The Real Thing (Taj Mahal album)

Last updated

The Real Thing
Tajmahalrealthingalbum.jpg
Live album by
Released1971 (CD in 2000)
RecordedFebruary 13, 1971
Venue Fillmore East, New York City
Genre Blues
Length66:51
Label Columbia/Legacy
Producer David Rubinson (original recording), Bob Irwin (CD reissue)
Taj Mahal chronology
Giant Step/De Ole Folks at Home
(1969)
The Real Thing
(1971)
Happy Just to Be Like I Am
(1972)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Christgau's Record Guide B [2]
Entertainment Weekly B+ [3]
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Rolling Stone (not rated) [5]

The Real Thing is a double live album by Taj Mahal, released in 1971. It was recorded on February 13, 1971, at the Fillmore East in New York City and features Taj Mahal backed by a band that includes four tuba players.

Contents

Track listing

All tracks by Taj Mahal except where noted.

  1. "Fishin' Blues" (Henry Thomas) – 2:58
  2. "Ain't Gwine to Whistle Dixie (Any Mo')" (Chuck Blackwell, Jesse Ed Davis, Gary Gilmore, Taj Mahal) – 9:11
  3. "Sweet Mama Janisse" – 3:32
  4. "Going Up to the Country and Paint My Mailbox Blue" – 3:24
  5. "Big Kneed Gal" – 5:34
  6. "You're Going to Need Somebody on Your Bond" (Blind Willie Johnson) – 6:13
  7. "Tom and Sally Drake" – 3:39
  8. "Diving Duck Blues" (Sleepy John Estes) – 3:46
  9. "John, Ain' It Hard" – 5:30
  10. "She Caught the Katy (And Left Me a Mule to Ride)" (Taj Mahal, Yank Rachell) – 4:08
    • Omitted from the vinyl issue, added to 2000 CD issue. Studio recording appears on The Natch'l Blues (1968).
  11. "You Ain't No Street Walker Mama, Honey but I Do Love the Way You Strut Your Stuff" – 18:56

Personnel

Technical

Related Research Articles

<i>Bonnie Raitt</i> (album) 1971 studio album by Bonnie Raitt

Bonnie Raitt is the debut album by Bonnie Raitt, released in 1971.

<i>Señor Blues</i> (Taj Mahal album) 1997 studio album by Taj Mahal

Señor Blues is a 1997 studio album by the blues musician Taj Mahal. It contains a cover of James Brown's "Think". It won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album at the 40th Grammy Awards.

<i>B, S & T; 4</i> 1971 studio album by Blood, Sweat & Tears

B, S & T; 4 is the fourth album by the band Blood, Sweat & Tears, released in June 1971. It peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Pop albums chart.

<i>The Natchl Blues</i> 1968 studio album by Taj Mahal

The Natch'l Blues is the second studio album by American blues artist Taj Mahal, released in 1968.

<i>L.A. Midnight</i> 1972 studio album by B.B. King

L.A. Midnight is the twentieth studio electric blues album by B.B. King released in 1972. It features two extended guitar jams with fellow guitarists Jesse Ed Davis and Joe Walsh. It also features Taj Mahal on harmonica and guitar.. "Can't You Hear Me Talking To You" also features Davis on guitar.

<i>Satisfied n Tickled Too</i> 1976 studio album by Taj Mahal

Satisfied 'n Tickled Too is the ninth studio album by Taj Mahal, and was released in 1976 on the Columbia Records label.

<i>Recycling The Blues & Other Related Stuff</i> 1972 studio album by Taj Mahal

Recycling the Blues & Other Related Stuff is the fifth American blues studio album by Taj Mahal. Tracks 1-7 were recorded live; tracks 8-11 are studio recordings. The album cover shows a photograph of Taj Majal and Mississippi John Hurt taken by David Gahr backstage at the Newport Folk Festival in July 1964.

<i>Giant Step/De Ole Folks at Home</i> 1969 studio album by Taj Mahal

Giant Step/De Ole Folks at Home is the third studio album by American blues artist Taj Mahal. A double album, the first disc is electric, while the second is acoustic. Esquire included the album at number 27 on its list of "The 75 Albums Every Man Should Own".

<i>Happy Just to Be Like I Am</i> 1971 studio album by Taj Mahal

Happy Just to Be Like I Am is the fourth studio album by American blues artist Taj Mahal.

<i>Oooh So Good n Blues</i> 1973 studio album by Taj Mahal

Oooh So Good 'n Blues is the sixth studio American blues album by Taj Mahal.

<i>Mo Roots</i> (Taj Mahal album) 1974 studio album by Taj Mahal

Mo' Roots is the seventh studio album by American blues artist Taj Mahal. The musician turned away from his normal fare to record a reggae inspired collection.

<i>Dancing the Blues</i> 1993 studio album by Taj Mahal

Dancing the Blues is an album by American blues artist Taj Mahal, released in 1993.

<i>Phantom Blues</i> 1996 studio album by Taj Mahal

Phantom Blues is a studio album by American blues artist Taj Mahal.

<i>Shoutin in Key</i> 2000 live album by Taj Mahal

Shoutin' in Key is a live album by American blues artist Taj Mahal.

<i>Maestro</i> (Taj Mahal album) 2008 studio album by Taj Mahal

Maestro is an album by American blues artist Taj Mahal. It was nominated for Best Contemporary Blues Album at the 2009 Grammy Awards.

<i>Dinner Music</i> 1977 studio album by Carla Bley

Dinner Music is an album by American composer, bandleader and keyboardist Carla Bley recorded in 1976 and released on the Watt/ECM label in 1977.

<i>The Gil Evans Orchestra Plays the Music of Jimi Hendrix</i> 1974 studio album by Gil Evans Orchestra

The Gil Evans Orchestra Plays the Music of Jimi Hendrix is an album of Jimi Hendrix's compositions by jazz composer, conductor and pianist Gil Evans. The music was arranged by Evans and members of his orchestra. The album was recorded in 1974 and performed by Evans with an orchestra featuring David Sanborn, Howard Johnson, Billy Harper, and John Abercrombie. The album was re-released with additional tracks on CD in 1988.

<i>There Comes a Time</i> (album) 1976 studio album by Gil Evans and His Orchestra

There Comes a Time is an album by the jazz composer, arranger, conductor and pianist Gil Evans, recorded in 1975 and performed by Evans with an orchestra featuring David Sanborn, Howard Johnson, Billy Harper and Ryo Kawasaki. The album was re-released with an altered tracklist on CD in 1988.

<i>Dot Com Blues</i> 2001 studio album by Jimmy Smith

Dot Com Blues is a 2001 album by the American jazz organist Jimmy Smith. The album was Smith's first recording for five years, and features guest appearances by B.B. King and Etta James.

<i>TajMo</i> 2017 studio album by Taj Mahal and Keb Mo

TajMo is a joint album by the American blues musicians Taj Mahal and Keb' Mo'. It was released May 5, 2017, and won the 2018 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album. TajMo is the twenty-sixth studio album by Taj Mahal and the thirteenth by Keb' Mo'.

References

  1. Planer, Lindsay. The Real Thing at AllMusic. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  2. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: M". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies . Ticknor & Fields. ISBN   089919026X . Retrieved March 2, 2019 via robertchristgau.com.
  3. "Music Review: 'Taj Mahal'". EW.com. September 8, 2000. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  4. Russell, Tony; Smith, Chris (2006). The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings . Penguin. p. 623. ISBN   978-0-140-51384-4.
  5. Gerson, Ben (September 16, 1971). "Taj Mahal The Real Thing Review". RollingStone. Archived from the original on April 29, 2009. Retrieved July 8, 2017.