Customer Reviews

Giant Step & De Ole Folks at Home

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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.

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.

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.

Taj at his best with a GREAT band , but -Jesse Ed Davis III- ,-alone-, is reason enough to need this cd. His perfect string bending solos and fills are backed up by his own keyboard work,(Taj himself makes -no- apparent instrumental contribution on tracks such as the classic re-working of 'Six Days On The Road'), the liner notes' calligraphy is by his hand, and the production bears a strong JEDIII sound, although uncredited . He manages to use modern effects,(for the time,such as guitar through a Leslie speaker), and still sound down-home all the while, and played impossibly difficult riffs with such grace,relaxation, and musicality that he could easily be taken for granted. Davis is a great forgotten American treasure,(perhaps best known for the fills and solos on Jackson Brown's 'Doctor My Eyes', {but even -that- was thirty years+ ago}, he was favorite of Eric Clapton and George Harrison).

Giant Step by Taj Mahal is an American Classic plain and simple. It is a wonderful cross section of delta blues sung as only Taj Mahal can. The folksy blues rhythyms in this CD take you to different place. Originally released on vinyl in 1969 this album has lost none of its charm.

The album opens with Ain't Gwine Whistle Dixie Anymore and just builds on that wonderful tune. My favorites are the gospel rich You're Gonna Need Somebody On Your Bond, the countryish Six Days On The Road, the classic folk tune Candy Man, and finally the catchy child like Fishin Blues. Not a bad song in this collection.

Taj Mahal should be honored at the Kennedy Center. He is an American original. A wonderful, naturally gifted singer, and performer.

Finally, for a real treat catch Taj Mahal as Ike in the 1972 film classic Sounder. Buy this CD, you will not be disappointed.

I first heard Taj Mahal in 1972. He's made much music since then. If anyone wants an appreciation for the roots of his talent I recommend this CD

This is Taj at the height of his powers. He shows he's capable of spinning magic on his own yet he also has the muscle of a band. Like any great musician he can be tender at one turn (Light Rain) and powerful (Six Days) at another. Unfortunately I think his impression of himself got out of hand and he thought he could always play solo and that would be enough. It wasn't. But here he is in his glory and we should be thankful.

I only knew a couple of songs from Taj Mahal but purchased this one as a recommendation from Amazon, not to mention a great price. This album is great. A lot of good music to relax to. A real nice blend of different types of music. If you like but one song from Taj Mahal, buy this CD and you will end up loving a lot more!

I bought this album when it was first released in 1969. I was still in high school but it hit the spot then and it soothes that same spot now. For Taj fans, this is the album with a lot of those nameless songs you love but aren't included on his greatest hits CDs. For those who are new to the blues, this is an album that will introduce you to the roots of the genre and help you to identify them in their current incarnations. Enjoy!

My God! When I remember all the times I practiced multiple vices while listenng to this collection. Wow! Lot's of fun back then! I turned 18 in 1969, and he was a great addition to the music scene of the time. A true Master of the Delta Blues who can also sing and play some mean jazz.

This collection is what we listened to back then and it was unique because there were so many songs on it. Well worth the money.

For the best experience.... Turn it up, get up, and boogie