The Prime Element is a jazz album by jazz drummer Elvin Jones, originally released in 1976 as part of the "Blue Note Re-issue Series".

The pieces compiled here were recorded in 1969 and 1973.

The tracks from 1973 (#A1 to #B2) would be included on At This Point in Time in 1998.

The remainder can only be found on the eight-disc Mosaic compilation The Complete Blue Note Elvin Jones Sessions, issued in 2000.

Recorded on March 14, 1969 (#C1–D2), July 24 (#B1–B2) and July 26 (#A1–A2), 1973.