Elegant Soul

Elegant Soul is an album by jazz group The Three Sounds featuring performances with an orchestra arranged by Monk Higgins recorded in 1968 and released on the Blue Note label.^[2]

Elegant Soul
Studio album by The Three Sounds
Released	September 21, 1968
Recorded	September 19–20, 1968
Genre	Jazz-funk[1]
Length	36:27
Label	Blue Note
Producer	Monk Higgins, Dee Ervin
The Three Sounds chronology
Coldwater Flat (1968) Elegant Soul (1968) Soul Symphony (1969)

Reception

The Allmusic review by Thom Jurek awarded the album 3½ stars stating "Elegant Soul was -- and could even be currently -- dismissed with a casual listen as lightweight pop with a compelling rhythmic sense. But that would be selling it way short. This album warrants close listening to discern all that's happening in its production and arrangements. Whether it's on the dancefloor, for sampling, for feel-good or deep listening, or for finger-popping, it satisfies on all levels".^[3]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[3]

Track listing

1. "Elegant Soul" (Virginia P. Bland) - 3:15
2. "Do It Right Now" (Bland) - 6:20
3. "Sittin' Duck" (Monk Higgins) - 9:18
4. "(Sock It to Me) Harper Valley P.T.A." (Tom T. Hall) - 2:48
5. "Sugar Hill" (Dee Ervin, Miles Grayson) - 2:48
6. "African Sweets" (Ervin) - 4:30
7. "Black Gold" (Grayson) - 3:29
8. "Book of Slim" (Higgins) - 3:26
9. "Walls of Respect" (Gene Harris, Higgins) - 3:13

• Recorded at RPM Studios, Los Angeles, California on September 19 (tracks 3, 4 & 8) and September 20 (tracks 1, 2, 5–7 & 9), 1968

Personnel

• Gene Harris - piano, organ
• Andrew Simpkins - bass
• Carl Burnett, Paul Humphrey - drums
• Monk Higgins - arranger, conductor
• Jim Horn - flute
• Bob Jung - reeds
• Dave Burk, Jesse Erlich, Henry Felber, Ron Fulsom, Louis Kievman, William Kurash, Leonard Malarsky, Ralph Schaeffer, Albert Steinberg, Tibor Zelig - violin
• Phil Goldberg, Leonard Selic - viola
• Jerry Kessler - cello
• Alan Estes - vibes
• Al Vescovo - guitar
• Dee Ervin, Miles Grayson - percussion