1979 – 1989
1979
Live in Direct - Direct to Disc live recording
Taj Mahal and The International Rhythm Band
Taj said “There were only 3 minutes between tracks. You were recording Live, so you had to throw down! It was wild! This was cutting edge recording at the time”
The quality of this recording is the result of the “Direct To Disc” recording process. This compact disc was digitally mastered from the original master lacquer cut at the recording session, capturing the complete and unedited musical performance.
First African Tour - Taj Mahal & The International Rhythm Band
1st State Department Tour sponsored by Jimmy Carter Administration
Itinerary: Niamey, Niger; Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Kinshasa, Zaire; Bujumbura, Burundi; Kigali, Rwanda; Brazzaville, Congo; Nairobi, Kenya; Libreville, Gabon; Ndola, & Kitwe, Zambia; Douala, Cameroon; Monrovia, Liberia; Banjul, Gambia; Dakar, Senegal.
*Note: Taj Mahal’s song “Fishing Blues” was used in advertising campaign for Jimmy Carter’s Presidential Re-Election campaign.
1980
Blues Brothers - Taj Mahal’s version of “She Caught the Katy” is the opening song in the movie Blues Brothers.
1985
Conjure - Compilation - Music for the Texts of Ishmael Reed 1985
Kip Hanrahan using texts from the contemporary author Ishmael Reed, distributes the composing duties to everyone from Lester Bowie to Taj Mahal to Allen Toussaint, mixes a heady instrumental gumbo, and allows things to percolate to a fine boil. The cast of musicians is certainly of all-star quality, but special mention should be made of trumpeter Olu Dara for some heart-rending beautiful playing, Taj Mahal for his wonderful, raspy vocal delivery, and the entire cast of percussionists, astounding in their diversity of attacks.
1987
Taj - Grammavision Records
This CD reflects again, how diverse Taj’s sound really is. You can travel the world in one CD.
Taj Mahal, Jeanette Acosta, Wayne Henderson, Ray Fitzpatrick, Larry McDonald, Babatunde Olatunji, Ralph McDonald, Robert Greenidge, Ozzie Williams, Kester Smith, Chris Sission, Tony Jones, Fred Lunt, Jessie “Ed Davis” Kenny Lee Lewis, Reggie Luccas, Rudy Costa, Ron Brown, Fernando Pullman, Larry Gittens, Garnett Brown, Ben-Zamin (Duane) Melody McCully, Pamela Vincent, Joyce Wilson
1988
Taj’s first children’s CD.
Shake Sugaree - Music for Little People
This CD brings music from multiple cultures to both young and old. A collection of folk tunes and nursery rhymes both old and new. Special tribute to folk music legend Elizabeth Cotton.
1989
Peace Is The World Smiling - Music for Little People
Taj Mahal, Peter Alsop, Babtundi Olatunji, Pete Seeger and more. This is a collection of works presented by concerned musicians, poets and storytellers.
It includes a rainbow of heart-touching as well as humorous songs from beautiful ballads to upbeat island sounds, all tuned to the key of peace.
Taj Appears In
1981 Maintenance Shop Blues: Taj Mahal [doc]
Performer
1987 The Man Who Broke 1,000 Chains [TV]
Actor: Prisoner
1989 The Mighty Quinn [movie]
Composer of musical score