The Soft Parade
The Soft Parade | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | July 18, 1969 | |||
Recorded | July 1968 – May 1969 | |||
Studio | Elektra, Hollywood | |||
Genre |
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Length | 33:39 | |||
Label | Elektra | |||
Producer | Paul A. Rothchild | |||
The Doors chronology | ||||
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Singles from The Soft Parade | ||||
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The Soft Parade is the fourth
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.
Background
By mid-1968, the Doors had established themselves as one of the most popular groups in the US. The band's third studio album,
Throughout 1968, Morrison's behavior became increasingly erratic: he began drinking heavily and distanced himself from studio work to focus on his more immediate passions, poetry and film making.[6] At the time, Morrison was also struggling with anxiety, and felt like he was on the brink of a nervous breakdown. He considered quitting the Doors, but was persuaded by keyboardist Ray Manzarek to finish recording The Soft Parade before making such a decision.[7][8]
In November 1968, the band entered the newly established studio
Music
The Doors wanted to redefine what could be accomplished within the rock medium.
Although Morrison was less involved in the Doors' studio sessions at this point, he demanded the band receive individual writing credits after initially refusing to sing Krieger's lyric, "Can't you see me growing, get your guns" on the track "Tell All the People".[23] As a result, The Soft Parade was the first Doors album to list band members separately rather than collectively as "Songs by the Doors."[24] Krieger continued to hone his songwriting skills to fill the void left by Morrison's absence. He wrote half of the album's tracks, while Morrison is credited with the other half (they share co-credits on "Do It"), ultimately creating an album that lacks the unified musical stance found in the Doors' early works.[12]
Krieger's songs, written almost independently from the rest of the band, most noticeably incorporated the jazz influences. Only his tracks, "Tell All the People", "Touch Me", "Runnin' Blue", and "Wishful Sinful", were written to include string and horn arrangements; Morrison, though not totally opposed to the concept, declined to go in the direction Densmore and Manzarek championed.[25] "Touch Me" (penned under the working titles "Hit Me" and "I'm Gonna Love You") was chosen as the first single taken from The Soft Parade, becoming one of the Doors' biggest hits. The band brought in the saxophone player Curtis Amy to perform a solo instrumental on the song, which was influenced by the works of John Coltrane.[26]
Journalists Nathan Brackett and Christian Hoard found "Wild Child" as "Morrison parodying himself."[27] "Shaman's Blues" and the title track were both examples of the singer's penchant for using symbolism and autobiographical insights.[25] The latter song, a stylistic return to a lengthy track closing a Doors album, was penned with the help of Rothchild, who organized pieces of Morrison's poetry with him to align rhythmically and conceptually. Introduced with a mock-fiery sermon by Morrison, "The Soft Parade" displays his Southern roots through his portrayal as a preacher. The song's ambiance is heightened by the striking imagery which outlines a need for sanctuary, escape, and pleasure.[28] Critic Doug Sundling noted that "The Soft Parade", with its display of funk, jazz, acid rock and psychedelic pop influences, is more diverse than any other composition of the group.[29]
Release and reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
MusicHound Rock | 3.5/5[32] |
PopMatters | 7/10[33] |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [34] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [27] |
Slant Magazine | [35] |
The Village Voice | B−[36] |
The Soft Parade was released on July 18, 1969.
The album was rejected by the group's original audience and the
Writer Richard Riegel evaluated the immediate impact of The Soft Parade on the Doors' reputation in the magazine
Reissues
In 1988, The Soft Parade was digitally remastered by Bruce Botnick and Paul A. Rothchild at Digital Magnetics, using the original master tapes.[45] It was remastered again in 1999 for The Complete Studio Recordings box set by Bernie Grundman and Botnick at Bernie Grundman Mastering, using 96khz/24bit technology; it was also released as a standalone CD release.[46] In 2006, the album was reissued on a CD/DVD set featuring the 2006 stereo and 5.1 remixes done by Botnick for the Perception box set, and it includes a clip of the Doors performing the title track live.[47][48] The 2006 stereo remix was also released on a standalone CD release in 2007 with six bonus tracks including the rarities "Whisky, Mystics, and Men" and "Push Push"; this edition was mastered by Botnick at Uniteye.[49][50] In 2009, it was reissued on 180g vinyl featuring the original mix, which was cut by Grundman.[51] The same year, Audio Fidelity reissued the album on 24kt gold CD, remastered by Steve Hoffman.[52]
Analogue Productions reissued the album on hybrid SACD (2013) and double 45 RPM vinyl (2012); both editions were mastered by Doug Sax and Sangwook Nam at The Mastering Lab. The CD layer of the Super Audio CD contains the original stereo mix while the SACD layer contains Botnick's 2006 5.1 surround mix.[53][54] In 2019, Rhino Records released a 1-LP/3-CD deluxe edition to commemorate the album's 50th anniversary release, which was remastered by Botnick, utilizing the Plangent Process. The CDs are encoded with MQA technology.[55] It included the namely "Doors only" versions of "Tell All the People", "Touch Me", "Runnin' Blue" and "Wishful Sinful", where the orchestral arrangements are removed and features some new overdubbed guitar parts by Krieger.[56]
Track listing
The 40th Anniversary edition includes a longer version of "The Soft Parade", running to over 9:41 length.[57] However, the liner notes of the original US Elektra Records album released on July 18, 1969, show the details as listed below:[58]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Tell All the People" | Robby Krieger | 3:24 |
2. | "Touch Me" | Krieger | 3:15 |
3. | "Shaman's Blues" | Jim Morrison | 4:45 |
4. | "Do It" | Morrison, Krieger | 3:01 |
5. | "Easy Ride" | Morrison | 2:35 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Wild Child" | Morrison | 2:36 |
2. | "Runnin' Blue" | Krieger | 2:27 |
3. | "Wishful Sinful" | Krieger | 2:56 |
4. | "The Soft Parade" | Morrison | 8:40 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
10. | "Who Scared You" | Morrison, Krieger | 3:58 |
11. | "Whiskey, Mystics and Men" (Version 1) | 2:28 | |
12. | "Whiskey, Mystics and Men" (Version 2) | 3:04 | |
13. | "Push Push" (Jam) | 6:05 | |
14. | "Touch Me" (Dialogue) | 0:28 | |
15. | "Touch Me" (Take 3) | 3:40 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
10. | "Who Scared You" | Morrison, Krieger | 3:55 |
11. | "Tell All the People" (Doors-only mix) | 3:23 | |
12. | "Touch Me" (Doors-only mix with new Krieger overdub) | 3:12 | |
13. | "Runnin' Blue" (Doors-only mix with new Krieger overdub) | 2:29 | |
14. | "Wishful Sinful" (Doors-only mix with new Krieger overdub) | 2:57 | |
15. | "Who Scared You" (Doors-only mix) | 3:18 | |
16. | "Roadhouse Blues" (Manzarek on vocals) | 5:28 | |
17. | "(You Need Meat) Don't Go No Further" (Manzarek on vocals) | 4:29 | |
18. | "I'm Your Doctor" (Manzarek on vocals) | 3:56 | |
19. | "Touch Me" (Doors-only mix) | 3:13 | |
20. | "Runnin' Blue" (Doors-only mix) | 2:29 | |
21. | "Wishful Sinful" (Doors-only mix) | 2:57 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
22. | "I Am Troubled" | 0:39 |
23. | "Seminary School (a.k.a. Petition the Lord With Prayer)" | 2:19 |
24. | "Rock Is Dead" (Complete version) | 1:04:04 |
25. | "Chaos" | 3:06 |
Personnel
Details are taken from the 2019
The Doors
- Jim Morrison – vocals
- Ray Manzarek – keyboards, celesta on "Touch Me", harpsichord on "Shaman's Blues" and "The Soft Parade"[14]
- Robby Krieger – guitar, chorus lead vocals on "Runnin' Blue"
- John Densmore – drums
Additional musicians
- Harvey Brooks – bass guitar on "Tell All the People", "Touch Me", "Shaman's Blues", "Do It", "Runnin' Blue" and "The Soft Parade"
- Doug Lubahn – bass guitar on "Easy Ride", "Wild Child" and "Wishful Sinful"
- Paul Harris – orchestral arrangements
- Curtis Amy – saxophone solos
- George Bohanon – trombone solo
- Champ Webb – English horn solo
- Jesse McReynolds – mandolin on "Runnin' Blue"
- Reinol Andino – congas
Technical
- Paul A. Rothchild – production
- Bruce Botnick – engineering
- Joel Brodsky – photography
- Peter Schaumann – inside illustration
- William S. Harvey – art direction and design
Charts
Album
Chart | Year | Peak |
---|---|---|
Billboard 200 | 1969 | 6[38] |
Singles
Year | Single (A-side / B-side) | Chart | Peak |
---|---|---|---|
1968 | "Touch Me" / "Wild Child" | Billboard Hot 100 | 3[40] |
1969 | "Wishful Sinful" / "Who Scared You" | Hot 100 | 44[40] |
1969 | "Tell All the People" / "Easy Ride" | Hot 100 | 57[40] |
1969 | "Runnin' Blue" / "Do It" | Hot 100 | 64[40] |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[60] | Gold | 35,000^ |
Canada (Music Canada)[61] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[62] | Silver | 60,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[63] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
See also
References
- ^ Riordan 1991, pp. 241–243.
- ^ Joynson 1987, p. 70.
- ^ Riordan 1991, pp. 249–251.
- ^ Riordan 1991, p. 255.
- ^ Hopkins & Sugerman 1980, pp. 185–186.
- ^ Riordan 1991, pp. 313–316.
- ^ Davis 2004, p. 181.
- ^ Hopkins & Sugerman 1980, p. 190.
- ^ Goldsmith 2019, p. 94.
- ^ a b c Wall 2014, pp. 234–236.
- ^ Riordan 1991, p. 319.
- ^ a b c d Weidman 2011, pp. 108–109.
- ^ Hopkins & Sugerman 1980, p. 247.
- ^ a b Gerstenmeyer 2001, pp. 95–97.
- Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
- ^ Gaar 2015, p. 86.
- ^ Gaar 2015, p. 87.
- ^ Sundling 1990, p. 101.
- ^ Sundling 1990, p. 103.
- ^ Simpson, Dave (June 17, 2015). "The Doors: 10 of the best". The Guardian. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ Gaar 2015, p. 101.
- ^ Riordan 1991, p. 320.
- ^ Densmore 1990, p. 187.
- ^ a b Hopkins & Sugerman 1980, pp. 226–227.
- ^ a b c d Riordan 1991, pp. 338–340.
- ^ a b Weidman 2011, p. 85.
- ^ a b Brackett & Hoard 2008, pp. 254–255.
- ^ Riordan 1991, p. 337.
- ^ Sundling 1990, pp. 115–116.
- ^ a b c Unterberger, Richie. "The Soft Parade – The Doors | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
- ^ Gaar, Gillian G. (November 1, 2019). "The Soft Parade '50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition' will entice any Doors aficionado". Goldmine Magazine. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
- ^ a b Graff & Durchholz 1999, p. 358.
- ^ Ingalls, Chris (November 7, 2019). "The Doors' Soft Parade Gets the Deluxe Edition Treatment and a Chance for Reassessment". PopMatters. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
- ^ Larkin 1997, p. 183.
- ^ Cinquemani, Sal (April 18, 2007). "The Doors: The Soft Parade | Album Review | Slant Magazine". Slant Magazine. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
- ^ a b Christgau, Robert (January 15, 1970). "Consumer Guide (6)". The Village Voice. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
- ^ "The Doors music". The Doors.com. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
- ^ a b "The Doors Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
- ^ Weidman 2011, p. 114.
- ^ a b c d e "The Doors The 'Hot' 100". Billboard. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
- ^ Riordan 1991, p. 336.
- ^ a b c d Sundling 1990, pp. 100–101.
- ^ Dubro, Alec (August 23, 1969). "The Soft Parade – Review". Rolling Stone. No. 40. New York City. p. 35. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
- ^ Weidman 2011, p. 220.
- ^ The Soft Parade (Booklet). The Doors. Elektra Records. 1988. 7559-75005-2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Botnick, Bruce (1999). The Soft Parade (booklet). Elektra Records. 75005-2.
- ^ The Soft Parade (Booklet). The Doors. Elektra. 2006. R2 77645-D.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Berman, Stuart (December 5, 2000). "The Doors Perception". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
- ^ The Soft Parade (Booklet). The Doors. Elektra. 2007. R2 101187.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - Slant. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
- ^ The Soft Parade (Media notes). The Doors. Elektra. 2009. EKS-75005.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ The Soft Parade (Booklet). The Doors. Audio Fidelity. 2009. AFZ 038.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ The Soft Parade (Media notes). The Doors. Analogue Productions. 2012. APP 75005-45.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ The Soft Parade (Booklet). The Doors. Analogue Productions. 2013. CAPP 75005 SA.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ The Soft Parade (Booklet). The Doors. Elektra. 2019. R2 596001.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Blistein, Jon (July 18, 2019). "The Doors Prep Unreleased Material for Soft Parade 50th Anniversary Reissue". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
- ^ Rhino Records.
- ^ The Soft Parade (Liner notes). Elektra Records. US. July 18, 1969. EKS-75005.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b c Botnick, Bruce; Fricke, David (2019). The Soft Parade (50th Anniversary edition CD booklet). The Doors. Rhino Records & Elektra Records. R2-596001, 603497851324.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1995 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – The Doors – The Soft Parade". Music Canada.
- ^ "British album certifications – Doors – The Soft Parade". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type The Soft Parade in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- ^ "American album certifications – The Doors – The Soft Parade". Recording Industry Association of America.
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