The Soulful Strings

Concept

The Soulful Strings' repertoire consisted mainly of cover versions, combining soul, jazz, funk and psychedelia. Evans attributed the ensemble's distinctive sound to his use of violas as lead string instruments alongside cellos, describing the combination of two violas and four cellos as "a very dark sound". Leonard Chess initiated the strings-based concept, though flute and guitar parts became a driving force. Larry Grogan noted the music reveals an energetic soul/funk/jazz rhythm section augmented by strings, not an easy listening or kitsch vibe.

Career

The Soulful Strings first appeared on record in 1966 with Paint It Black, an album of covers that took on rock and pop hits like the Rolling Stones' title track, "California Dreamin'," and "Eight Miles High." Billboard noted that the prominent use of viola and flute added a surprising new dimension rather than weakening the songs. The group made its live debut as a thirteen-piece band at Chicago's London House in mid-1968. By then, their second LP, Groovin' with the Soulful Strings, had already spent 33 weeks on the Billboard Top LP chart.

That album featured the Evans-penned "Burning Spear," which cracked the top 40 on the R&B singles chart, and reached number 59 on the main album chart while hitting number 6 on the R&B list and number 2 on the jazz chart. Another Exposure came out in June 1968, offering versions of Gershwin's "It Ain't Necessarily So," Otis Redding's "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay," and three Beatles tunes. Evans later said that choosing to release his composition "The Stepper" as a single instead of a Stepney-arranged cover of Aretha Franklin's "Since You've Been Gone" caused strain in their partnership.

That November, the Strings put out The Magic of Christmas, a set of holiday standards. Back by Demand: The Soulful Strings in Concert, recorded live at London House over two nights in November 1968 and released in 1969, contained only covers, including a reworking of Debussy's "Clair de Lune," plus songs by the Temptations, Marvin Gaye, and James Brown.