The album was recorded on January 20, 1963 by an eleven-piece band. Mingus has called the album's orchestral style "ethnic folk-dance music". Mingus's perfectionism led to extensive use of studio overdubbing techniques. The album features liner notes written by Mingus and his then-psychotherapist, Edmund Pollock. The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady is often characterized by jazz and music critics as one of Mingus's two major masterworks (the other being Mingus Ah Um) and has frequently ranked highly on lists of the best albums of all time.
1. Solo Dancer (Stop! and Listen, Sinner Jim Whitney!)
2. Duet Solo Dancers
3. Group Dancers (Soul Fusion)
4. Trio and Group Dancers
5. Single Solos and Group Dance
6. Group and Solo Dance
