Krieger says. "Jim would stay in this crappy motel called the Alta Cienega, which was right across the street. That was good, because getting Jim to show up for recording sometimes wasn’t easy. This time, because he was so close, he was usually the first one there."
Their longtime producer Paul A. Rothchild, who at the time was mourning the October death of close friend Janis Joplin (he oversaw her album "Pearl"), had produced the Doors’ most popular songs ... bowed out before the sessions really began. Included among the outtakes and demos is a recording of early attempts at "Riders on the Storm," which are said to have prompted Rothchild to dismiss the song, and the band’s direction, as "cocktail jazz."
Krieger disputes this telling of Rothchild’s departure, though. "The real reason was that he’d just done Janis and then she died. He had the feeling that something might happen if he produced our album." Rothchild, continues Krieger, "didn’t want to be known as the guy who produced somebody and then they died."
Aiming to record in a comfortable spot instead of their usual Sunset Sound, Botnick and band set up a studio at their rehearsal space, called the Doors Workshop, at 8512 Santa Monica Blvd.
Ray Manzarek. Light My Fire: My Life with The Doors:
Now we needed a place to rehearse... Corner of La Cienega and Santa Monica. Little two-story building. Large room downstairs, two rooms upstairs. Perfect. Music on the first floor, business on the second.
The Doors rehearsal space is now Tail of the Pup. https://g.co/kgs/tUfu1un
Tail of the Pup keeps a nod to the history. Inside is a photo of Jim with a hotdog and a plaque that reads, "In November 1970 The Doors recorded their sixth and final studio album LA Woman here. - Jim Morrison recorded his vocals in this very bathroom."
Ray Manzarek, Light My Fire: My Life WIth The Doors:
Elektra was half a block away on La Cienega, Duke's - the great health-food-style coffee shop/restaurant -- was a block west on Santa Monica, the legendary Barney's Beanery was a block east on Santa Monica, right across the street was the Alta Cienega Motel - where Jim spent many a night after fights with Pam - and the Phone Booth - a topless bar where Jim also spent many a night - resulting in many arguments with Pam that resulted in his spending many a night across the street at the Alta Cienega Motel.
THEN:
NOW:
The Alta Cienega is a block away from the Tail of the Pup. The hotel is either closed or looking for a buyer or both. The room (#32) that Jim stayed in was intact and a place for fans to visit and stay in.
They covered the walls in graffiti.
Article about it here and here.
The Phone Booth is gone, but there are strip clubs on Sunset Blvd. Regarding Duke's:
Dukes West Hollywood first opened as "Duke’s Coffee Shop" in 1968, and was located within the Tropicana Motel on Santa Monica Blvd. Years later, Dukes moved to its current address at 8909 W. Sunset Blvd, which was formerly the London Fog Nightclub. Sandwiched smack between Whisky a Go Go and The Cat Club, the new locale attracted a loyal following of musicians such as Tom Waits and Janis Joplin, who frequently played gigs nearby.
Barney's Beanery, Jim's favorite dive bar, is a block away from the Alta Cienega and is still up and running. It has some Doors' memorabilia.
Full article on Barney's Beanery.
