Giant Step/ The Ole' Folks at Home

Columbia 1969

Giant Step/De Ole Folks at Home  is the third studio album by blues artist Taj Mahal. A double album, the first disc (Giant Step) is electric, while the second (De Ole Folks at Home) is acoustic. Esquire magazine included this album at number 27 on its list of “The 75 Albums Every Man Should Own” on March 9, 2009

Taj Mahal

1968 Columbia

“Taj Mahal’s self-titled debut instantly establishes him as one of the great missionaries and visionaries of the blues.” Original liner-notes, Vintage Photos, Liner notes by Stanley Crouch, digitally remastered.

Rock-N-Roll Circus DVD/CD

1968 ABKCO Records released 1996

In 1968, Taj was a featured guest in the Rolling Stones’ Rock And Roll Circus – a remarkable event, which was released on video and record for the first time after an almost 30-year wait, that showcased the cream of the music community including John Lennon, George Harrison, Jethro Tull, The Who, and Marianne Faithfull.

Natch'l Blues

1968 Columbia

Following his self-titled 1968 debut by only a few months, The Natch’l Blues is a riveting blend of superb musicianship and songwriting. Track Listing: Good Morning Miss Brown, Corrina, I Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Steal My Jellyroll, Going up to the Country, Paint My Mailbox Blue, Done Change My Way of Living, She Caught the Katy (And Left Me a Mule to Ride ), The Cuckoo, You Don’t Miss Your Water (‘Til You Well Runs Dry), Ain’t That a Lot of Love, New Strangers Blues, Things Are Gonna Work Out Fine

The Real Thing

1971 Columbia

Vintage Taj Mahal Live! Complete 1971 performance at the Fillmore East. Liner notes by Stanley Crouch, vintage photos, digitally remastered. Track Listing: Fishin’ Blues, Ain’t Gwine to Whistle Dixie Anymo’, Sweet Mama Janisse Going up to the Country, Paint My Mailbox Blue, Big Kneed Gal You’re Gonna Need Somebody on Your Bond, Tom and Sally Drake Diving Duck Blues, John, Ain’t It Hard, She Caught the Katy (And Left Me a Mule to Ride) You Ain’t No Street Walker Mama

Happy To Be Just Like I Am

1972 Columbia available on Vinyl

Jesse Ed Davis John Simon, Bill Rich, Howard Johnson Track Listing: Happy Just To Be Like I Am, Chevrolet, Stealin’, Eighteen Hammers Tomorrow May Not Be Your Day, Oh Susanna, West Indian Revelation Black Spirit Boogie

Sounder

1972

An extremely powerful and uplifting story about a family of black sharecroppers, the Morgans, set in rural Louisiana during the early 1930s Starring: Cicely Tyson, Paul Winfield, Kevin Hooks, Carmen Mathews, Taj Mahal Soundtrack written and composed by Taj Mahal.

Recycling The Blues & Other Related Stuff

1972 Columbia available on Vinyl

Track Listing: Conch, Kalimba, Bound To Love Me Some, Ricochet, A Free Song, Corrina Conch Close, M’Banjo, Cakewalk Into Town, Sweet Home Chicago, Texas Woman Blues Gitano Negro

Ooh So Good in Blue

1973 Columbia available in Vinyl

Track Listing: Buck Dancer’s Choice, Little Red Hen, Mama Don’t You Know Frankie And Albert, Railroad Bill, Dust My Broom, Built For Comfort Teacup’s Jazzy Blues Tune

Mo' Roots

1974 Columbia

It’s Classic Taj with his “Caribbean Roots” in full bloom! Track Listing: Johnny Too Bad, Black Jack Davey, Big Mama, Cajun Waltz Slave Driver, Why Did You Have to Desert Me? Desperate Lover Clara (St. Kitts Woman) Personnel: Taj Mahal, Hoshal Wright, Bill Rich, Kwasi “Rocki” Dzidzornu, Kester “Smitty” Smith, Rudy Costa, & Merle Saunders. Aston “Familyman” Barrett ska piano on “Slave Driver” Sister Carole Fredericks, Tommy Henderson, Miss Claudia Lennear, & Miss Merry Clayton on background vocals. “Slave Driver” remixed by Bob Marley and Aston “Familyman” Barrett of the Wailers.

Music Keeps Me Together

1975 Warner Bros. available on Vinyl

Track listing: Music Keeps Me Together,When I Feel the Sea Beneath My Soul Dear Ladies, Aristocracy, Farther on Down the Road (You Will Accompany Me) Roll, Turn, Spin, West Indian Revelation, My Ancestors, Brown Eyed Handsome Man Why?…And We Repeat/Why?…And We Repeat

Satisfied-N-Tickled Too

1976 Warner Bros. available on Vinyl

Track Listing: Satisfied & Tickled Too, New Ez Rider Blues, Black Man, Brown Man Baby Love. Ain’t Nobody’s Business If I Do, Misty Morning Ride, Easy to Love Old Time Song Old Time Love, We Tune

The Brothers Soundtrack

1977 available on Vinyl

Track Listing: Love theme in the key of D, Funky butt, Brother’s doin time, Nightrider, Free the brothers, Sentidos Dulce (Sweet feelings), Funeral march, Malcolm’s song, David and Angela

Music Fuh Ya

1977 Warner Bros. available on Vinyl

Track Listing: You Got It, Freight Train, Baby, You’re My Destiny, Sailin’ Into Walker’s Cove, Truck Driver’s Two Step, The Four Mills Brothers, Honey Babe, Curry

Scott Joplin

1977

Evolution

1977 Warner Bros. (most recent)

Track Listing: Sing A Happy Song, Queen Bee. Lowdown Showdown, The Most Recent Evolution of Muthafusticus Modernusticus, Why Do You Do Me This Way, Salsa de Laventille. The Big Blues, Highnite, Southbound With The Hammer Down

Live In Direct

1979

Taj Mahal and The International Rhythm Band Personell: Taj Mahal, Kester Smith, Bill Rich, Rudy Costa, Bryant “Tee” Parker, Robert Greenidge 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.

Conjure: Music For The Texts of Ishmael Reed

1985

Here, 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. The pieces tend toward relaxed pop forms with vocals and approachable structures but always sporting a sharply honed edge, both in their musical form and in the pointed lyrical observations that are philosophical while retaining street-level grit.

Taj

1987 Grammavision

From the Universal vibe of “Everybody is Somebody” to the political and environmental message of “Light of the Pacific” and the charm of “Soothin” Taj takes you on a musical adventure as you travel from track to track. Personnel: Taj Mahal acoustic and electric guitar, bass, percussion, keyboards, lead and background vocals. Jeanette Acosta synthesizer Wayne Henderson keyboards Ray Fitzpatrick bass and percussion Larry McDonald congas, percussion Babatunde Olatunji Djembe, congas, Shekere percussion Ralph McDonald Congas, tambourine, percussion Robert Greenidge steel drums, percussion Ozzie Williams drums, DBX drum programming Kester Smith drums Chris Sission nylon stringed Spanish Guitar Tony Jones electric bass, electric guitar Fred Lunt steel guitar Jessie “Ed Davis” lead guitar Kenny Lee Lewis rhythm guitar Reggie Luccas guitar Rudy Costa alto sax Ron Brown tenor sax Fernando Pullman trumpet Larry Gittens trumpet Garnett Brown trombone Ben-Zamin (Duane) trombone Melody McCully background vocals Pamela Vincent background vocals Joyce Wilson background vocals

Shake Sugaree

1988 Music for Little People

Taj Mahal leads kids through a musical journey, taking them through the Caribbean, Africa, and the Deep South, telling stories and singing songs all the while. Traditional songs created long ago and sung by families for generations, Taj introduces children to different cultures and the roots of much of today’s popular music. Two songs on the cd were written by remarkable women who helped shape American folk music: Elizabeth Cotton’s granddaughter Janine, wrote Shake Sugaree, Elizabeth played and arranged the definitive version of Shake Sugaree. Etta Baker wrote Railroad Bill. Taj has chosen songs that appeal to a child’s sense of imagination, creativity, and desire to learn.

A Vision Shared

1998 Tribute to Woody Guthrie & Leadbelly CD

Peace Is The World Smiling

1989 Music For Little People

Taj Mahal, Holly Near, Sweet Honey in the Rock, 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 style, from beautiful ballads to upbeat island sounds, all tuned to the key of peace.

The Mighty Quinn

1989 Musical Score

Brer Rabbit and The Wonderful Tar Baby

1992 Rabbit Ears

Rabbit Ears Tales of Brer Rabbit enlightens and entertains with these famous folktales–read by your favorite stars and featuring original music by some of today’s greatest artists. Contributors Danny Glover, Taj Mahal. Actor Danny Glover narrates this classic Southern tale of the spunky Brer Rabbit as he must figure out a way to escape the clutches of the no-mannered Tar Baby and Brer Fox. This animated tale is part of the series titled “We All Have Tales.” ~ Kristie Hassen

Live @ Ronnie Scotts

1990 Silverline Records

Producer – John Reed, Taj Mahal – vocals, guitar, electric piano, Wayne Henderson – keyboards, Kester “Smitty” Smith – percussion, Carey Williams – background vocals, Ozzy Williams – drums, Ward Allen – bass

The Hot Spot

1990 Soundtrack

Original motion picture soundtrack featuring: Taj Mahal, Miles Davis, John Lee Hooker, Roy Rogers, Tim Drummond, Earl Palmer and Bradford Ellis. Does it get any better than this??? “Hot Spot” is a “must have” if you dig sultry “sticky-hot” blues!

Mule Bone

1991

Music Composed and Performed by Taj Mahal Lyrics by Langston Hughes “Mule Bone” is a three-act play that was a collaberative effort between two of America’s most prized literary figures, Zora Neale Hurston and Langston Huges.

Like Never Before

1991 Private Music

Appropriately titled Like Never Before opens up new trails with fresh original songs as well as some ol’ favorites like “Cakewalk into Town” & “Giant Step”. Daryl Hall, John Oats, & Sheryl Crow join together for background vocals on “Don’t Call Us”; Howard Johnson, Dr. John and Hiram Bullock join in for a saucy version of “Cakewalk into Town”. And on “Love Up” we have the lovely Pointer Sisters belting out the background vocals. This cd covers new ground like never before.

Taj's Blues

1992 Columbia

Re-released in 1992, this CD has everything from Sleepy John Estes’s “Leaving Trunk” to “Sounder Medley” (original score from the movie “Sounder”). Liner notes include Taj’s take on each song and what it meant to him to record it at the time.

Smilin' Island of Song

1992 Music For Little People

Smilin’ Island of Song is a musical tour of Jamaica hosted by Cedella Marley-Booker (mother of the late Bob Marley). Taj Mahal & Cedella Marley-Booker Join the Grandmother of Reggae Music on a musical journey through Jamaica, the island home of her beloved son Bob Marley. Taj lends his own unique blend of vocals and guitar to the rich Caribbean flavor that is created from this group of talented musicians.

Rising Sons, Featuring Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder

1992 Sony

“Rising Sons” was originally recorded between 1965 and 1966. In June of 1992, Taj added new vocals to three instrumental tracks, “Dust My Broom,” “Last Fair Deal Gone Down,” and “Baby What You Want Me to Do”

Zebrahead

1992 Original Music Score- Taj Mahal

World Music

1993 (out of print)

Journey with Taj to the roots of his ancestors via the Caribbean, West Indies, and Africa. Each song weaves a story painted with Taj’s “Pan-African” rhythms, style and charm; like soothing island breezes full of warm memories. Included liner notes featuring an explanation of each song by Taj. Digitally remastered.

Follow The Drinking Gourd

1993

American Heroes And Legends” series from Rabbit Ears is based on the traditional American folk song of the same name. In this ultimate adventure to escape slavery through the famed underground railroad, Oscar-nominated actor Morgan Freeman lends a richness and expressive quality to the narration. Blues giant Taj Mahal’s moving score compliments this dangerous journey to freedom.

Dancing The Blues

1993 Private Music

Songs from Fats Domino to Louis Jordan. Etta James joins in on the classic “Mockingbird” along with a “slamming” band including Texacali Horns, Tony Braunagel, Chuck Domanico, Mick Weaver, Johnny Lee Schell, & Bill Payne & Ritchie Hayward from Little Feat. This Cd will get ya shakin’ your tail feathers!

Mumtaz Mahal

1995

Hindustani musician playing a modified slide guitar, a Karnatak musician playing traditional instrument that may well be the oldest in the world to be played with a “slide,” and a man who is the repository of the musical traditions of the west African Diaspora in the New

Pacific Tunings

1995 Napali CD

An Evening of Acoustic Music

1996

“Over the years of touring and recording, special gems and magic nights happen! These recordings capture one such night. Here are a number of acoustic selections I am sure you will enjoy coming from my 1993 tour. Surprise is that Howard Johnson shows up to play tuba and penny whistle!

Phantom Blues

1996

Special guests include Eric Clapton “Here In the Dark” & Bonnie Raitt “I Need Your Loving.”

Once Upon a Time When We Were Colored

1996

Phenomenon

1996 Soundtrack

Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus

1996

Senor Blues

1997 Grammy Award Winner

A masterful mélange of inspired cover tunes and originals that weave a musical tapestry of chiming guitars, raucous piano, Memphis/New Orleans horn charts, Caribbean grooves, jazzy soul, percussive polyrhythms, and Taj’s blackstrap-molasses-over-buckwheat-cakes vocals, Señor Blues is world music in its most democratic sense. -Vibe Magazine, 6/24/97

Shakin A Tail Feather

1997 Music For Little People

Taj Mahal/Eric Bibb/Linda Tillery Songs your whole family will want to wiggle and shake those tail feathers.

Rose Wood

1997 Musical Score

Scrapple Soundtrack

1998

An outstanding soundtrack that features the considerable talent of Taj Mahal, Bob Weir and Jorma Kaukonen, to name a few, adds strongly to the beautiful, melancholy vibe of the film.

Hula Blues (Taj Mahal & The Hula Blues Band)

1998 Tradition and Moderne

At it’s very core it is the existing universal language of music. Some songs are new and written with the group in mind; others are songs you’ve heard in southern blues style. – Taj Mahal

In Progress & in Motion: 1965–1998

1998 Sony

Spanning thirty three years of Taj’s musical biography, 14 previously unreleased versions of some of his classic tunes: Fishing Blues, Sweet Home Chicago (Pointer Sisters background vocals) & M’Banjo just for starters. Plus Vintage Photos and excerpts from an interview with Taj done by David Ritz and Louise “Diji” Howard. This is the definitive box set!

Outside Ozona

1998

6 Days and 7 Nights

1998

Blues Brothers 2000

1998

Blue Light Boogie

1999 Best of

Artists: Daryl Hall; John Oates; Sheryl Crow; James Brown; John Popper; Hiram Bullock

Hippity Hop

1999 Rhino Records

Rhino Records’ Hippity Hop collection features hip-hop music for a younger audience. The album includes guest artists like Shelia E., Taj Mahal and Kenny Loggins.

Kulanjan (African Hawk)

1999

Taj Mahal and Toumani Diabate The connections between the blues and West African music are well known, however, Kulanjan express this truth through it’s own unique rhythm, sound and spirit.

The Best of Taj Mahal

2000 Sony

Track Listing: Statesboro Blues, Leaving Trunk, Corinna, Mailbox Blues, She Caught The Katy, Giant Step, Six Days On The Road, Farther On Down The Road, Fishing Blues, Ain’t Gwine To Whistle Dixie (Any Mo’) (Live), You’re Going To Need Somebody On Your Bond (Live), Cakewalk Into Town, Oh Susanna, Frankie And Albertt, Chevrolet, Johnny Too Bad, Sweet Mama Janisse (Previously Unissued Studio Recording)

Shoutin' in Key (Taj Mahal and The Phantom Blues)

2000

“Shoutin’” netted Taj his second “Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues” Recorded Live at The Mint in Los Angeles, CA. “Shoutin’” truly captures the electricity and magic of Taj Mahal and the Phantom Blues live.

Songcatcher

2000

Best of Blues

2000 American Series CD

Playing for Change #3

2001

Taj Mahal performs on track “Gimme Shelter

Wynton Marsalis & Eric Clapton Play The Blues

2012

Taj Mahal performs two bonus tracks on CD/DVD “A Closer Walk with Thee” & “Corrina”

The 30th Annual John Lennon Tribute

2001 Live from the Beacon Theatre NYC Album

Taj Mahal performs song “Come Together”

Chimes of Freedom

2001 The Song of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 years of Amnesty International

“Chimes of Freedom” Taj Mahal & The Phantom Blues Band perform Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream”

Someone Like You

2001 Soundtrack

Dot Com Blues

2001 Jimmy Smith CD

Ramblin' Mind

2001 Big Bill Morganfield CD

Divine Secrets (of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood)

2002

Red Hot & Riot

2002 Tribute to Fela Huti CD

Will the Circle Be Broken Vol. III

2002 Nitty Gritty Dirt Band CD

Hanapepe Dream (Taj Mahal & The Hula Blues)

2003

All-Acoustic String Band Sound Features Taj’s Signature Slack-Key Blend of the Blues and Pacific-Caribbean-Island music. The American release of Hanapepe Dream offers bonus video footage including live performances of “The Calypsonians” and “The New Hula Blues.”

Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues

2003

Like Lightin’ Hopkins, Howlin’ Wolf, or Muddy Waters, Taj Mahal is a bluesman of his own time. His three decade recording career has produced works of humor, passion, pathos, and surprise. This collection contains some of the many high points of his career. ~ Dave Ritz

American Blues

2003 Various Artists- Putumayo Records

The Texacali Horns

2003 The Texacali Horns

Live Catch

2004

Recorded live, December 2002, at “Yoshi’s” The World Famous Japanese Restaurant and Jazz Club. (Oakland, California) “Live Catch” places you “front row and center” with The Taj Mahal Trio. Featuring Kester Smith on drums, Bill Rich on bass and Taj strutting his stuff on vocals, guitar, and banjo.

Mkutano

2005 Tradition & Moderne

The latest in musical explorations for The Taj Mahal Trio. The Taj Mahal Trio: Taj Mahal (vocals, guitar, banjo), Bill Rich (electric bass) and Kester Smith (drums) join together in culture and sound with the first and foremost Taarab orchestra of Zanzibar – The Culture Musical Club of Zanzibar. 9 tracks of exotic musical spices and textures weaving together a tapestry of Life and Music.

Essential Taj Mahal

2005 Sony

2 disc set of Taj’s 40 years of recording. Includes singles Satisfied and Tickled Too and Happy to be Just Like I am first time on cd.

Taj Mahal/Phantom Blues Band Live @ St. Lucia

2006

A magical performance captured LIVE on DVD in the tropical paradise of St. Lucia. Accompanied by longtime collaborators The Phantom Blues Band, the depth and breadth of Taj Mahal’s talent, knowledge, and skill are in full bloom.

The Phantom Blues Band

2007 The Phantom Blues Band

Maestro

2008 Heads Up International

Grammy Nominated 40th Anniversary CD. Guests performances include: Phantom Blues Band, Los Lobos, Ben Harper, Ziggy Marley, Angelic Kidjo,& The New Orleans Social Club.

Vusi Mahlasela's "Say Africa"

2010

Taj Mahal produced and adds vocals, guitar and banjo

Lee Ritenour "6 String Theory"

2010

Taj Mahal joins Keb’ Mo on track “Am I Wrong”

Hidden Treasures of Taj Mahal

2012 Sony Music

Legacy Recordings celebrates the ground-breaking career of Taj Mahal with a major catalog reissue project that begins with the release of the The Hidden Treasures of Taj Mahal 1969-1973, an extraordinary two-disc collection of previously unreleased studio and live performances.The first disc of Hidden Treasures debuts studio recordings from 1967-1973, while the second disc premieres a full-length live concert, recorded April 18, 1970 at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Disc 1 Disc 2

Jack Johnson and Friends- Best of Kokua Festival Live

2012

Taj Mahal performs “Further On Down The Road”

The Complete Columbia Albums Collections

2013

Eric Clapton Guitar Festival 2013

2013

Taj Mahal covers the Sleepy John Estes’ song, “Diving Duck Blues”

"Ghost Brothers of Darkland County"

2013 Stephen King, John Mellencamp, & T-Bone Burnett

Taj Mahal performs track “Tear this Cabin Down”

Hugh Laurie "Didn't It Rain"

2013

Taj Mahal performs on track “Vicksburg”

Sammy Hagar & Friends

2013

Taj Mahal performs on track “Winding Down”

Playing For Change #4

2014

Taj Mahal performs on track “Reggae Got Soul”

Labor of Love

Music Maker Relief Foundations

Labor of Love comprises recordings of Taj Mahal with Etta Baker, Neal Patman and other artists in a Houston hotel room and visits to the Music Maker Relief Foundation headquarters in Hillsborough, North Carolina, during the late 1990’s.

Their shared love of blues has created a special vinyl-only album release that’s got the loose, easy feel of a porch-sitting guitar strum, sipping sweet tea on a warm summer day.

TajMo

Concord

TajMo is a cross-generational collaboration that brings together Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’.

The collaboration merges their distinctive voices, personalities and guitar styles to create vibrant, immediate music that’s firmly rooted in tradition yet ruled by a playful sense of adventure.

The album features guest appearances by Sheila E., Joe Walsh, Lizz Wright and Bonnie Raitt, who lends her voice to a distinctive cover of John Mayer’s anthemic “Waiting on the World to Change.”