“The Soft Parade” is the fourth studio album by American
rock band the Doors, released on July 18, 1969 by Elektra Records. Most of the
album was recorded following a grueling tour during which the band was left
with little time to compose new material. Producer Paul A. Rothchild
recommended a total departure from the Doors' first three albums: develop a
fuller sound by incorporating brass and string arrangements provided by Paul
Harris. Lead singer Jim Morrison, who was dealing with personal issues and focusing
more on his poetry, was less involved in the songwriting process, leaving
guitarist Robby Krieger to increase his own creative output.
The album peaked at number six on the Billboard 200, but it failed to retain audiences in the UK and other European countries that their previous album, “Waiting for the Sun”, had succeeded in engaging. Three preceding singles, "Touch Me", "Wishful Sinful", and "Tell All the People", were included on The Soft Parade, with the former becoming another Top 10 hit for the Doors. Another single, "Runnin' Blue", also followed the album's distribution. Upon release, “The Soft Parade” was denounced by both music critics and the band's underground music scene followers, who viewed the album as the Doors' trending into popular music. Over time, historians have reassessed the album and its critical standing has slightly improved, but it is still widely considered the group's weakest effort with Morrison.
The album peaked at number six on the Billboard 200, but it failed to retain audiences in the UK and other European countries that their previous album, “Waiting for the Sun”, had succeeded in engaging. Three preceding singles, "Touch Me", "Wishful Sinful", and "Tell All the People", were included on The Soft Parade, with the former becoming another Top 10 hit for the Doors. Another single, "Runnin' Blue", also followed the album's distribution. Upon release, “The Soft Parade” was denounced by both music critics and the band's underground music scene followers, who viewed the album as the Doors' trending into popular music. Over time, historians have reassessed the album and its critical standing has slightly improved, but it is still widely considered the group's weakest effort with Morrison.
“The Soft Parade” este al patrulea album de studio al
trupei americane de rock The Doors, lansat la 18 iulie 1969 de catre Elektra
Records. Cel mai mult din album a fost inregistrat in urma unui turneu
istovitor in care trupa a avut putin timp pentru a compune material nou.
Producatorul Paul A. Rotschild a recomandat o desprindere totala de primele
trei albume The Doors: dezvoltarea unui sunet plin prin incorpoararea de
aranjamente de alamuri si corzi, furnizate de Paul Harris. Vocalistul Jim
Morrison, care avea ceva probleme personale si era concentrat mai mult pe
poezie, s-a implicat mai putin in procesul de compozitie, lasandu-l pe
chitaristul Robby Krieger sa-si creasca mai mult cota componistica.
Albumul a atins locul 6 in Bilboard 200, dar a esuat in a avea audienta in Marea Britanie si alte tari europene, fata de albumul anterior “Waiting for the Sun”, care a avut succes. Trei single-uri care au precedat albumul. “Touch Me”, “Wishful Sinful” si “Tell All the People”, au fost incluse pe albumul ce avea sa devina un alt Top 10 hit pentru The Doors. Un alt single, “Runnin’ Blue”, a venit dupa distribuirea albumului. Dupa lansare, “The Soft Parade” a fost denuntat si de critici si de catre fanii inraiti de langa scena, care au vazut albumul ca o miscare a trupei catre muzica populara. Dupa trecerea timpului, istoricii au reevaluat albumul si criticile s-au imbunatatit usor, dar inca este considerat,pe larg, ca cel mai slab efort al trupei cu Morrison.
Albumul a atins locul 6 in Bilboard 200, dar a esuat in a avea audienta in Marea Britanie si alte tari europene, fata de albumul anterior “Waiting for the Sun”, care a avut succes. Trei single-uri care au precedat albumul. “Touch Me”, “Wishful Sinful” si “Tell All the People”, au fost incluse pe albumul ce avea sa devina un alt Top 10 hit pentru The Doors. Un alt single, “Runnin’ Blue”, a venit dupa distribuirea albumului. Dupa lansare, “The Soft Parade” a fost denuntat si de critici si de catre fanii inraiti de langa scena, care au vazut albumul ca o miscare a trupei catre muzica populara. Dupa trecerea timpului, istoricii au reevaluat albumul si criticile s-au imbunatatit usor, dar inca este considerat,pe larg, ca cel mai slab efort al trupei cu Morrison.
List of tracks
Side 1
1. "Tell
All the People" Robby Krieger 3:21
2. "Touch
Me" Krieger 3:12
3. "Shaman's
Blues" Jim Morrison 4:49
4. "Do
It" Morrison, Krieger 3:08
5. "Easy
Ride" Morrison
2:43
Side 2
1. "Wild
Child" Morrison 2:36
2. "Runnin'
Blue" Krieger 2:27
3. "Wishful
Sinful" Krieger 2:58
4. "The
Soft Parade" Morrison 8:36
Personnel
The Doors
Jim Morrison – lead and backing vocals, maracas,
tambourine, handclaps on "Easy Ride"
Ray Manzarek – piano, Gibson G-101 organ, RMI Electra
Piano on "Shaman's Blues" and "The Soft Parade", Hammond
organ on "Wild Child", "The Soft Parade" and "Do
It", harpsichord on "Touch Me" and "The Soft Parade"
Robby Krieger – Lead guitar, co-lead vocals on
"Runnin' Blue"
John Densmore – drums, handclaps on "Easy Ride"
Additional musicians
Harvey Brooks – bass guitar (tracks 1 to 4, 7 and 9)
Douglass Lubahn – bass guitar (tracks 5, 6 and 8)
Paul Harris – orchestral arrangements (tracks 1, 2, 7, 8
and 10)
Curtis Amy – saxophone solo on "Touch Me"
Reinol Andino – conga
George Bohanan – trombone solo
Jimmy Buchanan – fiddle on "Runnin' Blue"
Jesse McReynolds – mandolin
Champ Webb – English horn solo on track 8
Technical
Paul A. Rothchild – production
Peter Schaumann – sleeve illustration
Bruce Botnick - Engineer
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