The Soft Parade
Encyclopedia
The Soft Parade is the fourth studio album by The Doors
, released in 1969.
The album met with some controversy among fans and critics due to its inclusion of brass
and string instrument
arrangements, as opposed to the more stripped-down sound of their earlier recordings. Fans also complained that The Soft Parade followed the lyrical formulas of previous albums, and thus was not very innovative. In reviewing the 40th anniversary remix (for the August 2007 issue of Downbeat Magazine) correspondent Dan Ouellette thought otherwise, declaring it to be "the apex" of the band's creativity.
Due to Jim Morrison's increasing alcoholism and interest in poetry, guitarist Robby Krieger has a stronger presence on The Soft Parade than on any other Doors album from the Morrison era, contributing around half the material, instead of merely a song or two as he had on previous efforts.
After this album, the Doors returned to simpler styles on Morrison Hotel
and L.A. Woman
.
For the first time, the songs were credited to individual members (only Morrison and Krieger are actually listed on the albums sleeve) as Morrison was unhappy with the lyrics "get your guns" on the album's first track. He was uncomfortable with the possible perception by some that that was in fact what he wanted listeners to do. Although, on later albums the writing credit would return to the earlier format and regardless of whose lyrics were being used the entire band was credited.
Despite a lukewarm reception, the album became the band's fourth top ten hit album in a row and the single "Touch Me
" was hugely successful.
However, despite making #6 in the US, the album did not chart in the UK, perhaps due to the band's lack of a supporting hit single ("Touch Me" also did not chart).
Whereas the first three Doors albums had two singles pulled from each of them, "The Soft Parade" had a grand total of four, though some of them had initially been released as non-album singles significantly prior to the album's release. The only two songs on the LP that weren't released as either the A or B-side of a single were the title cut and "Shaman's Blues". Only one single would be pulled from the next album, Morrison Hotel
. It's also notable that all four singles were written by Robbie Krieger, and none by band leader Jim Morrison.
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
, released in 1969.
The album met with some controversy among fans and critics due to its inclusion of brass
Brass instrument
A brass instrument is a musical instrument whose sound is produced by sympathetic vibration of air in a tubular resonator in sympathy with the vibration of the player's lips...
and string instrument
String instrument
A string instrument is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. In the Hornbostel-Sachs scheme of musical instrument classification, used in organology, they are called chordophones...
arrangements, as opposed to the more stripped-down sound of their earlier recordings. Fans also complained that The Soft Parade followed the lyrical formulas of previous albums, and thus was not very innovative. In reviewing the 40th anniversary remix (for the August 2007 issue of Downbeat Magazine) correspondent Dan Ouellette thought otherwise, declaring it to be "the apex" of the band's creativity.
Due to Jim Morrison's increasing alcoholism and interest in poetry, guitarist Robby Krieger has a stronger presence on The Soft Parade than on any other Doors album from the Morrison era, contributing around half the material, instead of merely a song or two as he had on previous efforts.
After this album, the Doors returned to simpler styles on Morrison Hotel
Morrison Hotel
Morrison Hotel is The Doors' fifth album. It was released in 1970. After their experimental work The Soft Parade was not as well received as anticipated, the group went back to basics and back to their roots...
and L.A. Woman
L.A. Woman
The band embarked on a tour to promote the album, although it would only comprise two dates. The first was held in Dallas, Texas on December 11 and reportedly went well. The second performance took place at The Warehouse in New Orleans, Louisiana, on December 12, 1970, where Morrison apparently had...
.
For the first time, the songs were credited to individual members (only Morrison and Krieger are actually listed on the albums sleeve) as Morrison was unhappy with the lyrics "get your guns" on the album's first track. He was uncomfortable with the possible perception by some that that was in fact what he wanted listeners to do. Although, on later albums the writing credit would return to the earlier format and regardless of whose lyrics were being used the entire band was credited.
Despite a lukewarm reception, the album became the band's fourth top ten hit album in a row and the single "Touch Me
Touch Me (The Doors song)
"Touch Me" is a song by The Doors from their album The Soft Parade. Written by Robby Krieger, its riff was influenced by The Four Seasons' "C'mon Marianne." It is notable for its extensive usage of brass and string instruments to accent Jim Morrison's vocals...
" was hugely successful.
However, despite making #6 in the US, the album did not chart in the UK, perhaps due to the band's lack of a supporting hit single ("Touch Me" also did not chart).
Side one
- "Tell All the PeopleTell All the People"Tell All the People" was the third single off The Doors' 1969 album The Soft Parade. It is also known by "Follow Me Down" because of the use of the phrase in the song. It was released as an A-side that same year, with "Easy Ride" as its B-side, reaching #57 in the US charts...
" (Robby KriegerRobby KriegerRobert Alan "Robby" Krieger is an American rock guitarist and songwriter. He was the guitarist in The Doors, and wrote some of the band's best known songs, including "Light My Fire," "Love Me Two Times," "Touch Me," and "Love Her Madly."...
) – 3:23 - "Touch MeTouch Me (The Doors song)"Touch Me" is a song by The Doors from their album The Soft Parade. Written by Robby Krieger, its riff was influenced by The Four Seasons' "C'mon Marianne." It is notable for its extensive usage of brass and string instruments to accent Jim Morrison's vocals...
" (Krieger) – 3:12 - "Shaman's BluesShaman's Blues"Shaman's Blues" is a song written by Jim Morrison and performed by The Doors on their 1969 album The Soft Parade. The song describes a shaman pleading with his ex-lover to return back to him. He states that he knows the woman's "moods and your mind" but doesn't seem to be able to sway her and...
" (Jim MorrisonJim MorrisonJames Douglas "Jim" Morrison was an American musician, singer, and poet, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band The Doors...
) – 4:49 - "Do ItDo It (The Doors song)Do It is a track on the album The Soft Parade by the rock band The Doors written by singer Jim Morrison and guitarist Robby Krieger. Of the nine songs on the album, it is the only song written jointly as each of the other songs were composed individually by either Krieger or Morrison...
" (Morrison, Krieger) – 3:08 - "Easy RideEasy Ride"Easy Ride" is a song by The Doors, from their 1969 album The Soft Parade. It was written by lead singer Jim Morrison, who, apparently hoped it would be released as a single A-side as well. Perhaps surprisingly, given that a grand total of four singles were lifted from the nine-song album, "Easy...
" (Morrison) – 2:41
Side two
- "Wild ChildWild Child (The Doors song)Wild Child is a track on the album The Soft Parade by the rock band The Doors written by singer Jim Morrison. It was released as a B-side of the group's seventh single "Touch Me" in December, 1968, preceding the release of The Soft Parade album by several months...
" (Morrison) – 2:38 - "Runnin' BlueRunnin' BlueRunnin' Blue is a song by the American rock band The Doors, the seventh track on their album The Soft Parade. In 1969 it peaked at #64 on Billboard magazine's Pop Singles chart....
" (Krieger) – 2:33 - "Wishful SinfulWishful SinfulWishful Sinful is a song written by Doors guitarist Robby Krieger and performed by The Doors. Released in March 1969 from the band's fourth album, The Soft Parade, "Wishful Sinful" follows the general theme of the album by incorporating elements of classical music. It reached #44 on the Billboard...
" (Krieger) – 3:02 - "The Soft ParadeThe Soft Parade (song)The Soft Parade is the ninth and final track on the fourth studio album of the same name by the rock band The Doors. Many listeners believe that this and Shaman's Blues are reminiscent to the old style of The Doors, as heard in the albums The Doors and Strange Days. This is mainly because the song...
" (Morrison) – 8:37- The 40th Anniversary Mix contains an extended intro that makes it 9:41
40th Anniversary Edition CD bonus tracks
- "Who Scared You" – 3:58
- "Whiskey, Mystics & MenWhiskey, Mystics & Men"Whiskey, Mystics & Men" is a song by The Doors from the compilation Essential Rarities.-Overview:The song released on the 2000 compilation is mostly a studio creation, the vocal parts of Morrison are the same as the ones in the bootleg Missing Links "Whiskey, Mystics & Men" is a song by The Doors...
" (Version 1) – 2:28 - "Whiskey, Mystics and Men" (Version 2) – 3:04
- "Push Push" – 6:05
- Previously unreleased Doors jam
- "Touch Me" (Dialogue) – 0:28
- "Touch Me" (Take 3) – 3:40
Personnel
- Jim MorrisonJim MorrisonJames Douglas "Jim" Morrison was an American musician, singer, and poet, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band The Doors...
– vocals - Ray ManzarekRay ManzarekRaymond Daniel Manzarek, Jr., better known as Ray Manzarek , is an American musician, singer, producer, film director, writer, co-founder and keyboardist of The Doors from 1965 to 1973, Nite City from 1977–1978 and Manzarek-Krieger since 2001.Manzarek is listed #4 on Digital Dreamdoor's "100...
– pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, Gibson G-101Gibson G-101The Gibson G-101 is a model of combo organ, one of many makes and models of transistorized portable organs, most popularly used in rock & roll bands of the mid- and late 1960s, designed for use on stage or in the studio, for players that transported them frequently between performances.The...
organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
, Hammond organHammond organThe Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
on "Wild Child" and "The Soft Parade" - Robby KriegerRobby KriegerRobert Alan "Robby" Krieger is an American rock guitarist and songwriter. He was the guitarist in The Doors, and wrote some of the band's best known songs, including "Light My Fire," "Love Me Two Times," "Touch Me," and "Love Her Madly."...
– guitar, chorus vocal on "Runnin' Blue" - John DensmoreJohn DensmoreJohn Paul Densmore is an American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the drummer of the rock group The Doors.-Early life and The Doors:Born in Los Angeles, Densmore attended Santa Monica City College and Cal...
– drums
- Curtis AmyCurtis AmyCurtis Amy was an American West Coast jazz musician known for his work on tenor saxophone. He also explored many mediums, including soul jazz and hard bop.-Biography:...
– sax solos (track 2) - Reinol Andino – conga
- George Bohanan – trombone solo
- Harvey BrooksHarvey BrooksHarvey Brooks is an American bassist. He has played in many styles of music...
– bass (tracks 1, 2, 6, 8) - Jimmy Buchanan – fiddle (track 7)
- Doug LubahnDouglass LubahnDouglass Lubahn is a psychedelic-rock/jazz-rock bassist who has played with some internationally famous bands. His work is featured on several albums recorded by The Doors.-Brief History:...
– bass - Jesse McReynolds – mandolin
- Champ Webb – English horn solo
- Paul Harris – orchestral arrangements (tracks 1, 2 ,6 8)
- Peter Schaumann – illustration (inside cover)
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | "Touch Me Touch Me (The Doors song) "Touch Me" is a song by The Doors from their album The Soft Parade. Written by Robby Krieger, its riff was influenced by The Four Seasons' "C'mon Marianne." It is notable for its extensive usage of brass and string instruments to accent Jim Morrison's vocals... " B-side: "Wild Child" |
Pop Singles | 3 |
| 1969 | "Wishful Sinful Wishful Sinful Wishful Sinful is a song written by Doors guitarist Robby Krieger and performed by The Doors. Released in March 1969 from the band's fourth album, The Soft Parade, "Wishful Sinful" follows the general theme of the album by incorporating elements of classical music. It reached #44 on the Billboard... " B-side: "Who Scared You" |
Pop Singles | 44 |
| 1969 | "Tell All the People Tell All the People "Tell All the People" was the third single off The Doors' 1969 album The Soft Parade. It is also known by "Follow Me Down" because of the use of the phrase in the song. It was released as an A-side that same year, with "Easy Ride" as its B-side, reaching #57 in the US charts... " B-side: "Easy Ride" |
Pop Singles | 57 |
| 1969 | "Runnin' Blue Runnin' Blue Runnin' Blue is a song by the American rock band The Doors, the seventh track on their album The Soft Parade. In 1969 it peaked at #64 on Billboard magazine's Pop Singles chart.... " B-side: "Do It" |
Pop Singles | 64 |
Whereas the first three Doors albums had two singles pulled from each of them, "The Soft Parade" had a grand total of four, though some of them had initially been released as non-album singles significantly prior to the album's release. The only two songs on the LP that weren't released as either the A or B-side of a single were the title cut and "Shaman's Blues". Only one single would be pulled from the next album, Morrison Hotel
Morrison Hotel
Morrison Hotel is The Doors' fifth album. It was released in 1970. After their experimental work The Soft Parade was not as well received as anticipated, the group went back to basics and back to their roots...
. It's also notable that all four singles were written by Robbie Krieger, and none by band leader Jim Morrison.
See also
- The Electric Soft ParadeThe Electric Soft ParadeThe Electric Soft Parade are an English psych-pop band from Brighton, comprising brothers Alex and Thomas White, the creative core of the band, as well as a number of other musicians with whom they record and perform live, most recently including Andrew Mitchell and Damo Waters, as well as...
, who used this briefly as their name