Tag Archives: Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal: Like Never Before

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On October 31, 1991, “Private Music” label released “Like Never Before”, the 17th Taj Mahal album. It was recorded in 1991, at “Studio 4 Recording”, “Paramount Recording Studios”, “Studio 55”, “Orca Studios”, “Platinum Island Studios”, “Criteria Recording Studios”,  and was produced by Skip Drinkwater.

Personnel:

  • Taj Mahal – vocals, guitar, banjo, piano, harmonica
  • Hiram Bullock – guitar
  • David Lindley – guitar, lap steel guitar
  • Mark Tyler – guitar
  • Paul Barrere – guitar
  • Jerry Williams – guitar, backing vocals
  • Eric Bazilian – acoustic guitar, lap steel guitar, mandolin
  • Sonny Rhodes – lap steel guitar
  • Dr. John – piano
  • Mark Goodman – electric piano, synthesizer
  • Donald Robinson – keyboards
  • Mark Jordan – piano, organ, synthesizer
  • Jim Salomone – synthesizer
  • Rob Hyman – organ, accordion
  • Jerry Cohen – organ
  • Doug Grisby – bass
  • Tony Jones – bass
  • Andy Kravitz – drums, percussion, castanets, tambourin
  • Bill Summers – congas, percussion triangle, batas, guiro, percussion
  • David Johnson – percussion, bells
  • Phil Nicolo – cymbals, programming, engineer, mixing
  • Richard Feldman – programming
  • Rudy Costa – soprano saxophone
  • Ron Kerber – alto saxophone
  • Haywood Henry – alto saxophone, clarinet
  • “Jammin” Jay Davidson – tenor and baritone saxophone, horn arrangements
  • Claire Daly – tenor saxophone
  • Ed Kalney, Gary McKeen – trumpet
  • Jeff Lego – trombone
  • Art Baron – trombone
  • Howard Johnson – tuba, cornet, horn arrangements
  • Daryl Hall, John Oates, Sheryl Crow, Porter Carroll, Augie Johanson, Greg Maha, Louis Patton, Reggie Ellis, Willie Green, Rob Hyman – backing vocals
  • The Pointer Sisters (Anna, June, Ruth) – backing vocals
  • DJ Jazzy Jeff – turntables
  • Myric “Freeze” Guillory – washboard
  • Joe Nicolo – engineer, mixing
  • Bruce Weeden, John Moyer, Michael Schlesinger – additional engineering
  • Brandon Harris, Doug DeAngelis, Steve McLoughlin, Christopher Thomas, Lou Catanzaro, Mark Schulz, Chris Furman, Kurt BuJack, Scott Blockland – engineer assistant
  • Skip Drinkwater – mixing
  • Greg Fulginiti – mastering
  • Andy Van Dette, Ray Legnini, Scott Hall – digital editing
  • Andy Bauer, Mark Goodman – guitars technician
  • Larry Vigon – art direction, design
  • Brian Jackson – design
  • Chris Callis – photography
  • Brooke Drinkwater, Robert L. Stephenson – production coordinator
  • Jamie Cohen – executive producer

Track listing:

  1. Don’t Call Us – Richard Feldman, Taj Mahal
  2. River of Love – Jimmy Scott, Porter Carroll, Richard Feldman
  3. Scattered – Mark Jordan, Patrick Dollahan, Richard Feldman, Taj Mahal
  4. Ev’ry Wind (In the River) – Richard Feldman, Taj Mahal
  5. Blues with a Feeling – Walter Jacobs
  6. Squat That Rabbit – Joe Nicolo, Taj Mahal
  7. Take All the Time You Need – Jerry Williams
  8. Love Up – John Martyn
  9. Cakewalk into Town – Taj Mahal
  10. Big Legged Mommas Are Back in Style – Taj Mahal
  11. Take a Giant Step – Gerry Goffin, Carole King

Paul Revere & The Riders: Revolution!

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On August 7, 1967, “Columbia” label released “Revolution!”, the seventh Paul Revere & the Raiders studio album. It was recorded in 1967, and was produced by Terry Melcher.

Personnel:

  • Paul Revere – vocals, keyboards
  • Keith Allison, James Burton, Glen Campbell, Jerry Cole, Ry Cooder, Mike Deasy,
    Joel Scott Hill, Drake Levin, Taj Mahal, Jim Valley, Freddy Weller – guitars
  • Ron Collins, Larry Knechtel – keyboards
  • Terry Hoffman – harmonica
  • Charlie Coe, Chris Ethridge, Joe Osborn, Ray Pohlman, Phil Volk – bass
  • Hal Blaine, Joe Correro, Jim Gordon, Jim Keltner, Mike “Smitty” Smith – drums
  • Mark Lindsay, Charles Shoemaker, Ed Thigpen – percussion
  • Jim Horn, John Kelson, Mark Lindsay, Jay Migliori, Plas Johnson, Tom Scott – saxophone
  • Lou Blackburn, Roy Caton, Jules Chaikin, Lew McCreary, Ollie Mitchell – horn
  • Margaret Aue, Israel Baker, Jimmy Bond, David Burke, Nathan Kaproff, George Kast, Jan Kelley, Lou Klass, Raphael Kramer, William Kurasch, Emmet Sargeant, Ralph Schaeffer, Albert Steinberg, Joseph Stepansky- strings

Track listing:

All tracks by Mark Lindsay and Terry Melcher.

  1. Him or Me – What’s It Gonna Be?
  2. Reno
  3. Upon Your Leaving
  4. Mo’reen
  5. Wanting You
  6. Gone – Movin’ On
  7. I Had a Dream
  8. Tighter
  9. Make It with Me
  10. Ain’t Nobody Who Can Do It Like Leslie Can
  11. I Hear a Voice

Taj Mahal: Dancing The Blues

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On June 15, 1993, “Private Music” label released “Dancing the Blues”, the 18th Taj Mahal album. It was recorded in 1993, and was produced by John Porter.

Personnel:

  • Taj Mahal – lead vocals, organ, guitar, steel guitar, harmonica, piano, liner notes
  • Etta James – vocals
  • John Porter – guitar
  • Johnny Lee Schell – guitar, backing vocals
  • Ian McLagan – organ, piano
  • Bill Payne – piano
  • Mick Weaver – organ
  • Chuck Domanico – upright bass
  • Bob Glaub – bass
  • Tony Braunagel – drums, percussion
  • Richie Hayward – drums
  • Joe McGrath – percussion, engineer
  • Michito Sanchez – percussion, conga
  • Marty Grebb – alto, tenor and baritone saxophone, backing vocals
  • Joe Sublett – soprano and tenor Saxophone
  • Darrell Leonard – trombone, trumpet, trombonium
  • Texacali Horns – horn
  • Sir Harry Bowens – backing vocals
  • Rich Veltrop – second engineer
  • Helix Hadar – second engineer
  • Jerry Finn – second engineer
  • Stephen Marcussen – mastering
  • Melanie Penny – art direction
  • William H. Johnson – illustrations
  • Kurt DeMunbrun – design
  • Robin Visotsky – photography
  • Ron Goldstein – executive producer

Track listing:

  1. Blues Ain’t Nothin’ – Taj Mahal
  2. Hard Way – Grover McDaniel, T-Bone Walker
  3. Strut – Taj Mahal
  4. Going to the River – Dave Bartholomew, Fats Domino
  5. Mockingbird – Charlie Foxx, Inez Foxx
  6. Blue Light Boogie – Jessie Mae Robinson
  7. The Hoochi Coochi Coo – Hank Ballard, Billy Myles
  8. That’s How Strong My Love Is – Roosevelt Jamison
  9. Down Home Girl – Arthur Butler, Jerry Leiber
  10. Stranger in My Own Home Town – Percy Mayfield
  11. Sitting on Top of the World – Lonnie Chatmon, Walter Vinson
  12. I’m Ready – Sylvester Bradford, Fats Domino

Van Morrison: Duets: Re-working the Catalogue

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On March 13, 2015, “RCA” label released “Duets: Re-working the Catalogue”, the 35th Van Morrison studio album. It was recorded in 2014, at “Manchester Evening News Arena”, “Slieve Donard Hotel” in Newcastle, “British Grove” in Chiswick, London, “Air Lyndhurst Hall” in Hampstead, London and was produced by Van Morrison and Bob Rock.

Personnel:

  1. Van Morrison – vocals, acoustic guitar, alto saxophone
  2. Dave Keary – guitar, banjo
  3. Marcel Camargo, Ryan Lerman – guitar
  4. David Garfield, Alan Chang – piano
  5. Paul Moran – Hammond organ, piano, flugelhorn, trumpet
  6. Paul Moore, Stanley Banks, Craig Polasko – bass
  7. Jeff Lardner, Robbie Ruggiero, Khari Parker, Marion Felder – drums
  8. Abass Nii Dodoo, Mike Osborn, Lilliana de Los Reyes – percussion
  9. Jake Saslow, Rob Wilkerson – alto saxophone
  10. Christopher White – tenor and baritone saxophone, tin whistle
  11. Jacob Rodriguez – baritone saxophone
  12. Jean Caze, Jumaane Smith, Justin Ray – trumpet
  13. Alistair White – trombone, euphonium
  14. Mark Nightingale, Joshua Brown, Nick Vayenas – trombone
  15. Bobby Womack – vocals
  16. Mavis Staples – vocals
  17. George Benson – vocals
  18. Joss Stone – vocals
  19. P.J. Proby – vocals
  20. Clare Teal – vocals
  21. Gregory Porter – vocals
  22. Mick Hucknall – vocals
  23. Natalie Cole – vocals
  24. Georgie Fame – vocals
  25. Shana Morrison – vocals
  26. Steve Winwood – vocals
  27. Chris Farlowe – vocals
  28. Mark Knopfler – vocals
  29. Michael Bublé – vocals
  30. Taj Mahal – vocals

Track listing:

  1. Some Peace of Mind (with Bobby Womack)
  2. If I Ever Needed Someone (with Mavis Staples)
  3. Higher than the World (with George Benson)
  4. Wild Honey (with Joss Stone)
  5. Whatever Happened to P.J. Proby (with PJ Proby)
  6. Carrying a Torch (with Clare Teal)
  7. The Eternal Kansas City (with Gregory Porter)
  8. Streets of Arklow (with Mick Hucknall)
  9. These are the Days (with Natalie Cole)
  10. Get on with the Show (with Georgie Fame)
  11. Rough God Goes Riding (with Shana Morrison)
  12. Fire in the Belly (with Steve Winwood)
  13. Born to Sing (with Chris Farlowe)
  14. Irish Heartbeat (with Mark Knopfler)
  15. Real Real Gone (with Michael Bublé)
  16. How Can a Poor Boy? (with Taj Mahal)

Taj Mahal: Phantom Blues

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On February 27, 1996, “Private Music” label released “Phantom Blues”, the 20th Taj Mahal album. It was recorded in May 1995, at “Sound City Studios” in Van Nuys, California, and was produced by John Porter.

Personnel:

  • Taj Mahal – lead vocals, dobro, harmonica
  • Bonnie Raitt – additional vocal
  • Dean Parks – lead guitar
  • Eric Clapton – lead guitar
  • Joe McGrath, John Parks, Johnny Lee Schell – guitar
  • Mike Campbell – 12-string guitar
  • John Porter – lead, acoustic and slide guitar
  • Jon Cleary – guitar, piano, Wurlitzer, clarinet
  • Jon Brion – guitar, chamberlin
  • Mick Weaver – organ
  • David Hidalgo – accordion
  • James “Hutch” Hutchinson – bass guitar
  • Larry Fulcher – bass guitar
  • Tony Braunagel – drums, percussion
  • Myric “Freeze” Guillory – rubboard
  • Bernard “Dr. B.” Anderson, Joe Sublett – tenor saxophone
  • Darrell Leonard – trumpet, trombone
  • Alfie Silas Durio, Billie Barnum, Sir Harry Bowens, Regina Taylor, Sweat Pea Atkinson, Terrence Forsythe – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. Lovin’ in My Baby’s Eyes – Taj Mahal
  2. Cheatin’ On You – Jon Cleary
  3. The Hustle Is On – H.E. Owens
  4. Here in the Dark – Bernard Anders
  5. Fanning the Flames – Jon Cleary
  6. I Need Your Loving – Clarence Lewis, Don Gardner, James McDougal, Morris Levy
  7. Ooh Poo Pah Doo – Jessie Hill
  8. Lonely Avenue – Doc Pomus
  9. Don’t Tell Me – Pat McLaughlin
  10. What Am I Living For? – Art Harris, Fred Jay
  11. We’re Gonna Make It – Billy Davis, Carl William Smith, Gene Barge, Raynard Miner
  12. Let the Four Winds Blow – Dave Bartholomew, Antoine “Fats” Domino
  13. (You’ve Got to) Love Her with a Feeling – Freddie King, Sonny Thompson

Taj Mahal: Same

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In February 1968, “Columbia” label released the self-titled, debut Taj Mahal album. It was recorded in August 1967, and was produced by Bob Irwin and David Rubinson.

Personnel:

  • Taj Mahal – vocals, harmonica, slide guitar
  • Jesse Ed Davis – lead and slide guitar
  • Ry Cooder – rhythm guitar, mandolin
  • Bill Boatman – rhythm guitar
  • James Thomas – bass
  • Gary Gilmore – bass
  • Sanford Konikoff – drums
  • Chuck “Brother” Blackwell – drums
  • Raphael Valentin, Roy Halee – engineer
  • Ron Coro – design
  • Guy Webster – photography

Track listing:

  • Leaving Trunk – Sleepy John Estes
  • Statesboro Blues – Blind Willie McTell, arranged by Taj Mahal
  • Checkin’ Up on My Baby – Sonny Boy Williamson II
  • Everybody’s Got to Change Sometime – Sleepy John Estes
  • EZ Rider – arranged by Taj Mahal
  • Dust My Broom – Robert Johnson
  • Diving Duck Blues – Sleepy John Estes
  • The Celebrated Walkin’ Blues – arranged by Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal: Mule Bone

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On November 1, 1991, “Gramavision” label released “Mule Bone”, the 16th Taj Mahal album. It was recorded in 1991, and was produced by Taj Mahal.

Personnel:

  • Taj Mahal – keyboards, bass, guitar, harmonica, banjo
  • Abdul Wali – guitar
  • Kim Jordan – keyboards, synthesizer, percussion
  • Calvin “Fuzzy” Samuel – bass
  • Marc Singer, Mike Sena – drums, percussion

Track listing:

  1. Jubilee (Opening Theme)
  2. Graveyard Mule (Hambone Rhyme)
  3. Me and the Mule
  4. Song for a Banjo Dance
  5. But I Rode Some
  6. Hey Hey Blues
  7. Shake That Thing
  8. Intermission Blues
  9. Crossing (Lonely Day)
  10. Bound No’th Blues
  11. Finale

Taj Mahal: Maestro

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On September 30, 2008, “Heads Up International” label released “Maestro”, the 26th Taj Mahal album. It was recorded in 2008, and was produced by Taj Mahal and The Phantom Blues Band.

Personnel:

  • Taj Mahal – vocals, guitar, harmonica, ukulele
  • Louie Pérez – guitar
  • Johnny Lee Schell – guitar
  • Cesar Rosas – guitar
  • Leo Nocentelli – guitar
  • David Hidalgo – guitar
  • Jason Mozersky – guitar
  • Takeshi Akimoto – guitar
  • Fred Lunt – guitar
  • Carlos Andrade – guitar
  • Mike Finnigan – keyboards
  • Jason Yates – keyboards
  • Michael Hyde – keyboards
  • Mick Weaver – keyboards, organ
  • Henry Butler – piano
  • Steve Berlin – organ
  • Ivan Neville – organ
  • Larry Fulcher – bass
  • Conrad Lozano – bass
  • Bill Rich – bass
  • Jesse Ingalls – bass
  • Paul “Pablo” Stennett – bass
  • George Porter – bass
  • Pancho Graham – acoustic bass, guitar
  • Tony Braunagel – drums
  • Cougar Estrada – drums
  • Raymond Weber – drums
  • Carlton “Santa” Davis – drums
  • Kester Smith – drums, percussions
  • Michael Jerome – drums, percussions
  • Angel Roché Jr. – percussions
  • Debra Dobkin – percussions
  • Toumani Diabaté – kora
  • Joe Sublette – tenor and baritone saxophone
  • Rudy Costa – alto saxophone, clarinet
  • Darrel Leonard – trombone
  • Angela Wellman – trombone
  • Billy Branch – harmonica
  • Pat Cockett – ukulele
  • Bassekou Kouyate – ngoni, xalam
  • Ziggy Marley – vocals
  • Angélique Kidjo – vocals
  • Ben Harper – vocals
  • Jack Johnson – vocals
  • C.C. White – backing vocals
  • Pebbles Phillips – backing vocals
  • Tracy Hazzard – backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. Scratch My Back – James Moore
  2. Never Let You Go – Deva Mahal, Taj Mahal
  3. Dust Me Down – Ben Harper
  4. Further On Down the Road – Jesse Edwin Davis III, Taj Mahal
  5. Black Man Brown Man – Taj Mahal
  6. Zanzibar – Angélique Kidjo, Taj Mahal
  7. TV Mama – Lou Willie Turner
  8. I Can Make You Happy – Taj Mahal
  9. Slow Drag – Taj Mahal
  10. Hello Josephine – Dave Bartholomew, Antoine Domino
  11. Strong Man Holler – Taj Mahal
  12. Diddy Wah Diddy – Ellas McDaniel, Willie Dixon
  13. Mambo No. 5 – Taj Mahal
  14. On A Little Bamboo Bridge – Taj Mahal

Potliquor: Louisiana Rock & Roll

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In January 1973, “Janus” label released “Louisiana Rock & Roll”, the third Potliquor album. It was recorded in 1972, at “Deep South Recording Studio” in New Orleans, and was produced by Jim Brown.

Personnel:

  • Les Wallace – vocals, guitars
  • George Ratzlaff – vocals, keyboards
  • Guy Schaeffer – vocals, bass guitar
  • Leon Medica – vocals, bass guitar
  • Jerry Amoroso – vocals, drums, percussion
  • Cy Frost – piano, clavinet, Moog synthesizer, horn and string arrangements
  • Glenn Spreen – horn and string arrangements
  • Lee Fortier – horns
  • Art DeCesare – horns
  • Bud Brasher – horns
  • Pete Verbois – horns
  • Bill Ludwig – horns
  • Nick Rousse – horns
  • Charlie Depuy – horns
  • Uncle Buck Wood – fiddle
  • Gail and David Amoroso – handclaps
  • Strings on “For You” – a combined section of the New Orleans Symphony and Baton Rouge Symphony
  • Cy Frost – recording, production consultant
  • Peter Granet – remix
  • F. Alessandrini – artwork
  • Dawn Studios – album cover design
  • Mia Krinsky – album coordination
  • J. W. deBuys – photography
  • Bob Scerbo – production coordinator

Track listing:

  1. You Can’t Get There from Here – Casey Kelly
  2. Waitin’ for Me at the River – George Ratzlaff
  3. Taj and Jimmy’s Blues – Taj Mahal, Al Smith, Jimmy Reed
  4. Rip It Up – Marascalco Blackwell
  5. H – Lee Wallace, Lauretta Wallace
  6. Louisiana Rock ’n’ Roll – George Ratzlaff
  7. St. Jude’s Blues – Jerry Amoroso
  8. Born Under a Bad Sign – Booker T. Jones, William Bell
  9. Guitar Boogie – George Ratzlaff
  10. For You – Les Wallace

Keb’ Mo: Oklahoma

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On June 14, 2019, “Concord” label released “Oklahoma”, the fourteenth Keb’ Mo’ studio album. It was recorded in 2018, at “Stu Stu Studio” and was produced by Colin Linden and Keb’ Mo’.

Personnel:

  • Keb’ Mo’ (Kevin Moore) – lead and backing vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, steel guitar, bass, mandolin, harmonica, percussion, shaker
  • Rosanne Cash – vocals
  • Taj Mahal -vocals
  • Robert Randolph – lap steel guitar
  • Jaci Velasquez – vocals
  • Eric Ramey – bass
  • Marcus Finnie – drums
  • Chester Thompson – drums
  • Keio Strouds – drums
  • Colin Linden – electric guitar, mandolin
  • Jim Hoke – Wurlitzer piano, accordion
  • David Rodgers – keyboards
  • Samuel Alexander – keyboards, Hammond organ, electric piano
  • DeMarco Johnson – Hammond organ
  • Jovan Quallo – saxophone
  • Josh Scalf – trombone
  • Scotty Huff – trumpet
  • Corrie Covell, Michael O’Gieblyn – violin
  • Emily Kohavi – viola
  • Cremaine Booker – cello
  • Carter Moore, Dara Tucker, Robbie Brooks Moore, Dara Tucker, Emoni Wilkins, Jason Eskridge, Moiba Mustapha, Nickie Conley- backing vocals
  • Melvin “Maestro” Lightford – string arrangements
  • Zach Allen – recording
  • Alex Jarvis, Dave Hagen, Joe Martino – mixing
  • Bernie Grundman – mastering
  • David Diskin, Lori Lambert – art direction
  • Michele Morgan – artwork
  • Jeremy Cowart – photography
  • Anthony Scarlati, Christy Watkins, Robbie Brooks Moore – additional photography

Track listing:

  1. I Remember You – Bill LaBounty, Kevin Moore
  2. Oklahoma – Dara Tucker, Kevin Moore
  3. Put a Woman in Charge – Beth Nielsen Chapman, John Lewis Parker, Kevin Moore
  4. This Is My Home – John Lewis Parker, Kevin Moore
  5. Don’t Throw It Away – Charles Esten, Colin Linden, Kevin Moore
  6. The Way I – John Lewis Parker, Kevin Moore
  7. Ridin’ on a Train – Jenny Yates, Kevin Moore
  8. I Should’ve – Joseph Alan Wood, Kevin Moore
  9. Cold Outside – Cliff Goldmacher, Kevin Moore 
  10. Beautiful Music – John Lewis Parker, Kevin Moore