L.A. Woman [40th Anniversary Mixes]

No this one isn't just another reissue of the well known album but also one for the discerning Doors fans and collectors, the 2 CD triple fold out set featuring as it does, alongside the original album, different versions of 7 of the 10 tunes (exceptions being "Hyacinth House" (unfortunately as it is a beautiful song), "L'America" and "Crawling King Snake"). There's also the image of Morrison crucified on a telegraph pole included with the early original vinyl issue on a poster and on the inner sleeve (referred to here as "Electric Woman").They were all recorded in The Doors Workshop at the time of the "LA Woman" sessions (hence the title of the double vinyl edition, "The Workshop Sessions" (which features only the alternate versions but doesn't appear to be widely available at present). The quality of the alternative versions is, as one would expect, excellent of course and I'm surprised that they have never appeared before though that's probably down to the cynical record company penchant for making maximum money off old material (not that I am a cynic myself, you understand).Enough has been said about the original album so I'll concentrate here on the alternative versions. I haven't actually compared any of them to the originals, merely listened to the unreleased ones and said what comes to mind, but I can say with certainty that most of the alternate versions are less polished than those used on the album and, indeed, sound at times like demos at times rather than alternate takes or versions. One does, in fact, mention the take number, which probably means that none of them are actually demos. Studio chat features too."The Changeling", which Jim tells the band is his favourite number, is longer at nearly 5 minutes and powers along at around the same speed as the album version but with a different keyboard riff. It is, perhaps, more powerful and certainly bluesier with more raucous lead guitar. A few bum notes slip in but do not spoil the overall feel of the song."Love Her Madly" features a lazier Morrison vocal with different lyrics and a totally different keyboard section in the middle."Been Down So Long" is probably the least different alternative, much the same as the album version apart from being a bit rougher and longer.The slow, dirty, blues of "Cars Hiss by My Window" seems to feature somewhat more prominent guitar than the LP version and is 30 seconds longer."LA Woman" meanwhile features different lead guitar riffs and a weird bit of extra vocalising brings it to a sudden end at 8.45."The WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat)" features different lyrics and is 1.20 longer than the album version but this comprises a cacophony of jazzy guitar and drums with no discernible tune. There's an instrumental version thrown in too.Clocking in at 2 minutes longer than the original, "Riders on the Storm" could have been the jewel in the crown here, were it not for the fact that the extra time is occupied by a throw away Morrison ditty, false start and chat occupying the first 2 minutes plus a somewhat flat Morrison vocal, especially evident at the start of the tune proper.Finally, music-wise, you get the addition of an actual unreleased song, "She Smells so Nice", which morphs into "Rock Me", but both are pretty much of filler or single B side standard and it`s no wonder they were not used on the "LA Woman" album proper or indeed anywhere else.The 3-way fold-out card sleeve packaging features, in addition to the original album artwork, 3 photos from the "LA Woman" sessions and, as mentioned earlier, a replica of the striking image of a naked Morrison crucified on a telegraph pole that came as a poster and on the inner of early copies the original vinyl LP (though it's referred to as "Electric Woman" on a vinyl set packaging sticker I always understood it to be Morrison and it does look like it could be him).As stated earlier the 2 LP 180 gram vinyl version features only the alternative versions spread over 3 sides. The lyrics of the original versions of the alternative songs are etched onto side 4. The gatefold sleeve features a largely white mock up of the LA Woman sleeve with recording details, credits and the crucified Jim image. At £17 to £19, 3 sides of music in a gatefold sleeve seems like pretty good value. Buy it this way if you still have a record deck and do not want another copy of "LA Woman" on CD.Now all that is needed is for alternative versions of songs from their other albums to be unearthed and issued in these formats.

For once, the merchandising hype surrounding the release of this remastered classic from early '71 is justified. The sound is crystal clear throughout, and there is an eerie sense for much of the time that Morrison is in the room with you. So, what more could a Doors devotee ask for? Well, possibly quite a lot. There's a fair argument that the legacy of this great album has been marred over the last decade or so by ill-advised aural 'tweaks' imposed on the original master by the remaining members of the band (well, Ray and Robbie at least). Via the 2007 edition, the title track 'LA Woman' suddenly had a jarring intro of 'My Country 'Tis of Thee' foisted upon on it, whereas an entire (and arguably, not very good) new lyric verse appears at the end of 'Cars Hiss by My Window'. It's enough to make a certain dead singer turn in his grave. Thankfully, these filigree frills and afterthoughts have been removed from this 40th anniversary reissue - this is the original album once more, and is much the better for it. This is hard rock at its finest, and I'd argue that you'll never hear Jim's swansong sound better.The additional bonus CD of 'work in progress' takes and out-takes is mildly interesting, but hardly essential. There's an historical fascination in seeing how song lyrics developed, and Morrison's comments between tracks are perceptive and sometimes amusing - rather like the man himself. But the music here is often half-formed, and decidedly lacks the 'fairy dust' that engineer / producer Bruce Botnick was able to bring to the exhilarating final version of the album. It's doubtful that any but the most besotted Doors fans would listen to this bonus CD more than a few times.Still, with an attractively packaged and priced reissue like this, it would be churlish to carp too much. The album remains a glorious and fitting coda to Jim's singing career, and still retains a power to put shivers down the spine. Unlike so much rock music before or since, there's a soul and passion here that is both fierce and timeless. Morrison's voice often sounds shot, and his end was indeed near, but this album was a fine way to bow out. It remains an essential blues rock purchase, as necessary to my life as the air I breathe or food I eat.

the last hurrah from the doors but what a way to send off! great album, nice pressing. not much to complain about

LP arrived quickly and in excellent condition.

Loved The Doors since I heard the first album in the 80s. Up until now I'd only heard that album, a Best Of and Waiting For The Sun (all great). I saw a documentary about LA Woman and thought I should give it a shot.Now, Jim's voice has obviously, erm, altered over the course of a few years of hard living and drinking, and has a rougher quality, which is shocking if you're used to the smoother sound of the likes of "Light My Fire". In fact the opening of "Been Down So Long" sounds like a wino shouting at you from his cell (which I guess it's supposed to). When he puts his mind to it, Mr Mojo can still sound pretty damn melodic (Hyacinth House). One star off (by rights it should be half a star but what you gonna do?) for the only duff track in my opinion, L'America, which strays too far into weirdness and leaves the tune behind. Overall a more bluesy album than the early ones, dark and sinister and ultimately a highly satisfying listen, which you'll want to return to.

Listening to my youth….