L.A. Woman cover

L.A. Woman

Released

The Doors’ final album with Jim Morrison (he died three months after it landed in stores, and they made two more without him that you’ve never heard) dives even deeper into the blues than its predecessor, 1970’s Morrison Hotel, did; their version of John Lee Hooker’s “Crawling King Snake” is dark and theatrical-in-a-good-way, and “The Changeling” and “Been Down So Long” strut and snarl. But the two seven-minute-plus side-enders, “Riders On The Storm” and the title track, show the band (and keyboardist Ray Manzarek in particular) at its best, simmering and seething and occasionally rousing themselves for a headlong charge, staring into the abyss and, when it stares back, giving it the finger.

Phil Freeman

Recommended by

Suggestions
Devil in the Flesh cover

Devil in the Flesh

Billy Childish, Dan Melchior
Aftermath cover

Aftermath

The Rolling Stones
Thirds cover

Thirds

James Gang
C.Q. cover

C.Q.

The Outsiders
Love Devotion Surrender cover

Love Devotion Surrender

Carlos Santana, John McLaughlin, Mahavishnu Orchestra
Grand Funk Railroad cover

Grand Funk Railroad

Grand Funk Railroad
Ash Ra Tempel cover

Ash Ra Tempel

Ash Ra Tempel
Green River cover

Green River

Creedence Clearwater Revival