The Soft Parade: An Experimental Turn in The Doors’ Sonic Landscape

The Doors’ fourth studio album, ‘The Soft Parade,’ released on July 18, 1969, marked a significant departure from the band’s established psychedelic rock sound. Delving into experimental terrain, it showcased a hitherto unseen side of The Doors, replete with orchestral arrangements and a shift towards pop-centric compositions.

Produced by long-time collaborator Paul A. Rothchild, ‘The Soft Parade’ is often deemed the most polarizing work in The Doors’ discography. The reasons are manifold: firstly, the band’s venture into brass and string arrangements took fans by surprise, while the album’s exploration of blues, jazz, and even early forays into what we would now term ‘world music’ marked a radical departure from the expected. Moreover, the escalating alcoholism of frontman Jim Morrison and increasing tensions within the band cast a shadow over the album’s creation and reception.

Despite these factors, or perhaps because of them, ‘The Soft Parade’ remains a fascinating artifact in the band’s body of work. The album’s title track, a near nine-minute epic, stands as one of the most ambitious compositions in The Doors’ repertoire. It’s a psychedelic odyssey, shifting between different musical movements, each exploring a different facet of the band’s sound, from bluesy rock to hauntingly ethereal passages.

‘Wild Child,’ with its raw energy and poetic lyrics, harks back to the band’s earlier, more straightforward rock approach. It’s a moment of familiarity in an album that isn’t afraid to venture into the unknown.

The first single from the album, ‘Touch Me,’ emerged as a resounding commercial success, climbing to number three on the Billboard Hot 100. The song is a swirling blend of pop, rock, and jazz, underpinned by a lively brass section and garnished with a vibrant saxophone solo. It’s a testament to Morrison’s abilities as a versatile vocalist, equally at home belting out bluesy rock numbers and crooning pop-infused ballads.

The experimental spirit that runs through ‘The Soft Parade’ is best exemplified in ‘Shaman’s Blues’ and ‘Wishful Sinful.’ The former is an eerie, mesmerizing track that weaves Morrison’s cryptic lyrics with Robby Krieger’s atmospheric guitar work, while the latter combines a beautiful orchestral arrangement with Krieger’s delicate guitar to create a hauntingly beautiful love song.

‘Runnin’ Blue,’ one of the more underrated tracks on the album, sees Robby Krieger take on lead vocals for the verses while Morrison provides the chorus. The song is a fusion of country rock, folk, and pop, a seemingly incongruous blend that somehow works in the context of the album.

‘The Soft Parade’ might not be as cohesive as the band’s previous offerings, but its adventurous spirit and willingness to experiment are commendable. It showcased a band in flux, caught between their roots and their aspirations, creating an album that was as eclectic as it was divisive.

In retrospect, ‘The Soft Parade’ is an intriguing chapter in The Doors’ musical journey. It’s an album that dared to defy expectations, to push boundaries and embrace new sonic possibilities. It’s a testament to the band’s musical ambition, their refusal to be pigeonholed, and their commitment to continual artistic evolution. The Doors might have returned to their harder, bluesier roots with their subsequent albums, but ‘The Soft Parade’ remains a fascinating detour, a daring experimental venture that revealed a different facet of one of rock’s most enigmatic bands.

The Soft Parade’ might not be the quintessential Doors album, but it’s an essential part of their discography. It’s an album that challenged their audience, challenged the band themselves, and ultimately, broadened the spectrum of what The Doors could be. While it might not resonate with all listeners, its boldness and its unflinching pursuit of new musical frontiers ensure it remains a compelling listen, more than five decades on. It’s a testament to the enduring allure of The Doors – a band that was never afraid to walk the road less traveled.