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
Real Gone cover

Real Gone

Tom Waits
Abraxas cover

Abraxas

Santana
In Blood cover

In Blood

Billy Childish, Holly Golightly
Let It Bleed cover

Let It Bleed

The Rolling Stones
Made In England cover

Made In England

Atomic Rooster
Agents of Fortune cover

Agents of Fortune

Blue Öyster Cult
Hairway to Steven cover

Hairway to Steven

Butthole Surfers