Formed in the early 1970s in Bogotá, the capital of Colombia, the band consisted of five members: Bronko Lubic, Prince Maieva, Butch Morgan, Frank Martinez, and Mark Manson. The five members, who attended a local American school and shared a common interest in soccer, would chant along to radio broadcasts of soccer matches, play rhythms, and make music with whatever they found at the time (such as buckets, glasses, or the sound of water coming out of a faucet). Their sound is strongly influenced by cumbia, meringue, and calypso, and their unique and addictive rhythms, using rhythm machines and organs, are characteristic of their music. This album is a best-of album that was supervised by member Mark Manson in 1983 after the band broke up. It was released after Socrates, a member of the Brazilian national team's golden quartet, introduced their music as a favorite to listen to during warm-ups. The album title "SYMBOL OF ELEGANCE" is said to be inspired by this incident.