Elektra
DOORS - Soft Parade LP
$31.95
The psychedelic elements are somewhat toned down, and it's definitely their most upbeat album. "Tell All the People" and "Touch Me" are just superb openers: incredibly catchy, triumphal, with absolutely beautiful arrangements, and some of the finest singing Morrison ever did. The album doesn't exceed the brilliance of those opening tracks, although "Wishful Sinful" is another highlight, as is "Running Blue", what with its surprising, kinda absurd bluegrass breaks. I note that all those songs were written by Krieger (of course, they also all feature the brass and strings, and maybe that's what makes them stand out). In any case, this is The Doors at their most inventive if not best.
