Waiting for the Sun & The Soft Parade

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by The Doctor, Dec 30, 2017.

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  1. The Doctor

    The Doctor Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Philidelphia, PA
    I thought perhaps we would talk a bit about The Doors' two middle records - Waiting for the Sun, released in July 1968, and The Soft Parade, released in July 1969. Both albums occupy awkward spaces in the band's discography: Waiting for the Sun stands in the shadow of the group's amazing, groundbreaking debut and just as amazing second album; and The Soft Parade is not only a radical departure in sound both for The Doors but also for 1969, but sits right next to what is considered one of the greatest rock records in history, 1970's Morrison Hotel. Both albums are as such overlooked when discussions of this wonderful and mystical L.A. act arise.

    The Doors (1967), Strange Days (1967), Morrison Hotel (1970) and L.A. Woman (1971) have all I am sure been discussed to death. Let's discuss the band's middle track.

    What do you feel about these two albums? Should we do a song by song thread of each next?
     
    If I Can Dream_23 likes this.
  2. Purple Jim

    Purple Jim Senior Member

    Location:
    Bretagne
    They are the two weaker albums but they contain some superb songs.
     
  3. Scope J

    Scope J Senior Member

    Location:
    Michigan
    Nothing weak about WftS
     
  4. Miriam

    Miriam Forum Resident

    Location:
    -
    Waiting for the Sun is perfect.
     
    RAZORMADE, blaken123, Terry and 29 others like this.
  5. Scope J

    Scope J Senior Member

    Location:
    Michigan
  6. alexpop

    alexpop Power pop + other bad habits....

    Prefer Soft Parade.
     
    Humbuster, Marvin, giantleech and 4 others like this.
  7. Jem

    Jem Forum Resident

    Location:
    Lathbury
    Rather fond of Waiting For The Sun. A number of songs that would make Doors playlist.
     
  8. a customer

    a customer Forum Resident

    Location:
    virginia
    side one of WFTS is awesome
     
  9. Mike Reynolds

    Mike Reynolds Forum Resident

    Location:
    California
    As with everything else in life, I guess The Doors' popular albums are open to interpretation. While I like select songs on Waiting For The Sun and Morrison Hotel, I thought they were both pretty weak albums overall -- especially compared to their first two albums. But I love The Soft Parade, and not just for the number of songs (six out of nine), but also the studio production (bass-centric + horns). I even rank this album ahead of L.A. Woman. "Tell All The People", "Touch Me", "Do It", "Wild Child", "Runnin' Blue" and "Wishful Sinful" -- what's not to love about that???
     
    Last edited: Dec 30, 2017
  10. RockRoom

    RockRoom I Love My Dog

    Location:
    Upstate
    Man, I love Soft Parade. Just having Shaman's Blues, The Soft Parade and Wild Child makes this a fine record. I feel 1 or 2 more songs (to replace the weaker cuts) with the strength of the aforementioned tracks could have made this their best record.
     
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  11. bruce2

    bruce2 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Connecticut, USA
    I personally like Waiting for the Sun and The Soft Parade better than the first two Doors albums.
     
  12. DrZhivago

    DrZhivago Hedonist

    Location:
    Brisbane Australia
    I vastly prefer both over "Morrison Hotel".

    Regards
     
    JuanTCB, GrayMouser, Doug_B and 8 others like this.
  13. Echoes Myron

    Echoes Myron Forum Resident

    Location:
    USA
    Love, i mean LOVE both of these albums.
     
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  14. ODShowtime

    ODShowtime jaded faded

    Location:
    Tampa
    I never really listened to Soft Parade much. Then the new singles collection came out with a bunch of those songs so I revisited it and started to really dig it. I just came into possession of an RL copy in great condition this week and now I'm in love. Compared to their albums I know so well it's like I have a new Doors album to spin. It's consistently great the whole way through.

    Waiting for the Sun is the last one, I haven't quite cracked that one yet.
     
  15. thematinggame

    thematinggame Forum Resident

    Location:
    Germany
    I like both of them , Waiting for the sun is my favourite Doors album next to Morrison Hotel
     
    bruce2 likes this.
  16. EddieMann

    EddieMann I used to be a king...

    Location:
    Geneva, IL. USA.
    YOU CANNOT PETITION THE LORD WITH PRAYER!

    That is all I can add to this discussion. :p
     
  17. a customer

    a customer Forum Resident

    Location:
    virginia
    I thought on all doors albums side one was much better than side 2 (except the 27 minute soft parade) every song on soft parade was released as a single except the title track I think
     
    Mike Reynolds likes this.
  18. Vangro

    Vangro Forum Resident

    Location:
    London
    Love both of them.
     
  19. Six Bachelors

    Six Bachelors Troublemaking enthusiast

    I love TSF and like WFTS.

    I wish TSF had the single mixes of Touch Me and Wishful Sinful with centered rhythm sections, as well as having a centered rhythm stereo on all tracks and the version of Tell All The People reflecting the mono promo mix, with Robby's lead guitar coming in earlier after the solo and with a much shorter fade. It drags on the LP (although is even longer on the stereo 45).

    With a bit more power in the mix (i.e. with the centered rhythm section) I think TSF would come across as a more focussed, powerful album. The wild variations in mixing only highlights the breadth of material, which does make it seem a bit disjointed...

    ...but I still love it. Nice gatefold on the LP too.
     
  20. rednedtugent

    rednedtugent Forum Resident

    Location:
    Funk, Ohio
    tSP may have been an answer to Love's 'Forever Changes' and could have
    been influenced by Blood, Sweat & Tears first AFA the horn section. As I have
    discovered over time, a lot of bands tried horns.

    Then again, if I were looking at jail time for my "Art," it would have messed up
    the creative process. Production jumps in to fill the void?

    Every Doors LP had that hit single.
     
    driverdrummer likes this.
  21. Arnold Grove

    Arnold Grove Senior Member

    Location:
    NYC
    TSF???? The Steve (Hoffman) Forum???

    You meant TSP.
     
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  22. Jackson

    Jackson Senior Member

    Location:
    MA, USA
    I love both these albums, as i do every Doors album. I personally have never heard a single Doors studio track i didn't like.
     
  23. ModernDayWarrior

    ModernDayWarrior Senior Member

    The Soft Parade was one of those albums that I played a lot when I was a kid. My brother had most of the Doors albums on vinyl but I played TSP the most. Wild Child and Wishful Sinful are probably my favorite tracks off the album. I don’t find the album weak at all.
    I met John Densmore a few years ago and he signed my Waiting For The Sun LP.
     
  24. Six Bachelors

    Six Bachelors Troublemaking enthusiast

    It’s late...I’m tired...yes.

    Although I would like to hear this forum with a centered rhythm section.
     
  25. Daniel Plainview

    Daniel Plainview God's Lonely Man

    The Soft Parade is my favorite Doors album, but I understand I might be deranged in this regard.
     
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