The Soulful Strings - Groovin with the Soulful Strings (1967) [24bit FLAC]

The Soulful Strings set out to prove that strings can swing, and here they certainly do. This work, influenced by Mancini and Martin Denny, expands the territory with an eclectic mix of originals and covers. Richard Evans' fresh arrangements hold the listeners' interest. "Burning Spear," written by Evans, has a tribal feel and a piercing flute which leads into a stellar, albeit truncated, version of Miles Davis' "All Blues." George Harrison's "Within You Without You," featuring Ron Steele on sitar, is the strangest yet most interesting track on the album. Some of the Soulful Strings' Groovin' sounds a bit banal and kitschy, but it's a lot of fun.