The Soft Parade (CD) by The Doors

CD. The most uneven studio album recorded with Jim Morrison in the group, partially because their experiments with brass and strings on about half the tracks weren't entirely successful. More to the point, though, this was their weakest overall set of material, low lights including filler like "Do It" and "Runnin' Blue," a strange bluegrass-soul blend that was a small hit. On the other hand, about half the record is quite good, especially the huge hit "Touch Me" (their most successful integration of orchestration), the vicious hard rock riffs of "Wild Child," the overlooked "Shaman's Blues," and the lengthy title track, a multi-part suite that was one of the band's best attempts to mix rock with poetry. "Tell All the People" and "Wishful Sinful," both penned by Robbie Krieger, were uncharacteristically wistful tunes that became small hits. ~ Richie Unterberger, Rovi

After considerably broadening their sound on Waiting for the Sun, the Doors decided to continue pushing the envelope with their next release. Incorporating brass, strings, and even a full orchestra, The Soft Parade is easily the most challenging album in the Doors catalog--if not the most accomplished. Though the hit Touch Me and other tracks ( Shaman s Blues, Wild Child ) hearken back to the band s edgier self, the title track is a multipart rock suite that evokes some of the psychedelic era s worst excesses. Robby Krieger s Wishful Sinful serves up some uncharacteristic melancholy, but elsewhere there s a sense that some of the experiments here just might be filler. --Jerry McCulley SKU : ADIB000002I2G