TCCDM Pulls One Out..."The Natch'l Blues" - Taj Mahal (1968)

"The Natch'l Blues" - Taj Mahal (1968)

Much like his first album, Taj Mahal's follow-up..."The Natch'l Blues"...sounds like everyone just grabbed a piece of porch, kicked off their shoes, and got busy.  Working his resonator guitar like an ice cream scoop, Taj along with a fine bunch of musicians, deliver another fun and easy-to-settle into blues square.

I'm not a big blues connoisseur.  Johnny and Rory.  B.B. and, of course, Taj are my go-to's.  And I don't grab everything.  I'm not a completist.  But certain albums from each of these blues greats have become my candy when I need a fix.  And Taj Mahal's first two, released in the same year...1968...are must-grab in my limited book of spins.

"The Natch'l Blues" - Taj Mahal (back)

Favorites include the 7-minute always play..."Done Changed My Way Of Living."  The harp-painted "She Caught The Katy And Left Me A Mule To Ride" is a fine frisky amplified puppy.  And the excellent version of "You Don't Miss Your Water ('Til Your Well Runs Dry)" is not to be missed.

My copy is a later pressing shown by the red label with Columbia text in orange.  In this case, a 1970 repress.  And you can listen to this on CD...but dropping the needle on "The Natch'l Blues" brings the music out in a fresh and immediate way.  Playing the record really makes the difference.

Columbia label

CAT #
CS 9698
SIDE A  DEADWAX
XSM137367-IL  T1  
SIDE B  DEADWAX
XSM137368-1F  1T  1D

"Done Changed My Way Of Living" - Taj Mahal / "The Natch'l Blues" (1968)

TRACKS:
A1  "Good Morning Miss Brown"
A2  "Corinna"
A3  "I Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Steal My Jellyroll"
A4  "Going Up To The Country, Paint My Mailbox Blue"
A5  "Done Changed My Way Of Living"
B1  "She Caught The Katy And Left Me A Mule To Ride"
B2  "The Cuckoo"
B3  "You Don't Miss Your Water ('Til Your Well Runs Dry)"
B4  "Ain't That A Lot Of Love"

PERSONNEL:
Taj Mahal - vocals, harmonica, Miss "National" resonator guitar
Jesse Ed Davis - guitar, piano, brass arrange.
Gary Gilmore - bass
Chuck Blackwell - drums
Al Kooper - piano
Earl Palmer - drums

Good stuff.

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