The Main Ingredient
Tasteful Soul
Written-By – McPherson, Simmons, Silvester 3:10
A2 Magic Shoes
Written-By – McPherson, Simmons, Silvester 2:40
A3 I'm So Proud
Written-By – Mayfield 3:33
A4 Somebody's Been Sleeping
Written-By – Bond, Johnson, Perry 2:53
A5 Make It With You
Written-By – Gates 3:40
B1 Spinning Around (I Must Be Falling In Love)
Written-By – McPherson, Simmons, Silvester 3:12
B2 Need Her Love (Mr. Bugler)
Written-By – McPherson, Simmons, Silvester 3:14
B3 That's What Fate Will Do
Written-By – McPherson, Simmons, Silvester 3:30
B4 Look At Me
Written-By – Gates 3:03
B5 Searching
Written-By – MacDonald, Salter 3:28
Label: RCA Victor – LSP-4412
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Indianapolis Pressing
Country: US
Released: 1970
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Seventies Soul
Tasteful Soul is the third studio album by American soul music group The Main Ingredient, released in 1970 on the RCA Victor label. The album is a meticulously crafted example of smooth, sweet soul, featuring creamy harmonies and sophisticated string arrangements by Bert DeCoteaux.
The album features the impassioned lead vocals of Donald McPherson, who also contributed several self-penned songs to the record before his untimely death from leukemia.
Critics note the album is a fine blend of effervescent uptempo tracks and tender ballads. The arrangements are described as "airy" with "smooth sweeping passages" that allow the vocals to float effortlessly.
The album is highly regarded for its quality material and lack of filler, with several standout tracks:
"Spinning Around (I Must Be Falling In Love)" - A dreamy R&B Top 10 hit single and a central anchor of the album.
"Make It With You" - The Main Ingredient's cover of the Bread original, noted by some as the best version of the song.
"I'm So Proud" - An "astounding" cover of the Curtis Mayfield song.
"Magic Shoes" - A track featuring magical harmonies cushioned by lush string arrangements.
"Somebody's Been Sleeping" and "Need Her Love" - Examples of the album's uptempo romps.
Tasteful Soul is considered by many fans and critics to be one of the group's best albums and a quintessential example of high-quality 1970s soul music.