Which song opens The Doors' 1971 album L.A. Woman?

The song that opens The Doors’ 1971 album L.A. Woman is “The Changeling.” It begins side one of the band’s sixth studio album and establishes the record’s blues- and funk-influenced sound.

Written by Jim Morrison and the other Doors, “The Changeling” was among the first songs recorded during the L.A. Woman sessions. Its title came from one of Morrison’s 1968 notebooks and refers to a changeling, a supernatural being from European folklore. The song’s restless lyric also reflects Morrison’s recurring desire to leave Los Angeles.

The album was recorded at the Doors’ Workshop in Los Angeles after producer Paul A. Rothchild left the project. The band instead worked with engineer and co-producer Bruce Botnick, creating a looser, more live-sounding record. Although the group wanted “The Changeling” as the first single, Elektra chose “Love Her Madly”; it later appeared as the B-side of “Riders on the Storm.”

A common mix-up is confusing the album opener with “Riders on the Storm,” which is the closing track and the final Doors recording featuring Morrison during his lifetime.