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Beautiful Friendship is an album by The Three Sounds which was recorded in California in 1965 and released on the Limelight label.

“The Three Sounds had a brief tenure recording for Limelight in the mid-1960s before returning to Blue Note. This strangely packaged LP gives no indication that the trio is actually augmented by additional musicians, most of whom are unidentified, though Bud Shank, Buddy Collette and Larry Bunker are mentioned briefly in Leonard Feather’s liner notes. Although this was the second collaboration between leader Gene Harris and arranger Julian Lee, it is far more commercial sounding than the group’s earlier recordings for Blue Note. Except for the presence of Neal Hefti’s “Cute,” most of the songs are long forgotten and not particularly missed. Harris shows brief flashes of inspiration at the piano, but Lee’s rather dated charts and the lack of choice material make this long out of print LP one that even the most ardent fans of the Three Sounds can safely bypass.” – Ken Dryden/AllMusic.

Track listing:
“Shortnin’ Bread” (James Whitcomb Riley) − 3:03
“Theme from Skyscraper” (Jimmy Van Heusen, Sammy Cahn) − 2:38
“It’s a Blue World” (Chet Forrest, Bob Wright) − 3:15
“That Man” (Lonnie Hewitt) − 2:25
“Hittin’ Another Jug” (Gene Harris) − 2:37
“Beautiful Friendship” (Donald Kahn, Stanley Styne) − 3:07
“Cute” (Neil Hefti) − 3:45
“She’s Too Far Above Me” (David Heneker) − 3:04
“Hot Cha” (Willie Woods) − 2:05
“The Following Sea” (Jeri Sullivan) − 4:10

Personnel:
Gene Harris − piano
Andy Simpkins − bass
Bill Dowdy − drums
Additional unidentified musicians

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Released: 1965
Recorded: July and August 1965
Studio Los Angeles, CA
Length: 30:09
Label: Limelight
LM 82026/LS 86026
Producer: Jack Tracy