"The Real Thing" by TAJ MAHAL – June 1971 US 2LP Live Set on Columbia Records (CBS Records in the UK) – band featuring Howard Johnson, Bob Stewart, Joseph Daly, Earle McIntyre, Bill Rich, John Simon, John Hall, Greg Thomas and Kwasi DziDzournu (September 2000 UK Columbia/Legacy Expanded Edition CD Reissue – Vic Anesini Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Fishin' Blues..."

 

Apart from the largely laid-back Brass 'n' Blues band nature of this live double-album (recorded February 1971 at the famous Fillmore East venue in New York with a backing band that included four Tuba players) - what blows you away here is the gorgeous in-yer-face CD Remaster done in 2000 by Sony/Columbia Tape Engineer Supremo VIC ANESINI.

 

The Vicster has done huge names in the Sony/BMG cannon - Bruce Springsteen, Simon & Garfunkel, Santana, Elvis Presley, Billy Joel, Mott The Hoople, The Jayhawks, Jeff Beck, AerNilsson, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Mountain and so many more. I seek his work out. Well add Taj Mahal to that list because the "Taj Mahal" self-titled Blues Rock debut and this Americana live double are barnstormer transfers - exemplary. To the big kneed tubby tuba details...

 

UK released September 2000 - "The Real Thing" by TAJ MAHAL on Columbia/Legacy 498174 2 (Barcode 5099749817425) offers a 1971 Double-Album Plus One Bonus Track Remastered onto 1CD and plays out as follows (66:56 minutes):

 

1. Fishin' Blues (2:58) [Side 1]

2. Ain't Gwine To Whistle Dixie (Any Mo') (9:11)

3. Sweet Mama Janisse (3:33)

4. Going Up To The Country And Paint My Mailbox Blue (3:24) [Side 2]

5. Big Kneed Gal (5:34)

6. You're Going To Need Somebody On Your Bond (6:14)

7. Tom And Sally Drake (3:39) [Side 3]

8. Diving Duck Blues (3:46)

9. John, Ain't It Hard (5:30)

10. She Caught The Katy And Left Me A Mule To Ride (4:08, PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)

11. You Ain't No Sweet Walker Mama, Honey But I Do Love The Way You Strut Your Stuff (18:56)

Tracks 1 to 9 and Track 11 are the double-album "The Real Thing" – released June 1971 in the USA on Columbia G 30619 and in the UK on CBS Records S 64385. Produced by DAVID RUBINSON – it peaked at No. 84 in the US Billboard Rock LP charts (didn't chart UK).

 

Part of their 'Columbia High Fidelity "360 Sound" Series' (mimics the '360 Sound' logo that came with all American Columbia records originals) - the 12-page booklet is a tasty affair with period photos of the huge band and new liner notes from STANLEY CROUCH quite rightly praising the 'chances' Taj took with the Blues medium. This was a different sound with Tubas and Brass thrown into the audio mix. Most tracks still had that same Blues and R&B backbeat - but of course not all purists and their one-way-only-taste-buds would have been impressed. But anyone hearing the juxtaposition of the guitar-only opener "Fishin' Blues" and the Canned Heat meets Taj Mahal 19-minute finisher could only be impressed. And that Remaster is fantastic.  

 

I've typed in the playing times for the tracks above because I'd swear that two are considerably extended cuts without saying so - "Ain't Gwine..." up from 8:17 to 9:11 minutes and "Big Kneed Gal" up from 4:45 to 5:34 minutes (some of the others have maybe 10 or 12 more seconds, but not as noticeable as those two).

 

When the four horns come crashing in during "You're Going To Need Somebody On Your Bond" - it has a huge power and that cool mention of Mavis Staples in the lyrics. Taj Mahal on Banjo with Bob Stewart on Tuba for the Side 3 instrumental "Tom And Sally Drake" comes out beautifully - virtually no hiss - but full of that 'live warmth' the recording is famous for. Their cover of the Sleepy John Estes classic "Diving Duck Blues" is turned into a rollicking R&B meets Rock driver.

 

There is almost total audience silence preceding "John, Ain't It Hard" – a stunning National Steel Blues lurch – his lady all dressed up in red and talking trashy. You can feel the crowd loving the vibe and their hollers increase as the Tubas come sailing in – gorgeous audio. And that Previously Unreleased track "She Caught The Katy..." slots in before the near 19-minute Side 4 finisher "You Ain't No Sweet Walker Mama..." like it was always meant to be there - impressive.

 

"The Real Thing" by Taj Mahal is a fab little CD Reissue and one that in January 2022 is increasingly hard to find. Seek it out and enjoy a clap-along yourself...