The Natch'l Blues

by Taj Mahal

Overview

Taj Mahal's second album, recorded in the spring and fall of 1968, opens with more stripped-down Delta-style blues in the manner of his debut, but adds a little more amplification (partly courtesy of Al Kooper on organ) before moving into wholly bigger sound on numbers like "She Caught the Katy and Left Me a Mule to Ride" and "The Cuckoo" -- the latter, in particular, features crunchy electric and acoustic guitars and Gary Gilmore playing his bass almost like a lead instrument, like a bluesman's answer to John Entwistle. Most notable, however, may be "You Don't Miss Your Water ('Til Your Well Runs Dry)" and "Ain't That a Lot of Love," which offer Taj Mahal working in the realm of soul and treading onto Otis Redding territory. This is particularly notable on "You Don't Miss Your Water," which achieves the intensity of a gospel performance and comes complete with a Stax/Volt-style horn arrangement by Jesse Ed Davis that sounds more like the real thing than the real thing. "Ain't That a Lot of Love," by contrast, is driven by a hard electric guitar sound and a relentless bass part that sounds like a more urgent version of the bassline from the Spencer Davis Group's "Gimme Some Lovin'." ~ Bruce Eder

Product Details

Release Date:	09/05/2000
Label:	Bmg / Bmg / Sony Music / Sony Music Distribution
UPC:	0886977038327
Rank:	34497

Tracks

1. Good Morning Miss Brown
2. Corinna
3. I Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Steal My Jellyroll
4. Going up to the Country, Paint My Mailbox Blue
5. Done Changed My Way of Living
6. She Caught the Katy and Left Me a Mule to Ride
7. The Cuckoo
8. You Don't Miss Your Water ('Til Your Well Runs Dry)
9. Ain't That a Lot of Love
10. The Cuckoo
11. New Stranger Blues
12. Things Are Gonna Work out Fine

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Taj Mahal   Primary Artist,Harp,Banjo,Guitar,Vocals,Harmonica,Guitar (Steel)
Al Kooper   Guest Artist,Piano,Keyboards
Jesse Ed Davis   Guest Artist,Guitar,Bass,Piano
Chuck Blackwell   Drums
Earl Palmer   Drums
Gary Gilmore   Bass

Technical Credits

Jesse Ed Davis   Composer
William Bell   Composer
Yank Rachell   Composer
Taj Mahal   Arranger,Composer
Stanley Crouch   Liner Notes
Traditional   Composer
Sy Mitchell   Engineer
David Rubinson   Producer
Homer Banks   Composer
Deanie Parker   Composer