THE DOORS - The Soft Parade 12" LP Vinyl Album

- with Gatefold Album Cover

 This album "Soft Parade" is the fourth studio album by The Doors, released in 1969. The album 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.

Soft Parade by THE DOORS 12" LP Vinyl Album front cover https://vinyl-records.nl

"The Soft Parade" Album Description:

The Doors' fourth studio album, "The Soft Parade," arrived in record stores in July 1969, packed in a now-iconic gatefold vinyl sleeve. This release marked a turning point for the band, both sonically and visually.

A New Parade: Brass, Strings, and Controversy

While the band's first three albums established their signature psychedelic rock sound, "The Soft Parade" presented a significant departure. Producer Paul A. Rothchild pushed for a fuller sound, incorporating brass and string arrangements by Paul Harris onto many tracks. This shift divided fans and critics alike. Some felt it was a bold evolution, while others lamented the abandonment of the band's raw, bluesy energy.

The Enigmatic Gatefold The gatefold cover itself offered a theatrical introduction to the album's new direction. Unlike the stark imagery of previous releases, "The Soft Parade" featured a surreal color portrait of the band members. This intriguing artwork hinted at the genre-bending experimentation within. The inner gatefold often featured an additional artistic element, further immersing the listener in the album's world.

Watch the video of "Touch Me":

Music Genre:

 Psychedelic rock, blues rock, symphonic rock 

Album Production Information:

The album: "DOORS - Soft Parade" was produced by:Paul Rothchild

Sound/Recording Engineer(s): Bruce Botnick

This album was recorded at: Elektra Sound Recorders, Los Angeles

Album cover photography: Raphy, Joel brodsky

Record Label & Catalognr:

Elektra 42 079 twen EKS 75 005

Media Format:

 12" LP Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record
Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 280 gram  

Year & Country:

 1969 Made in Germany
Personnel/Band Members and Musicians on: DOORS - Soft Parade
    Band-members, Musicians and Performers
  • Jim Morrison – vocals
  • Ray Manzarek – piano, Gibson G-101 organ, Hammond organ on "Wild Child" and "The Soft Parade"
  • Robby Krieger – guitar, chorus vocal on "Runnin' Blue"
  • John Densmore – drums
  • Curtis Amy – sax solos (track 2)
  • Reinol Andino – conga
  • George Bohanan – trombone solo
  • Harvey Brooks – bass (tracks 1, 2, 6, 8)
  • Jimmy Buchanan – fiddle (track 7)
  • Doug Lubahn[5] – bass
  • Jesse McReynolds – mandolin
Complete Track-listing of the album "DOORS - Soft Parade"

The detailed tracklist of this record "DOORS - Soft Parade" is:

    Side One:
  1. "Tell All the People" (Robby Krieger) – 3:23
  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) – 2:41
    Side Two:
  1. "Wild Child" (Morrison) – 2:38
  2. "Runnin' Blue" (Krieger) – 2:33
  3. "Wishful Sinful" (Krieger) – 3:02
  4. "The Soft Parade" (Morrison) – 8:37

 

Front Cover Photo Of "Soft Parade" by "THE DOORS" 12" LP Vinyl Album

 

Soft Parade by THE DOORS 12" LP Vinyl Album front cover https://vinyl-records.nl

 Note: The photos on this page are taken from albums in my personal collection. Slight differences in color may exist due to the use of the camera's flash. Images can be zoomed in/out ( eg pinch with your fingers on a tablet or smartphone ).

Photo Of The Back Cover Soft Parade by THE DOORS 12" LP Vinyl Album

 

Soft Parade by THE DOORS 12" LP Vinyl Album back cover

Photo One Of The Inner Gatefold Soft Parade by THE DOORS 12" LP Vinyl Album

 

Soft Parade by THE DOORS 12" LP Vinyl Album inner gatefold cover

Photo Two Of The Inner Gatefold Soft Parade by THE DOORS 12" LP Vinyl Album

 

Soft Parade by THE DOORS 12" LP Vinyl Album inner gatefold cover

First Photo Of Custom Inner Sleeve Soft Parade by THE DOORS 12" LP Vinyl Album

 

Soft Parade by THE DOORS 12" LP Vinyl Album custom inner sleeve

Second Photo Of Custom Inner Sleeve Soft Parade by THE DOORS 12" LP Vinyl Album

 

Soft Parade by THE DOORS 12" LP Vinyl Album custom inner sleeve

Close up of Side One record's label Soft Parade by THE DOORS 12" LP Vinyl Album

"albumtitle" Record Label Details: Description © Copyright ℗ Sound Copyright

Close up of Side One record's label Soft Parade by THE DOORS 12" LP Vinyl Album
 

Index of The DOORS Album Cover Gallery and Vinyl Records Discography

THE DOORS - 13 12" Vinyl LP
the doors 13 album front cover photo vinyl mediumsize

"13" is the first compilation album by The Doors. The album, along with the band's second compilation from 1972, "Weird Scenes Inside the Gold Mine,"

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THE DOORS - Absolutely Live (Canadian and German Releases) 12" Vinyl LP
THE DOORS - Absolutely Live  (Canadian and German Releases)  album front cover vinyl record

"DOORS - Absolutely Live" is the first live album released by American rock band The Doors in July 1970. Many shows were recorded during the 1970 tour to create the "Absolutely Live" album.

Absolutely Live 2LP (1970, Canada) Absolutely Live 2LP (1970, Germany)
THE DOORS - Alive She Cried 12" Vinyl LP
THE DOORS - Alive She Cried album front cover vinyl record

The title of this album is taken from a line in the song "When the Music's Over". The recordings are from various concerts during the period 1968–1970;

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THE DOORS - An American Prayer Jim Morrison (Netherlands and USA Releases) 12" Vinyl LP
THE DOORS - An American Prayer Jim Morrison (Netherlands and USA Releases)  album front cover vinyl record

is the ninth and final studio album by The Doors. In 1978, seven years after lead singer Jim Morrison died and five years after the remaining members of the band broke up

An American Prayer Jim Morrison (1978, Netherlands) An American Prayer Jim Morrison (1978, USA)
THE DOORS - The Best of the Doors 12" Vinyl LP
THE DOORS - The Best of the Doors album front cover vinyl record

"DOORS - The Best Of The Doors 1976" is a compilation album featuring the greatest hits of the iconic rock band, The Doors, released in 1976. This 12" vinyl LP album showcases the timeless music

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THE DOORS - S/T Self-Titled (1973, Germany) . 12" Vinyl LP
THE DOORS - S/T Self-Titled (1973, Germany) .  album front cover vinyl record

"The Doors" is the self-titled debut album by the band The Doors, recorded in 1966 and released in 1967. It features the breakthrough single "Light My Fire", extended with a substantial instrumental section omitted on the single release

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THE DOORS - Greatest Hits (1985, Czechoslovakia) 12" Vinyl LP
THE DOORS - Greatest Hits  (1985, Czechoslovakia)  album front cover vinyl record

"The Doors - Greatest Hits" is a compilation album by the American rock band, The Doors, released in Czechoslovakia in 1985. This 12" vinyl LP album, distributed by Elektra Records, brings together some of the band's most beloved songs.

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THE DOORS - L.A. Woman (European and French Releases) 12" Vinyl LP
THE DOORS - L.A. Woman (European and French Releases)  album front cover vinyl record

"L.A. Woman" was the last Doors album released with Jim Morrison before his death in July 1971. The album's style is arguably the most hard rock blues-like of the band's catalogue

L.A. Woman (1971, EEC Europe) L.A. Woman Bespoke Album Cover (1971, France)
THE DOORS - Morrison Hotel Hard Rock Cafe (Canadian and German Releases) 12" Vinyl LP
THE DOORS - Morrison Hotel Hard Rock Cafe (Canadian and German Releases)  album front cover vinyl record

After their experimental work "The Soft Parade" was not as well-received as anticipated, the group went back to basics and back to their roots.

Morrison Hotel Hotel Hard Rock Cafe (1970, Canada) Morrison Hotel Hard Rock Cafe (1970, Germany)
THE DOORS - Soft Parade 12" Vinyl LP
THE DOORS - Soft Parade album front cover vinyl record

This is the fourth studio album by The Doors, released in 1969. The album met with some controversy among fans and critics due to its inclusion of brass and string instrument arrangements

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THE DOORS - Weird Scenes inside the Gold Mine 12" Vinyl LP
THE DOORS - Weird Scenes inside the Gold Mine  album front cover vinyl record

"Weird Scenes Inside the Gold Mine" isn't The Doors' debut, but a 1972 Elektra compilation (orange label) on vinyl. It features hits like "Riders on the Storm" and "Light My Fire"

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