L.A. Woman (Alternate Version)

Zoo Freaks, get ready to groove with the Zoo Crew as we spin the "L.A. Woman (Alternate Version)" by The Doors from their iconic album L.A. Woman. This track is a raw, bluesy masterpiece, and the alternate version gives us a gritty, in-the-studio vibe that’s like eavesdropping on the band’s creative process. One wild piece of trivia comes from drummer John Densmore, who shared in the documentary The Story of L.A. Woman that the song’s famous "Mr. Mojo Risin’" line—an anagram of Jim Morrison’s name—was a spontaneous discovery. Morrison scribbled it on a board during recording, rearranged the letters, and the band built the song’s tempo to mimic an orgasm, starting slow and dark before speeding up. That’s the kind of primal energy that makes this track a quintessential Doors experience.

Another cool tidbit about "L.A. Woman" is its recording setup. Jim Morrison, ever the free spirit, belted out his vocals in the bathroom doorway of The Doors’ West Hollywood rehearsal space, The Doors Workshop, to capture that raw, echoey sound since they lacked a proper vocal booth. Producer Bruce Botnick, who stepped up after Paul A. Rothchild bailed on the project, recalled Morrison suggesting the iconic thunderstorm effects for "Riders on the Storm" during these sessions, a moment captured in studio chatter on the 40th Anniversary Edition. Posts on X from @TheDoors in 2022 highlight how the band wrote together as a unit for the first time, with Morrison’s bathroom vocals blending seamlessly with Robby Krieger’s guitar leads, no overdubs needed.

The song itself is a love letter and farewell to Los Angeles, inspired by John Rechy’s novel City of Night. Robby Krieger called it the "quintessential Doors song" in interviews, and LA Weekly named it the best song ever written about the city in 2014. A handwritten lyric sheet by Morrison fetched £13,000 at a 2009 auction in the UK, showing the song’s lasting cultural weight. The alternate version on the 40th Anniversary Edition, praised by PopMatters, intensifies the intimate, studio feel, though some fans on Reddit’s r/thedoors argue the original’s polish still reigns supreme. Either way, it’s a track that captures The Doors at their peak, raw and unfiltered.

Now, let’s rewind to how The Doors got their start. Formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, the band came together when Jim Morrison, a UCLA film school student, met keyboardist Ray Manzarek on Venice Beach. Morrison recited his poem "Moonlight Drive," and Manzarek, blown away by its poetic depth, suggested they form a band. They soon recruited guitarist Robby Krieger and drummer John Densmore, both from the local music scene, and named themselves after Aldous Huxley’s book The Doors of Perception, inspired by a William Blake quote about cleansing4 cleansing perception. Their early gigs on the Sunset Strip, especially at the Whisky a Go Go, built their reputation for provocative, theatrical performances, blending Morrison’s dark, poetic lyrics with a mix of blues, jazz, and psychedelic rock.

The Doors’ 1967 debut album, featuring the hit "Light My Fire," catapulted them to fame, but their boundary-pushing lyrics and Morrison’s wild stage antics—like an early performance of "The End" that got them banned from the Whisky—set them apart from the era’s hippie optimism. Despite controversies, including Morrison’s 1969 arrest for alleged indecent exposure in Miami, the band’s blend of classical, blues, and jazz influences kept them groundbreaking. By the time they recorded L.A. Woman in 1971, their final album with Morrison before his death in Paris at age 27, they’d cemented their legacy as rock’s most enigmatic provocateurs.

Stay connected with The Doors’ legacy through their official website, where you can dive into their discography and history. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X for updates, throw百5th Anniversary Edition tracks. Fans can join vibrant communities like the Doors Fans Facebook group to connect with fellow Zoo Freaks who share your love for the band’s music. For more fan-driven content, check out The Doors Guide, a detailed fan site with album breakdowns and rare photos. Keep spinning those records, Zoo Crew, and let’s keep the freak flag flying!