LA Woman - HMV Collection

The release in question is LA Woman as part of the HMV Classic Collection series, catalog number C88 1-6, issued in the UK in 1988 on Elektra. This is a limited edition box set, pressed to just 2,500 copies, and represents one of the more thoughtfully packaged CD reissues of the album to emerge from that era of UK retail exclusives. It is a distinct object from the standard original release and should not be confused with the various other regional pressings cataloged here, including the other LA Woman variants on DoorsInfo.

The outer slipcase is immediately striking in its proportions. It is built to LP dimensions, which gives this CD release an unusual physical presence on a shelf. The front of the slipcase is predominantly off-white or very light grey, and centered on it is a large dark brown rectangular panel framing a photographic image of all four Doors members. The band is shot in a tight group, bearded and long-haired, and the image has that grainy, high-contrast quality characteristic of late-60s rock photography. The text reads "DOORS" above and "LA WOMAN" below the photo block, both set in a bold serif font that sits within the dark panel. In the lower right corner of the slipcase, the catalog number C88 1-6 is printed. The lower left carries the HMV Classic Collection logo, a small but significant branding mark that identifies this as a retail exclusive series. A retailer price sticker is visible on the upper right, showing the original price of £12.99 for a compact disc, which is consistent with UK CD pricing for that period.

The interior of the box is where the presentation really distinguishes itself. The slipcase opens to reveal a black-matted inner tray holding the standard jewel case CD, which features the familiar red and yellow LA Woman Elektra cover art, the band photo rendered in warm tones against the vivid red background, with "DOORS" in white at the top and "L.A. WOMAN" below. That jewel case sits snugly in the mat cutout on the right side of the opened box.

Separately, there is an LP-sized booklet included, which in the photographs shows a clean white cover with the title "DOORS" printed in large black text at the top, and below it a moody, close-up portrait of Jim Morrison, partially lit, rendered in high contrast black and white. The words "L A Woman" appear at the bottom of the booklet cover in a clean serif typeface. This booklet is a notable inclusion; at LP size, it has room for artwork and notes that a standard jewel case insert simply cannot accommodate.

Also visible in the photographs is a separate letter on HMV Classic Collection letterhead, headed "THE HMV CLASSIC COLLECTION" in a formal typeface. The letter is addressed to collectors and appears to be signed, with a printed name below the signature identifying the HMV series director. This kind of personalized collector correspondence was a hallmark of the HMV Classic Collection series and adds genuine provenance value to the set.

Content-wise, the disc itself carries the standard LA Woman track listing: "The Changeling," "Love Her Madly" (also issued as a single, documented separately at Love Her Madly / You Need Meat), "Been Down So Long," "Cars Hiss By My Window," "LA Woman," "L'America," "Hyacinth House," "Crawling King Snake," "The WASP (Texas Radio and The Big Beat)," and "Riders On The Storm." There are no bonus tracks. The audio content is identical to the standard Elektra CD release of the period; what collectors are paying for here is the packaging and the limited nature of the edition.

With only 2,500 copies produced for what was a UK retail chain exclusive, survivorship matters. Many of these sets were purchased by general consumers rather than serious collectors, and the oversized slipcase and LP booklet are prone to shelf wear, corner bumps, and moisture damage over time. Finding an example with the original price sticker intact, the HMV letter present, and the slipcase corners square is genuinely not easy after more than three decades. The set does not appear in large numbers on the secondary market, and when it does surface, condition varies considerably. Anyone cross-referencing the broader LA Woman discography will find this among the more format-specific UK collector items from that decade. It has no equivalents in the US market from the same period.

For a collector focused on UK Doors editions or format-specific limited runs, this box set is a solid acquisition. The 2,500-copy limitation, the LP-sized booklet, the HMV collector letter, and the overall presentation make it a legitimate shelf piece rather than a throwaway reissue. The audio content adds nothing beyond what the standard pressing offers, but that was never the point. If you encounter a copy in genuinely clean condition with all components present, it is worth picking up at a fair price.