Soul Symphony was the last album cut by the Three Sounds, of which pianist Gene Harris remained the only original member. Bassist Andy Simpkins left after 1968's wonderful Elegant Soul LP, and was replaced on this date by "the Skipper," Henry Franklin. This date is a direct follow-up to its predecessor, in that Monk Higgins returns to orchestrate and arrange a large string group; he co-produced the set with Dee Ervin. Also returning from the previous session is the criminally under-recognized vibraphonist/percussionist Alan Estes. In addition, David Duke and Art Maebe alternately played French horn, Buddy Collette guests on flutes, Freddy Robinson appears on guitars, and the Specialties Unlimited -- vocalists Clydie King, Mamie Galore, and Alex Brown -- are utilized. In other words, other than a second drummer, Soul Symphony shares a nearly identical setup with Elegant Soul. But as the music attests, that's no crime, particularly when it's this earthy. A key difference between these sides is that on this date Higgins wrote or co-wrote all five of these selections with Ervin. The feel, despite the strings and additional musicians, is a bit grittier. There are no covers of pop tunes, and blues, gospel, and funk (via the Horace Silver definition of the term) are thus the sole modus operandi in these tunes.

1		Soul Symphony
2		Repeat After Me
3		Upper Four Hundred
4		Popsicle Pimp
5		Black Sugar