The Doors - The Soft Parade

The Soft Parade is the fourth studio album by The Doors, released in 1969.
Writing and composition

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, including sharing the lead vocal on the song "Runnin' Blue".

For the first time, the songs were credited to individual members (only Morrison and Krieger are actually listed on the album's sleeve) as Morrison was unhappy with the lyric "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.
Release and reception

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).

The album was 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.

After this album, the Doors returned to simpler styles on Morrison Hotel and L.A. Woman.
Track listing
Side one
No. Title Length
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 two
No. Title Length
6. "Wild Child" (Morrison) 2:36
7. "Runnin' Blue" (Krieger) 2:27
8. "Wishful Sinful" (Krieger) 2:58
9. "The Soft Parade" (Morrison) 8:36


Personnel

The Doors

Jim Morrison – lead vocals, maracas, tambourine
Ray Manzarek – piano, Gibson G-101 organ, RMI Electra Piano on "Shaman's Blues", "The Soft Parade" Hammond organ on "Wild Child", "The Soft Parade" and "Do It", Harpsichord on "Touch Me" and "The Soft Parade"
Robby Krieger – guitar, chorus vocal on "Runnin' Blue"
John Densmore – drums

Additional musicians

Curtis Amy – sax solos on "Touch Me"
Reinol Andino – conga
George Bohanan – trombone solo
Harvey Brooks – bass (tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9)
Jimmy Buchanan – fiddle on "Running Blue"
Doug Lubahn – bass (tracks 5, 6, 8)
Jesse McReynolds – mandolin
Champ Webb – English horn solo
Paul Harris – orchestral arrangements (tracks 1, 2, 7, 8, 10)
Peter Schaumann – illustration (inside cover)

Chart positions

Billboard Music Charts (North America)

Album
Year Chart Position
1969 Pop Albums 6
Singles
Year Single Chart Position
1968 "Touch Me"
B-side: "Wild Child" Pop Singles 3
1969 "Wishful Sinful"
B-side: "Who Scared You" Pop Singles 44
1969 "Tell All the People"
B-side: "Easy Ride" Pop Singles 57
1969 "Runnin' Blue"
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. It's also notable that all four singles were written by Robby Krieger, and none by band leader Jim Morrison. If you watched the Movie with Val Kilmer It seemed to follow the timeline fairly well. All thanks to the artists, RIP Jim.