behind. Photography was credited to Wendell Hamick. According to Jac Holzman, chief executive officer of Elektra Records: "I wasn't sure there would be another album ever, so I had Bill Harvey create a collector's cover. The Doors' faces were printed on clear film. The backing color of the inner sleeve could be changed and would affect the mood of the package. This is the first album in which Jim is bearded on the front cover. His photo is on the right, no bigger, no smaller than the others, just another guy in the band."{{cite book|title=Follow the Music: The Life and High Times of Elektra Records in the Great Years of American Pop Culture|last1=Holzman|first1=Jac|last2=Daws|first2=Gavan|year=1998|page=356|publisher=First Media Books|isbn=0-9661221-0-0}}

File:LA Woman gold record, Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood.JPG".]]

Three months after release, on July 3, Morrison was found dead. There had been discussions between Morrison and the others for future recording after he returned from Paris.{{cite book|last1=Browne|first1=Ray Broadus|last2=Browne|first2=Pat|title=The Guide to United States Popular Culture|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U3rJxPYT32MC&pg=PA248|access-date=April 15, 2015|year=2001|publisher=Popular Press|isbn=978-0-87972-821-2|page=248}}{{cite web|url=http://www.biography.com/people/jim-morrison-9415576|title=Jim Morrison – Biography |work=biography.com|access-date=April 22, 2015}} The album was accompanied by the "Love Her Madly" single, which was released in March and charted at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 for a stay of 11 weeks, but failed to chart in the UK. An additional single, "Riders on the Storm", was edited and released in June, and reached number 14 on the Billboard chart, while managing to peak at number 22 in the UK chart.

{{Music ratings

| MC = 93/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/la-woman/the-doors |title=L.A. Woman by The Doors Reviews and Tracks |website=Metacritic |access-date=September 12, 2021}}

| subtitle = Retrospective professional ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}

| rev2 = American Songwriter

| rev2Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite magazine |first=Ryan |last=Reed |date=May 9, 2012 |title=Review: The Doors: L.A. Woman 40th Anniversary Edition |url=https://americansongwriter.com/the-doors-l-a-woman-40th-anniversary-edition/ |magazine=American Songwriter |access-date=April 15, 2023}}

| rev3 = Christgau's Record Guide

| rev3Score = A−{{cite book|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|year=1981|title=Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies|publisher=Ticknor & Fields|isbn=089919026X|chapter=Consumer Guide '70s: D|chapter-url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_chap.php?k=D&bk=70|access-date=February 24, 2019|via=robertchristgau.com|title-link=Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies}}

| rev4 = Classic Rock

| rev4score = 7/10{{cite journal |title=The Doors – L.A. Woman 40th Anniversary Edition |journal=Classic Rock |date=March 2012 |last=Dalton |first=Stephen |issue=168 |page=109 }}

| rev5 = Encyclopedia of Popular Music

| rev5Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite book|last=Larkin|first=Colin|author-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|year=2011|chapter=The Doors|title=Encyclopedia of Popular Music|publisher=Omnibus Press|isbn=978-0-85712-595-8|edition=5th|title-link=Encyclopedia of Popular Music}}

| rev6 = Far Out

| rev6score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite magazine |first=Aimee |last=Ferrier |date=April 29, 2023 |title=L.A. Woman – The Doors |url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/la-woman-the-doors-album-review/l |magazine=Far Out |access-date=December 14, 2023}}

| rev7 = MusicHound

| rev7score = 4/5{{cite book|editor1-last=Graff|editor1-first=Gary|editor-link1=Gary Graff|editor2-last=Durchholz|editor2-first=Daniel|title=MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide|publisher=Visible Ink Press|location=Farmington Hills, MI|year=1999|isbn=1-57859-061-2|page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781578590612/page/358 358]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781578590612/page/358}}

| rev8 = PopMatters

| rev8Score = 8/10

| rev9 = Q

| rev9Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine |magazine=Q |location=London |title=L.A. Woman |page=124 |date=November 2000}}

| rev10 = Rolling Stone

| rev10Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/l-a-woman-40th-anniversary-edition-20120130 |title=L.A Woman (40th Anniversary Edition) – The Doors |last=Hermes |first=Will |author-link=Will Hermes |magazine=Rolling Stone |date= February 2, 2012 |access-date=September 27, 2015}}

| rev11 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide

| rev11Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/the-doors/albumguide |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130106033635/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/the-doors/albumguide |title=The Doors: Album Guide |magazine=rollingstone.com |archive-date=January 6, 2013 |url-status=dead |access-date=August 31, 2015}}

| rev12 = Slant Magazine

| rev12Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}

| rev13 = Uncut

| rev13Score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite magazine |first=Paul |last=Moody |date=December 17, 2021 |title=The Doors – LA Woman 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition |url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/reviews/album/the-doors-la-woman-50th-anniversary-deluxe-edition-136012/ |magazine=Uncut |access-date=July 3, 2022}}

}}

The album received mostly positive reviews. Rolling Stone{{'}}s Robert Meltzer was impressed by the sense of fun and the togetherness of the band, saying it was "the Doors' greatest album" and the best album of the year.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/l-a-woman-19710527 |title=L.A. Woman – The Doors |last=Meltzer |first=Robert |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=May 27, 1971 |access-date=September 27, 2015 }} Reviewing in New Musical Express, critic Roy Carr called it "one of their best in sometime," praising it as having "great depth, vigour and presence."{{cite news |first=Randall |last=Roberts |date=December 6, 2021 |title=How Jim Morrison's Final Sessions with the Doors Produced an L.A. classic Out of Chaos |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2021-12-06/the-doors-l-a-woman-jim-morrison |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=April 15, 2023}} Melody Maker wrote a not-so-favorable review, commending some cuts, especially the "effective electric piano" of "Riders on the Storm", but deemed the rest of the album as just "staleness", and that it's "all so obvious that originality has left them".{{cite magazine |date=July 10, 1971 |title=The Doors: L.A. Woman (Elektra) Review |url=https://thedoors.com/news/the-doors-l-a-woman-elektra-review |magazine=Melody Maker |via=Thedoors.com |access-date=August 22, 2022}} In Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies (1981), Robert Christgau appreciated Morrison's sense of humor in some of the lyrics and believed "the band has never sounded better", although he was disappointed with "Been Down So Long" and "L'America". In his 1994 book The Complete Guide to the Music of The Doors, Peter K. Hogan describes the album as an expansion on the style from Morrison Hotel, but in a more coherent form. He also believed L.A. Woman was a fitting swan song for Morrison, who was pleased to finally record a blues-oriented album.{{cite book|last1=Hogan|first1=Peter K.|last2=Charlesworth|first2=Chris|title=The Complete Guide to the Music of the Doors|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QDbS4d7nu_4C&pg=PA67|access-date=May 26, 2015|year=1994|publisher=Omnibus Press|isbn=978-0-7119-3527-3|page=67}}

Sal Cinquemani, reviewing the album for Slant Magazine, considers L.A. Woman to be "the sound of a band in perfect harmony". He describes the Doors' material as "disturbing and cynical over the years, and these songs were no exception".{{cite web|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/the-doors-l-a-woman|title=Album Review|publisher=slantmagazine.com|last=Cinquemani|first=Sal|date=April 17, 2007|access-date=May 26, 2015}} PopMatters{{'}}s Nathan Wisnicki said Morrison's lyrics were less pretentious than previous work because of L.A. Woman{{'}}s "more conventional blues".{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/the-doors-l-a-woman-40th-anniversary-edition-2495864280.html |title=L.A. Woman (40th Anniversary Edition)|website=PopMatters|last=Wisnicki|first=Nathan|date=May 6, 2012|access-date=May 26, 2015}} Stephen Dalton of Classic Rock, reviewing the 40th Anniversary Edition of the album, remarks how "the original L.A. Woman still stands proud, an all-time classic journey into bright shining darkness." David Quantick from BBC Music attributed the record's success to "a stripped-down yet full sound, a developed mysticism tied tightly to the band's brand of rock, and confidence born of having been a functioning unit for several years". Richie Unterberger, writing for AllMusic, described L.A. Woman as "uneven", but noted that the album contains compositions that "rate among their finest and most disturbing work".

In 2003, L.A. Woman was ranked number 362 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time".{{cite web|url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/2003/rs500albums4.htm|title=Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time|publisher=rockonthenet.com|access-date=May 5, 2015}} When the list was revised in 2012, to accommodate a number of albums released since 2003, the album was repositioned at number 364.{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-20120531/the-doors-l-a-woman-20120524|title=L.A. Woman entry on the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|date=May 31, 2012|publisher=rollingstone.com|access-date=May 5, 2015}} Both Ultimate Classic Rock{{cite web |first=Michael |last=Gallucci |date=October 23, 2015 |title=Doors Albums Ranked Worst to Best |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/doors-albums-worst-to-best/ |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |access-date=August 13, 2022}} and Stereogum named it the Doors' second best album, with the latter's Ryan Leas adding in the website, "It traveled the same raw blues-rock lane as its predecessor, but now the Doors sounded ragged, bleary. It's one of those early-'70s records that comes off like a beleaguered hangover from the end of the '60s."{{cite web|last=Leas|first=Ryan|date=July 29, 2015|url=http://www.stereogum.com/1819986/the-doors-albums-from-worst-to-best/franchises/counting-down/attachment/lawoman/|title=The Doors Albums From Worst To Best|work=Stereogum|access-date=May 28, 2016}} Online newspaper The Independent cited L.A. Woman the twelfth best album of 1971,{{cite news |title=The Top 20 Albums of 1971 |newspaper=The Independent |date=February 12, 2021 |access-date=April 23, 2021 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/best-albums-1971-carole-king-tapestry-b1800405.html?amp}} while Ultimate Classic Rock included it among the "Top 100 '70s Rock Albums".{{cite web |author=Ultimate Classic Rock Staff |date=March 5, 2015 |title=Top 100 '70s Rock Albums |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/70s-rock-albums/ |work=Ultimate Classic Rock |access-date=August 5, 2022}}

In 1988, L.A. Woman was digitally remastered by Botnick and Paul A. Rothchild at Digital Magnetics, using the original master tapes.{{cite AV media notes|title=L.A. Woman|others=The Doors|year=1988|type=Booklet|publisher=Elektra (975 011-2)}} DCC Compact Classics reissued the album on 24kt gold CD in 1993 and on 180g vinyl in 1998, both versions were mastered by Steve Hoffman.{{cite AV media notes|title=L.A. Woman|others=The Doors|year=1993|type=Booklet|publisher=DCC Compact Classics (GZS-1034)}}{{cite AV media notes|title=L.A. Woman|others=The Doors|year=1998|type=Media notes|publisher=DCC Compact Classics (LPZ-2050)}} It was remastered again in 1999 for The Complete Studio Recordings box set by Bernie Grundman and Botnick at Bernie Grundman Mastering, using 96khz/24bit technology; it was also released as a standalone CD release.{{cite AV media notes|title=L.A. Woman|others=The Doors|year=1999|type=Booklet|publisher=Elektra (EKS-75011-2)}} This was followed by a 5.1 surround version of the album, released on DVD-Audio on December 19, 2000; the surround mix was created by Botnick from the original eight-track analog 1" master tapes.{{cite AV media notes|title=L.A. Woman|year=2000|type=DVD-A booklet|publisher=Elektra|id=62612-9}} In 2006, all six of the Doors' albums with Morrison were remixed in stereo and 5.1 for the Perception box set. This edition of L.A. Woman includes two bonus tracks ("Orange County Suite" and "(You Need Meat) Don't Go No Further") and was made available with or without an accompanying DVD that features the 5.1 surround sound version of the album along with Doors' rehearsal footage. This remix series has been criticized because "the band chose to remix and tinker with [the albums], adding and cutting from a few tracks and including unused instrumental parts." For example, "Cars Hiss By My Window" features an extra verse and other additions for a new length of 4:58 (as opposed to 4:10 on the original). In 2009, the album was reissued on 180g vinyl featuring the original mix, cut by Grundman.{{cite AV media notes|title=L.A. Woman|others=The Doors|year=2009|type=Media notes|publisher=Elektra (EKS 75011)}}

In 2012, L.A. Woman was digitally remastered again as a part of "The Years of the Doors" series to commemorate its 40th Anniversary release. This edition was reissued in an expanded format on January 24, 2012, by Elektra and Rhino Records in CD and digital formats, and it includes the 2006 stereo remix done and mastered by Botnick at Uniteye. It also features seven alternate versions of songs, and two previously unreleased tracks, "She Smells So Nice" and "Rock Me".{{cite web|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|title=L.A. Woman 40th Anniversary Edition – Review|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/release/la-woman-40th-anniversary-edition-mr0003534048|access-date=May 16, 2015|work=allmusic.com}} This remaster has been praised for leaving the original album "untouched". To accompany this release, a documentary titled Mr. Mojo Risin': The Story of L.A. Woman was distributed. The film includes interviews with all three remaining band members, as well as live and studio performances.{{cite web|date=November 19, 2011|title=The Doors announce the 40th anniversary release of L.A. Woman|url=http://consequence.net/2011/11/the-doors-announce-40th-anniversary-reissue-of-l-a-woman/|access-date=May 16, 2015|work=Consequencw.net}} Analogue Productions also reissued the album on hybrid SACD (2013) and double 45 RPM vinyl (2012), both editions were mastered by Doug Sax and Sangwook Nam at The Mastering Lab; the CD layer of the Super Audio CD contains the original stereo mix while the SACD layer contains Botnick's 2006 5.1 surround mix.{{cite AV media notes|title=L.A. Woman|others=The Doors|year=2013|type=Booklet|publisher=Analogue Productions (CAPP 75011 SA)}}{{cite AV media notes|title=L.A. Woman|others=The Doors|year=2012|type=Media notes|publisher=Analogue Productions (975 011-2)}} To commemorate the album’s 50th anniversary, Rhino released a three-CD/one-LP set on December 3, 2021. It was remastered by Botnick using the Plangent Process and includes the original stereo mix and two bonus discs of unreleased studio outtakes.{{Cite web|title=L.A. WOMAN (50TH ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION)|url=https://store.rhino.com/l-a-woman-50th-anniversary-deluxe-edition.html|access-date=September 30, 2021|website=Store.rhino.com}}

Rhino released on April 23, 2022 (as a RSD exclusive) the studio outtakes from the 50th Anniversary three-CD/one-LP set as a special edition quadruple vinyl entitled L.A. Woman Sessions.{{cite web |url=https://thedoors.com/news/l-a-woman-sessions-4-lp-set-available-exclusively-for-record-store-day-on-april-23-2022 |website=Thedoors.com |title=L.A. WOMAN SESSIONS 4-LP SET AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY FOR RECORD STORE DAY ON APRIL 23, 2022 |date=February 16, 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://mailchi.mp/thedoorsofficial/soft-parade-pre-order-422677 |website=Mailchi.mp |title=L.A. WOMAN SESSIONS 4-LP SET AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY FOR RECORD STORE DAY ON APRIL 23, 2022}}

All songs written by the Doors, except where noted. Details are taken from the 1971 Elektra Records album and may differ from other sources.{{cite AV media notes|title=L.A. Woman|others=The Doors|type=Liner notes|year=1971|publisher=Elektra Records|id=EKS-75011|at=Back cover}}

{{track listing

| headline = Side one

| total_length = 24:17

| title1 = The Changeling

| length1 = 4:20

| title2 = Love Her Madly

| length2 = 3:18

| title3 = Been Down So Long

| length3 = 4:40

| title4 = Cars Hiss by My Window

| length4 = 4:10

| title5 = L.A. Woman

| length5 = 7:49

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Side two

| title6 = L'America

| length6 = 4:35

| title7 = Hyacinth House

| length7 = 3:10

| title8 = Crawling King Snake

| length8 = 4:57

| writer8 = John Lee Hooker{{efn|The 1971 Elektra Records LP did not indicate a songwriter;. the 2007 Rhino Records edition listed John Lee Hooker. Hooker claimed that he got the song from bluesman Tony Hollins.{{cite book

| last1 = O'Neal

| first1 = Jim

| author-link1 = Jim O'Neal

| last2 = van Singel

| first2 = Amy

| title = The Voice of the Blues: Classic Interviews from Living Blues Magazine

| publisher = Routledge

| year = 2002

| isbn = 978-0-415-93654-5

| page = 208

}}}}

| title9 = The WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat)

| length9 = 4:14

| title10 = Riders on the Storm

| length10 = 7:12

| total_length = 24:08

(48:25)

}}

{{track listing

| headline = 2006 Remaster bonus tracks

| title11 = Orange County Suite

| length11 = 5:45

| title12 = (You Need Meat) Don't Go No Further

| writer12 = Willie Dixon

| length12 = 3:41

}}

{{track listing

| headline = 40th Anniversary edition bonus disc

| title1 = The Changeling

| note1 = alternate version

| length1 = 4:45

| title2 = Love Her Madly

| note2 = alternate version

| length2 = 3:59

| title3 = Cars Hiss by My Window

| note3 = alternate version

| length3 = 4:42

| title4 = L.A. Woman

| note4 = alternate version

| length4 = 8:50

| title5 = The WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat)

| note5 = alternate version

| length5 = 5:37

| title6 = Been Down So Long

| note6 = alternate version

| length6 = 5:06

| title7 = Riders on the Storm

| note7 = alternate version

| length7 = 9:07

| title8 = She Smells So Nice

| note8 = previously unreleased

| length8 = 3:26

| title9 = Rock Me

| note9 = previously unreleased

| length9 = 4:30

| writer9 = Muddy Waters

}}

{{track listing

| headline = iTunes bonus tracks

| title10 = L.A. Woman

| note10 = take 1

| length10 = 7:42

| title11 = Crawling King Snake

| note11 = run-through and studio chatter

| length11 = 4:35

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Amazon bonus tracks

| title10 = Love Her Madly

| note10 = take 1

| length10 = 3:38

| title11 = The Changeling

| note11 = take 9

| length11 = 5:28

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Spotify bonus track

| title10 = The WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat)

| note10 = instrumental

| length10 = 4:21

}}

{{track listing

| headline = 50th Anniversary First CD bonus tracks

| title11 = Hyacinth House

| note11 = demo

| length11 = 2:35

| title12 = Riders on the Storm

| note12 = Sunset Sound version

| length12 = 4:33

}}

{{track listing

| headline = 50th Anniversary Second CD: L.A. Woman Sessions, Part 1

| title1 = The Changeling

| length1 = 26:50

| title2 = Love Her Madly

| length2 = 21:10

| title3 = Riders on the Storm

| length3 = 18:09

| title4 = L.A. Woman (Part 1)

| length4 = 11:04

}}

{{track listing

| headline = 50th Anniversary Third CD: L.A. Woman Sessions, Part 2

| title1 = L.A. Woman (Part 2)

| length1 = 8:42

| title2 = She Smells So Nice

| length2 = 3:22

| title3 = Rock Me Baby

| writer3 = B.B. King

| length3 = 4:38

| title4 = Mr. Mojo Risin{{'-}}

| length4 = 1:20

| title5 = Baby Please Don't Go

| writer5 = Big Joe Williams

| length5 = 0:07

| title6 = L.A. Woman (Part 3)

| length6 = 13:42

| title7 = Been Down So Long (Part 1)

| length7 = 5:02

| title8 = Get Out of My Life Woman

| writer8 = Allen Toussaint

| length8 = 3:56

| title9 = Crawling King Snake

| writer9 = John Lee Hooker

| length9 = 4:18

| title10 = The Bastard Son Of Jimmy & Mama Reed (Cars Hiss By My Window)

| length10 = 6:26

| title11 = Been Down So Long (Part 2)

| length11 = 23:00

| title12 = Mystery Train

| writer12 = Junior Parker

| length12 = 0:24

| title13 = The WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat)

| length13 = 1:26

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Side one

| title1 = The Changeling (Part 1)

| length1 = 23:40

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Side two

| title1 = The Changeling (Part 2)

| length1 = 3:09

| title2 = Love Her Madly (Part 1)

| length2 = 15:48

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Side three

| title1 = Love Her Madly (Part 2)

| length1 = 5:09

| title2 = Riders on the Storm

| length2 = 18:09

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Side four

| title1 = L.A. Woman (Part 1)

| length1 = 19:45

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Side five

| title1 = She Smells So Nice

| length1 = 3:21

| title2 = Rock Me Baby

| length2 = 4:20

| title3 = Mr. Mojo Risin'

| length3 = 1:14

| title4 = Baby Please Don't Go

| length4 = 0:07

| title5 = L.A. Woman (Part 2)

| length5 = 13:25

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Side six

| title1 = Been Down So Long (Part 1)

| length1 = 4:58

| title2 = Get Out of My Life Woman

| length2 = 3:59

| title3 = Crawling King Snake

| length3 = 4:14

| title4 = The Bastard Son Of Jimmy & Mama Reed (Cars Hiss By My Window)

| length4 = 6:17

| title5 = Mystery Train

| length5 = 0:24

| title6 = The WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat)

| length6 = 1:26

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Side seven

| title1 = Been Down So Long (Part 2)

| length1 = 15:08

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Side eight

| title1 = Been Down So Long (Part 3)

| length1 = 7:52

| title2 = Hyacinth House

| note2 = demo

| length2 = 2:37

| title3 = Riders on the Storm

| note3 = Sunset Sound version

| length3 = 4:47

}}

Details are taken from the 2007 Rhino Records CD remaster liner notes with producer Bruce Botnick's accompanying essay, and may differ from other sources.

The Doors

• Jim Morrison{{snd}}vocals
• Ray Manzarek{{snd}}piano, organ; including Hammond organ on "The Changeling",{{cite book

|first=Johan |last=Terrail |title=CAMION BLANC: The Doors Analyse des Influences

|isbn=978-2357794177 |language=French |page=20|publisher=Camion Blanc }} "Hyacinth House" and "The WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat)"; Vox Continental on "Love Her Madly",{{cite AV media | people = The Doors| year = 2011| title = Mr. Mojo Risin': The Story of L.A. Woman| publisher = Eagle Rock Entertainment| time = 25:02 ("Love Her Madly"); Extras ("Cars Hiss by My Window")}} and Rhodes piano on "L.A. Woman" and "Riders on the Storm";{{cite book |last1=Lenhoff |first1=Alan |last2=Robertson |first2=David |year=2019 |title=Classic Keys: Keyboard Sounds that Launched Rock Music |publisher=University of North Texas Press |page=234 |isbn= 978-1-57441-776-0}} rhythm guitar on "Been Down So Long"

• Robby Krieger{{snd}}lead guitar
• John Densmore{{snd}}drums (with brushes on "Cars Hiss by My Window"), tambourine on "Love Her Madly" and "Been Down So Long"{{cite book |first=Heinz |last=Gerstenmeyer |title=The Doors - Sounds for Your Soul - Die Musik Der Doors

|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8xk_-cOcPH4C&pg=PA165 |year=2001 |isbn=978-3-8311-2057-4 |page=165 |publisher=BoD – Books on Demand |language=de}}

Additional musicians

• Jerry Scheff{{snd}}bass
• Marc Benno{{snd}}rhythm guitar on "Been Down So Long", "Cars Hiss by My Window", "L.A. Woman" and "Crawling King Snake"

Technical

• Bruce Botnick{{snd}}production{{efn|The Doors as a group were also given the production credit.}}
• Carl Cossick{{snd}}album concept and design
• Wendell Hamick{{snd}}cover photography

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|artist=The Doors|title=L.A. Woman|type=album|award=Platinum|number=4|relyear=1971|certyear=2001}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|artist=The Doors|title=L.A. Woman|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=1971}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=The Doors|title=L.A. Woman|type=album|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=1971}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|artist=Doors|title=L.A. Woman|type=album|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1971|certyear=1993|source=infodisc}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|artist=The Doors|title=L.A. Woman|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=1971}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|artist=Doors|title=L.A. Woman|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=1971|certyear=2021|id=9571|note=sales since 2009|access-date=March 18, 2025}}

{{certification Table Entry|title=L.A. Woman|artist=The Doors|type=album|relyear=2001|certyear=2001|region=Spain|award=Platinum|certref={{cite book|url=http://www.mediafire.com/view/vqzno2c0fe48zam|title=Solo Exitos 1959–2002 Ano A Ano: Certificados 1991–1995|publisher=Solo Exitos 1959–2002 Ano A Ano|isbn=84-8048-639-2|year=2005}}|access-date=December 25, 2013}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|title=L.A. Woman|artist=The Doors|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=1971}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Doors|title=L.A. Woman|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=1976|certyear=1985|id=3702-616-2|access-date=October 4, 2022|refname=BPI}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Doors|title=L.A. Woman|type=album|award=Platinum|relyear=2007|certyear=2025|note=2007 release|id=21079-616-2|access-date=May 26, 2025|refname=BPI1}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=The Doors|title=L.A. Woman|type=album|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=1971|certyear=2021|accessdate=December 3, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}

• Outline of the Doors

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{cite book|last1=Hopkins|first1=Jerry|author-link1=Jerry Hopkins (author)|last2=Sugerman|first2=Danny|author-link2=Danny Sugerman|title=No One Here Gets Out Alive|year=1980|isbn=978-0-446-60228-0|title-link=No One Here Gets Out Alive|publisher=Grand Central }}

{{The Doors}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:The Doors albums

Category:1971 albums

Category:Albums produced by Bruce Botnick

Category:Albums produced by Jim Morrison

Category:Albums produced by Robby Krieger

Category:Albums produced by Ray Manzarek

Category:Albums produced by John Densmore

Category:Elektra Records albums