This song actually is abstract. Most people assume it's about women in L.A. It is actually a song about L.A. as a woman. "I see your hair is burning...hills are filled with fire". "Riding down your freeways....". "Never saw a woman so alone". This was Jim's love letter to L.A.

Man, I gotta admit, our generation just took this stuff for granted. Gifted artists like The Doors seemed ubiquitous. To hear it again through a young person's ears... it's just so damn good. It can't be said enough: the amount of innovative, top-notch music created during the 60's and 70's was phenomenal. I'm thankful to have lived during that era. Enjoy, Syed. There's so much more.

Grew up in LA and have stood on a hilltop overlooking the Valley several times and every hill you see is on fire. The words make you feel that hilltop. The instant I heard it I knew what he was describing which led to understanding the whole song in one sitting. Wonderful symbolism.

I was 16 in '71 when this came out, and in my humble opinion, 1971 was the BEST for rock music.

If you’ve ever driven on the freeways of LA this song absolutely captures that feeling

This song, this band F’N rocks!!!! It’s cemented in history!

The instrumental interlude is my favorite part of this song, along with the crisp drumming throughout.

No way any hip hop from today can even come close to this music 🎵🎶 😎 this is real music Real musicians. What has happened

They were a great band. Terrific musicians 🙂

This song is not about a "woman" as in a human being, but this is Morrison's tribute to the city of Los Angles. If you listen to the lyrics closely, it is clear. "I see your hair is burning," is a reference to the Santa Anna fires that happen every fall in the grassy Hollywood Hills. Another one is "Driving down your Freeways," Morrison himself stated the song is about the city of Los Angeles, as sort of a "Beautiful woman." One of the greatest 60s "Classic Rock" Bands. Thanks

Oh no, if you've lived in L.A., this is the song. It's the 101 freeway at night, diving through the night on the way to the Valley, all of L.A. spread out like a starry carpet. It's PCH at noon, the wind flying through your hair as you round the cliffs to Malibu. L.A. culture, especially back when this song came out, was car culture, and the city was properly seen through the windshield of a red Mustang, every road eternal, every streetlight illuminating possibilities. The feel of the song perfectly embodies that rushing flow behind the wheel, the river of the freeway that pulls us along like salmon.

I'm glad you gave props to keyboardist Ray Manzarek. Many younger listeners, who weren't around in the late 60's, mistakenly believe now that the Doors were a pop band made famous mainly due to the celebrity-like persona and eccentrics of front-man Morrison. On closer inspection, they are surprised to discover the musicianship of Manzarek, Robby Krieger, and John Densmore.

Mr. Mojo Risin (and acronym for Jim Morrison) a nick name he gave himself around a story from his youth involving a car accident with a bunch of Navajo in New Mexico. He claimed some of the souls leapt into his (at least this was part of his mythos he tried to create)

A little story: i was at a Knebworth outdooor concert in early '70s. A few local bands had played but crowd was sitting & listening. They played LA Woman on p a system & all the people started getting up & dancing!! It was great!

I’ve heard everything they’ve made, it’s insanely unique…. Very diverse, it’s , I love this band. Thank you Syed

Can't wait til you do "Roadhouse Blues"

Quintesential LA song? This has to be it for the musicianshp alone. What an amazing band.

City of Night = Los Angeles City of Light = Paris (where he died) “another lost angel” = los(t) angel(es)

If You want some poetry from Morrison listen to "The End" or "When the music over"

I cannot comprehend how someone could not like Jim Morrison's voice. It's one of the greatest of all time...

That was 6 guys Live in a room capturing lightning in a bottle. It was the 4th Take when they nailed it. They have released the other 3 Takes. They are hard to listen to because they are almost there. The missed beats and cues are a punch to the gut. Then BOOM....perfection.

No one misses the keys in this band. This band is the keys. All I want to do is dance when I hear The Doors, and I don’t dance

Mr Mojo Rising is Jim Morrison's anagram of his name. Very fitting for a poet who sampled everything in life to excess.

The quintessential LA song for my generation who were there for all this amazing music you are listening to. The Doors were one of the best and this song is just one example why. From them try their epics when you have a chance, When the Music's Over and The End are mind blowing and the Doors at their improv best. Enjoy! 🎵🎹🎸

These guys were always on point. Morrison with his dramatic vocals and poetry, Robby Krieger with his great guitar licks, James Dinsmore on awesome drums and Ray Manzarek with the best rock keyboards ever. You need to do more of this fantabulous band, just pick one.

I really like your takes on these old songs. Cool channel man! 👍

Roadhouse Blues is an upbeat banger by The Doors! You'll love it!

So heavy bluesy sound....Love IT!!!!!!

Morrison was a film student, hence the cinematic feel to his lyrics.

7:11 Yeah, I call Ray 'the Mad Scientist' and I get the feeling, he is a lot of the genius force behind so much of the Doors' greatness.

You're two songs into a seriously deep catalogue of music that is wildy wide-ranging in musical styles and sub-genre. You will likely be amused at your declarations about them at this point, when you look /listen back at this, after you've heard another double handful or two of their songs.

I may be alone on this, but if you listen to the first two albums, I think his vocal style most resembles Sinatra in the tenor and cadence. He said Sinatra was a big influence.

You've gotta check out The End. The last song on their first album, it's the cinematic side you talk about and it's brilliant

I cannot drive slow when grooving to this....IMPOSSIBLE !

Such actuate description of LA.👍🏻👍🏻✌✌

my favorite part of the song is the breakdown, it almost becomes like a spanish flamenco song, its something you take for granted when you are younger listening but when you hear it back with more musical knowledge its so impressive.

Never missed Manzarek. Was always completely tuned-in and appreciative. His organ solo on Light My Fire is like listening to a New Cosmic Mass.

LA is the woman

Ray has one hand on one keyboard and one hand on the other for the bass line. That's right, no bass guitar, except for sessions and rare occasions. Wow, right? Still loving your reactions. You take on the the difficult songs with such ease!

Great reaction Please do THE CHANGLING by the Doors

Some people like male singers to have high girl- like voices, I guess. Morrison was a baritone and I think it gave the Doors depth and power. This At this point, though, his naturally deep voice had been made raw from way too much whiskey and cigarettes. As you mentioned he only had months to live. His death came pretty close to the release of this album.

The song LA Woman and the larger album WERE an attempt by the band to go into the studio with a more loose feel to counteract an enormous amount of stress resulting from legal and chemical problems brought on by Morrison's recent behavior. I sense that they all internally knew things would not continue. Also, the version you are listening to seems to reflect a significant remix from the original. One thing to ponder as people recommend songs to hear. Not all remixes just correct noise problems from the original masters. They often change levels, stereo positions in the mix or change out entire parts that materially alter the result, often not in good ways.

Hi Syed...love your reactions...yes it does sound like a jam session which is one of the things I love about it...I had to laugh about your comment of the speeding ticket...another song that does that for me is "Radar Love" by Golden Earring...give it a listen and you'll know....great review

Jim Morrison certainly has a particular and unique tone of voice. If you're interested in out-of-the-ordinary voice types, why not try a Frank Zappa reaction? If you decide to take up this challenge, I suggest you start with (Don't Eat the Yellow Snow Suite), a suite of 4 songs from the album Apostrophe ('), studio version. Let yourself be carried away in the unique universe of Frank Zappa. That would definitely be a most interesting and entertaining reaction.

Ray manzareck played keyboards and bass foot pedals at same time, ingenious

I've always liked Morrison's voice, became a fan as a kid - my older brothers had a massive record collection including all Doors, Beatles, Dylan & hundreds of other albums. Thanks Bobby & Joe ✨✨ Some Morrison family history: Jim's father was youngest ever Rear Admiral & a naval aviator. He was commander of naval forces during the alleged false flag Gulf of Tonkin Incident that escalated America's involvement in Vietnam War.

In the beginning when you said whoa, that was" my country to the sweet land of liberty". Despite being American I don't actually know what song that comes from but it's equivalent to Woody Guthrie's this "land is your land this land is my land" patriotic song about America. Nice pic, thank you and thumbs up on the video.

This has the feel of Raymond Chandler's Hollywood but twenty years later

When he changed the "mood from glad to sadness" .. he was referring to the homicide rate in L.A. at the time including the Charles Manson murders

The soft parade for a 🤪 crazy experience

Great reaction as always - I love hearing your take on the song - you are a reactionist demi-god!

Check out more Doors.The LA Woman album has a very different sound than all of their other albums. It was their first and only album they produced themselves. It was recorded in their offices, rather than a studio, with Jim doing vocals in the bathroom. Gives it a garage band feel. The beauty of this album, in my opinion, is that it sounds like they were really enjoying themselves. Which comes across in the music. Lyrically i would highly recommend "When the Music's Over" and the tour de force that is "The Celebration of the Lizard"(Live) from other albums.

It’s not only about his love affair and addiction to the city of LA, but it’s also about culture of the western culture via LA, the emperor media city, as the microcosm… framed by the outline and diversity of the city itself, hwood, the hiways, Compton, the desert & the canyons w/ all the inhabitants intermingling w/in… some great lines into the culture and people: never saw a woman so alone (America’s need for gratification and affirmation from others); the alliteration of motel, money, murder, madness (no ownership restless souls wh/ can drive to violence); city of nite, city of light (hope and darkness, also LA but paris too where he was headed).

Jim was brilliant but the others are so in harmony when they play, and you are right, this is not rehearsed in detail and when they click they are unreal and I agree on Ray, great guy too, he his humble and maybe Jim's biggest fan, some great interviews with him on YT and he explains what the doors is very well, but he could and should take way more credits for his part in the Doors , utter brilliant piano player. Anyway, first time here, great video, just subscribed so I will be back

You should do ..Been down so long..it's well known with true doors fans it didn't get any air play in the day but one of there best tracks. Once you listen you will see why

You gotta do Roadhouse Blues!!! 🔥🔥🔥

I think you guys are critiquing that voice a little soon. You have only reacted to songs from their last album. His voice was gravelly and alcohol soaked on this album. Unlike the velvety, "Crystal Ship" vocals he laid down a few years earlier. Its unbelievable that someone would have a voice like that with zero training.

please do the whole ALBUM, ' Morrison Hotel'

Its interesting you keep returning to how cinematic the music is. Both Morrison and Manzarek met in film school

Jim Morrison and Ray Manazarek met a UCLA Film School, re your comment about The Dooors' cinematic quality.

Think what you want, but the Doors were first, and this is an iconic song!

Robby Kreiger rocking the SG

I'm afraid this period was the most creative musical generation.

You should stay with this album and do 'Riders on the storm', 'The cars hiss by my window' and ' Texas radio' before going backwards in their catalogue 'Light my fire' and 'The End' from their first album 4 years earlier.

IMO that killer twist in the middle of LA Woman is the best music to ever be written.

so that was your first - it will be with you for the rest of your life now - you won't stop playing it

Don't know if anyone has pointed out yet but Ray Manzeric plays bass with his left hand on a bass master, and keys on his right....which he's a God!!

Morrison nailed it after time of obscurity . Done in studio with no tricky enhancements

This is the city as a woman. “Never saw a woman, so alone.” It’s the alienation of a town built on social interaction among strangers trying to become famous, and the stranger you become to yourself. Under the Bridge by RHCP explores some of this alienation years later.

This one of my favorite Doors songs!

Great song to listen to on the highway!

Used to hang out in this dive bar in San Francisco. Loved putting Riders On the Storm and Kid Charlemagne by Steely Dan on the Juke Box, both songs just seem so appropriate and Like A Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan too.

Peace frog is another great one by the doors

People reacting to these groups from back in the day...late 60's and 70's.... cannot fully understand these songs because they didn't experience the era. The atmosphere, the politics, the war in Vietnam, the age of innocence ending and the world exploding into all these new discoveries. The 50's kids were naive and spoiled compared to their parents. They had a good safe life. But with the advent of the TV and more sophisticated movies, the music....Elvis, The Beatles....and then rock and roll....on into hard rock, acid rock, as well with the love and peace folk music and hippiedom. Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin were considered harder core for most tastes....but the hippies loved it all. Led Zeppelin and of course the Doors. Sexual liberation, love of all things natural....casting off the 50's etiquette and the parents way of doing things. Jim Morrison and Robert Plant were pushing the boundaries of the sexual mores of the time. Drugs, birth control pill, the war and the open road. People hitchhiked without fear. The world was exciting and new and the vibe was total freedom. Until the Tate-LaBianca murders. Hippiedom took on a dark side thanks to Charles Manson and some people who didn't know where the boundaries needed to be drawn. People tend to get carried away and forget....extremes are not good. There is no such thing as complete freedom. Not and maintain a livable free society. Boundaries are necessary. The Doors were a product of their time. But their music is timeless. Great music is. LA Woman is a metaphor for the city....but it's also a blend of metaphor and experience with the people who live there. All the young people who came to follow their dreams in the city of light.

There’s a great “driving” video thru LA to this.

Mr. Mojo Risin is an anagram for Jim Morrison,

Drafted in Elvis bass player Jerry sheff for this album. Mr mojo risin is an anagram of his name and comes from the blues got my mojo workin.

try also ' Moonlight Drive' the doors very 1st song.............

Reread the lyrics Jim Morriston was known for his flamboyant lifestyle I think this is a reflection of what he saw and the things he loved and hated about la, it was seen as bright lights but beneath that was seriously ugly.

“This is a vibe” has become the catch phrase of a generation without context.

LA is the woman. Extended metaphor. “Your hair is burning” = wildfires in the Hollywood Hills around the time (and/or a specific event that escapes me at the moment)

0:24 "To Live and Die in L.A." was a song and album by Wang Chung in 1985. It was also the soundtrack for the movie of the same name directed by William Friedkin. Shakur's song come out in 1996.

Motel Money Murder Madness! Let’s change the mood from glad to sadness! Cops in Cars, the Topless Bars Never met a Woman so alone. Another Lost Angel City of Night! Brilliant song! Along with Riders on the Storm, the two best tracks on LA Woman. Jim left for Paris the City of Lights to escape the City of Night LA. Only problem is they knew him there too so he couldn’t completely escape. He and his girlfriend Pam were trying to start over with their lives and wipe the slate clean. Actually not a bad idea but it didn’t work out sadly. He ended up dead in a bathtub after ODing after six months. But he left behind an incredible musical legacy with the Doors! I love the Mr. Mojo Rising part where it slows down and then speeds up again. What a great Rocker! The Doors did it all! Six great albums and then they were done! They never really played LA Woman live except a couple of times at the very end. Great Reaction! I knew you’d get this song. Killer Tune!

3:01 Man, Robby Kreiger just doesn't get enough credit I don't think though I'm no guitarist... but what I do know... he sounds GOOD!

Mr Mojo Risin' is an anagram of Jim Morrison.

Great album. Not a bad song in the bunch.

Roadhouse blues is a must!!

So many great LA tunes! Give west LA fadeaway by the Grateful Dead a listen

Morrison used to use Mr. Mojo Risen to retain anonymity when checking into hotels

Doors didn't have a bass player. While it's true that during live performances, the bass parts were played by keyboardist Ray Manzarek, in the studio, it was a different story altogether.

Syed, this was recorded a a bathroom for the accustic effects...lol

"This is a vibe" with a British accent. Love it.

Seen a few of your videos so far. Loving your content, keep up the great work!

Lost my driverslicence to this song only 2 months after I had gotten it when I was 18 years old.

What I say about this song: "This song is HUMMIN! I mean it is MOVIN!"

The End should be next please. Thank you ✌🏻❤️

Speeding Ticket ;O) I Feel Ya !!!!!!!!!!!

This is his Love Letter to the city of Los Angeles.

To Live and Die in LA by Wang Chung. If you haven't heard it, then you need to.

Greatness