Taj Mahal

• Limited 180 gram audiophile vinyl LP pressing

Taj Mahal is the 1968 debut album by the American blues artist. Mahal often incorporates elements of world music into his works, and therefore has done much to reshape the definition and scope of blues music over the course of his almost 50-year career by fusing it with non-traditional forms, including sounds from the Caribbean, Africa and the South Pacific.

The result shows in tracks like Sleepy John Estes' 'Diving Duck Blues' with textures resembling the mix on the early Cream albums, while 'The Celebrated Walkin' Blues' has the sound of a late release by Muddy Waters. Blind Willie McTell's 'Statesboro Blues' and Robert Johnson's 'Dust My Broom' are also represented.

TRACKS & PERSONNEL:

• SIDE A
• A1.LEAVING TRUNK
• James Thomas (bass)
• Taj Mahal (harp)
• Sanford Konikoff (drums)
• Jessie Edwin Davis (lead guitar)
• Ryland P. Cooder (rhythm guitar)

• A2. STATESBORO BLUES
• James Thomas (bass)
• Taj Mahal (harp)
• Sanford Konikoff (drums)
• Jessie Edwin Davis (lead guitar)
• Ryland P. Cooder (rhythm guitar)

• A3. CHECKIN' UP ON MY BABY
• Jessie Edwin Davis (piano, lead guitar)

• A4. EVERYBODY'S GOT TO CHANGE SOMETIME
• James Thomas (bass)
• Taj Mahal (harp)
• Sanford Konikoff (drums)
• Jessie Edwin Davis (lead guitar)
• Ryland P. Cooder (rhythm guitar)
• _______________________________

• SIDE B
• B1. E Z RIDER
• James Thomas (bass)
• Taj Mahal (harp)
• Sanford Konikoff (drums)
• Jessie Edwin Davis (lead guitar)
• Ryland P. Cooder (rhythm guitar)

• B2. DUST MY BROOM
• Gary Gilmore (bass)
• Taj Mahal (harp)
• Charles Blackwell (drums)
• Jessie Edwin Davis (piano, lead guitar)
• Bill Boatman (rhythm guitar)

• B3. DIVING DUCK BLUES
• Gary Gilmore (bass)
• Charles Blackwell (drums)
• Jessie Edwin Davis (lead guitar)
• Bill Boatman (rhythm guitar)

• B4. THE CELEBRATED WALKIN' BLUES
• Ryland P. Cooder (mandolin)
• Taj Mahal (slide guitar, blues harp)