Giant Step & De Ole Folks at Home

Taj Mahal | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 19, 1989)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000024O8
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #92,436 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

One of the more woefully underappreciated blues artists of the last three decades, Taj Mahal has consistently made great records that combine his extensive knowledge of roots music with a refreshingly non-elitist sensibility. Giant Step/De Ole Folks At Home from 1969 was Taj's commercial high point, and it's easy to understand why. The first half of the album (originally released as a two-record set) features Taj and band blending rock, pop and blues on songs like "Take a Giant Step," "Give Your Woman What She Wants" and "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl." The second half is more laid-back and down-home, with Taj essaying solo renditions of "Fishing Blues," "Stagger Lee" and "Light Rain Blues" on banjo, harmonica and acoustic guitar. The most effortlessly enjoyable record of an effortlessly enjoyable career. --Dan Epstein

From Grove Press Guide to Blues on CD

Taj Mahal (Henry Sainte Claire Fredericks)-singer, multi- instrumentalist, and ethnomusicologist-has described blues as "a very sensual, down-into-the-body music." Now twenty- odd albums into his recording career, his most convincing argument for that definition was back in 1969 with the release of this set (originally a two-record package). Bridging the chasm between country blues and rock, Mahal and three friends created a worldly wise charm on the De Ole Folks half of the program. The other part, Giant Step, has Mahal alone, undertaking a warmhearted study of Leadbelly, Reverend Gary Davis, and the African-American ethos. Indifferent engineering at the original session. -- © Frank John Hadley 1993

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Unique Experience, February 17, 2002

By 

John Hoslett "shadowjack22" (Holland, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Giant Step & De Ole Folks at Home (Audio CD)

If you've never heard him before, it's hard to describe Taj's music. He's usually labelled as a blues man - but his music is a mixture of all kinds of folk traditions - including american, african, and caribbean. I've seen him live several times - he's intelligent, articulate, warm, and has a great sense of humor. He plays a wide range of instruments - most often guitar or banjo. There is something truly special about him. His songs are usually playful and infectious - you just can't help tappin' your toes and humming along. He's recorded a number of great albums, but Giant Step has always been my favorite. The CD includes both albums in the original vinyl release, Giant Step and De Ole Folks At Home. On Giant Step, Taj is backed by a small group of electric blues musicians (featuring Jesse Ed Davis on lead guitar). On the more down-home De Ole Folks At Home, he plays solo, accompanying himself on guitar, banjo, and harmonica. My favorite song is "Take a Giant Step" - it's a tender look at rediscovering love. There's something about this song that captures Taj's essence - it's simple and direct and honest. Taj is a unique soul - his music always makes me feel good.

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still A Classic After 30 Years!, December 10, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Giant Step & De Ole Folks at Home (Audio CD)

Originally released in 1969 as a 2-album set, this is one of Taj's best discs! Now it's all together on 1 CD, so no more album flipping and swapping. The first 9 tracks are electric blues band based, with Jesse Ed Davis on lead guitar. Some of the excellent tracks on this portion are: "Keep Your Hands Off Her", "Gonna Need Somebody On Your Bond", Dave Dudley's "6 Days On The Road", "Give Your Woman What She Wants", "Bacon Fat", and a great bluesy version of The Monkees' hit "Take A Giant Step". The "De Old Folks" portion of the disc is solo Taj singing & playing banjo on such classic turn-of-the-century "down home" country-fied black tunes as "Colored Aristocracy", "Fishin' Blues", "Cluck Old Hen", "Stagger Lee" and "Candy Man". A wonderful disc by one of the most underrated blues artists of the past 30 years. Loads of fun to listen to, and the band plays in great ensemble on the electric stuff. Still a classic after 30 years, and still one of my favorites by Taj, or any blues artist.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Landmark Recording, March 20, 2000

By 

Garth Henkins (Baton Rouge, LA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Giant Step & De Ole Folks at Home (Audio CD)

Taj has contributed a lot of great music over the years he's recorded music but I keep coming back to this one. A lot of critics have termed it a "blues" recording but it's really more than that. I see it as a very enduring document of American folk music...not Dylan...more like an audio history of rural southern America...the subjects he deals with are those dealt with daily in the rural south by the common man living there. There are a number of songs that work their way into your mind...simply irresistible tunes...you find yourself humming them at the oddest moments... If you only buy one Taj Mahal recording, make it this one.