L.A. Woman (song)
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| “L.A. Woman” | |||||
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| Song by The Doors | |||||
| Album | L.A. Woman | ||||
| Released | April, 1971 | ||||
| Recorded | December 1970-January 1971 | ||||
| Genre | Psychedelic Rock Rock 'n' Roll |
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| Length | 7:59 | ||||
| Label | Elektra | ||||
| Writer | Jim Morrison Robby Krieger Ray Manzarek John Densmore |
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| Producer | The Doors Bruce Botnick |
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| L.A. Woman track listing | |||||
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"L.A. Woman" is a song by American rock band The Doors. The song is the title track on their 1971 album L.A. Woman, the final album with frontman Jim Morrison before his death.
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[edit] Meaning
The song, written by Morrison, describes a journey through Los Angeles, California. The lyrics mention, among other things, bungalows, strip clubs, cops, and various other sights that Los Angeles has to offer.
L.A. is referred to as City of Night, the name of a book by novelist John Rechy. Near the end of the song, Morrison introduces his alter ego, "Mr. Mojo Risin'". ("Mr. Mojo Risin'" is an anagram of "Jim Morrison.") It is also theorized that the lyrics refer to Diane Gardner, publicist for the Doors, to whom Morrison addressed many of his poems.[citation needed]
[edit] Music
Musically, the song has a catchy, upbeat tempo dominated by keyboardist Ray Manzarek's electric piano and tough electric guitar phrases from Robby Krieger. The song starts with the release of a pre-depressed tremolo arm from Krieger's guitar, creating a long "growl" to simulate the sound of a car, before being joined by John Densmore's drums and session musician Jerry Scheff's bassline.
Morrison's vocals come in soon afterward, and are echoed by Krieger's guitar. After the first verse, there is a short guitar solo before the second verse, which is followed by a piano solo. After a short interlude, the song builds in intensity again for the third verse. Following this, the song slows into a break where "Mr. Mojo Risin'", an anagram for Jim's name, is introduced, and as Morrison repeats the name, the tempo begins to increase in speed until it climaxes. Krieger plays another guitar solo and the opening verse is reprised as the song finishes.
[edit] Recording and equipment
Jim Morrison sang his vocals for the song in the bathroom of the recording studio in order to get a fuller sound. This can be seen in the 1991 Oliver Stone film The Doors.
Krieger plays a Gibson SG through a Fender Twin-Reverb and for the solos adds a Maestro Fuzztone. Krieger commented that, “Fuzz distortion was all we had - we didn't have overdrive on our amps!" [1]
Manzarek plays a classic piano and also an Fender Rhodes electric piano through a wah wah.
[edit] Video
In 1985, 14 years after Morrison's death, Ray Manzarek directed a music video for the song. It was aired on MTV and included in the Doors film Dance on Fire.
[edit] Later covers
- Billy Idol covered this song on his 1990 album Charmed Life.
- Jane's Addiction covered the song as part of the "L.A. Medley" which also contained the songs Nausea by the L.A. based punk rock band X and Lexicon Devil from The Germs.
- Particle covered this song with Robby Krieger, the guitarist from The Doors, on their Transformations Live album.
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ Total Guitar, May 1998, #43:85, Classic Track: The Doors LA Woman by Jon Jannaway
- Allmusic entry, accessed 6/6/06
- Total Guitar, May 1998, #43:86-96, Classic Track: LA Woman: The Doors by Joe Bennett (text) and Kit Morgan (song transcription)
- http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=276
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