Hidden Treasures of Taj Mahal 1969-1973

Taj Mahal | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 21, 2012)
• Original Release Date: 2012
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Legacy
• ASIN: B0083XSYXQ
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,300 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #36 in Music > Blues > Traditional Blues

Editorial Reviews

A two-disc sonic portrait chronicling the early stirrings of Taj Mahal's solo career, The Hidden Treasures of Taj Mahal 1969 - 1973 features two CDs comprised entirely of unreleased finished material. The first disc debuts studio recordings from 1969-1973, while the second disc premieres a full-length live concert, recorded April 18, 1970 at the Royal Albert Hall in London (on a bill that included Santana).

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 52 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars GOOD STUDIO TRACKS AND A GREAT LIVE SET August 21, 2012

By Stuart Jefferson TOP 100 REVIEWER

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Taj Mahal fans-alert! If you like his first few albums-you need to check this out. The "star" rating ranges from 3 to 4 1/2-depending on the tune. You may feel otherwise-to each his own. The bands range from THE DIXIE FLYERS, to Mahal's band from his third album, to tubas and other horns from his "The Real Thing" era, to a drummerless trio. The remastered sound on the studio tracks is excellent. The live tracks don't have quite the same sonic punch, but are very good. The 15 page booklet contains a short essay on the music on both discs. Also included are several period photos of Mahal, and complete track information.

The first disc contains tracks (not in chronological order) from 1969,1970,1971, and 1973. The first four songs, from 1970, feature Mahal, Jesse Ed Davis, and a fine 5 piece band known as THE DIXIE FLYERS. "Chainey Do" is a fine, funky song credited to Mahal and Willie McTell. "Sweet Mama Janisse" (also heard on the live set), is reminiscent of Mahal's first couple of albums, with a bluesy/funky solo by Davis, with the band sounding very much like Mahal's more well known band of the era. The lengthy (6 minutes) "Yan-Nah Mama-Loo" finds Mahal in fine voice-that warm, gravely style he uses so effectively. "Tomorrow May Not Be Your Day" (written by Mahal) is also on the live disc, with both tunes each having something to recommend them. This stripped down version gives the song more punch than the original (the album "Happy To Be Just Like I Am", 1971) version.

Dylan's "I Pity The Poor Immigrant", and the traditional "Jacob's Ladder", from 1969, feature the band from his third album-Mahal, Davis, Gary Gilmore-bass, and Chuck Blackwell-drums.... The Dylan tune is arranged in the same slowish tempo, but Mahal's vocal gives the song a different identity, and at 8 minutes, Mahal and the band have plenty of room to make this tune something approaching their own-check the harmonica solo-sounding like both Mahal and Dylan. Very nice. The traditional "Jacob's Ladder" is nice-typical Taj Mahal of the period.

The next three tracks are from 1971, and feature a larger band from the period when Mahal was incorporating several tubas into his sound. "Ain't Gwine Whistle Dixie (Any Mo')" is a lengthy (7 minutes) instrumental, with Mahal playing a fife and at one point, whistling. The music is pleasant but has the feel of a completed backing track waiting for vocals to be added. "Sweet Mama Janisse" makes another appearance with Mahal playing his National Steel-Bodied Guitar with full tuba section backing him, also including trombone, trumpet and baritone sax, along with a four man rhythm section. "You Ain't No Streetwalker, Honey But I Do Love The Way You Strut Your Stuff" is the longest track (and also the longest title) at 16 minutes. Played with a shuffle beat, Mahal is backed by a full contingent of horns, but Mahal gets in some good blowing on his harp-sounding very much like period Chicago harmonica. This up tempo tune will have you out of your seat-the sound and feel is pure period Taj Mahal-funky and bluesy with some interesting lyrics.

The last three songs are from 1973, and feature Mahal, Horshal Wright-electric guitar, and Eric Ajaye-bass. These three tracks were recorded in New Orleans by the great Allen Toussaint-and it shows. "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl", well known to blues fans, is funkier with the bass mixed up higher in the mix. Mahal is in good voice, but the menace originally heard in this song is absent-it's typical period Mahal. The traditional "Shady Grove" (at 9 1/2 minutes) features Mahal on banjo, with additional lyrics by Mahal. This version has a curiously subtle way of drawing you in. The bare bones treatment harks back to an earlier era and is quite nice. The final track "Butter", written by the trio, is a laid back instrumental featuring Mahal on harp, and has a quiet, almost melancholy beauty all it's own.

The second disc is Mahal at his best-live from 1970. After singing an unaccompanied "Runnin' By The Riverside", Mahal accompanies himself on his National Steel on the beautiful (self penned) "John, Ain't It Hard". He then introduces the band-Jesse Ed Davis-electric guitar, John Simon-piano, Bill Rich-bass, and James Karstein-drums. The rest of the set is full band numbers. The songs range from originals, to (a nice) Sleepy John Estes' "Diving Duck Blues", to Sonny Boy Williamson, to Robbie Robertson's and Garth Hudson's "Bacon Fat" (also on "Giant Step/De Ole Folks at Home" album), to traditional numbers. For blues lovers (like me), check out the 7 minute Mahal/Davis tune "Big Fat"-with a great harmonica solo by Mahal over a fine shuffle beat. Davis too, gets in a good solo on this song, with this tune one of the highlights of the set. Mention should also be made of Mahal's version of "Checkin' Up On My Baby" (Sonny Boy Williamson)-another prime track reminiscent of Mahal's first couple of albums.

"Oh Susanna", a traditional song, is transformed by Mahal during it's 10 1/2 minutes, into something else entirely-a much harder hitting rendition. The slippery "Bacon Fat" (no pun intended) has a great groove enhanced by a good Davis guitar solo over a percolating band. It's on this tune that Simon's piano adds an especially good (yet subtle) flavor to the mix. Things end with "Tomorrow May Not Be Your Day", a good live version by Mahal, and is a fitting way to end this great set.

For those of us old enough to remember when Taj Mahal came on the scene, he was like a breath of fresh air. Maybe (probably) it's my age showing, but in this world of throbbing/shiny/plastic/pretty/million beats-per-minute music, this new release is like getting a gift from a long lost friend. It's a reminder of long ago times that seemed somehow (musically) better. Mahal's music held (holds) so much promise-it was easy to just slide into it and let the music take over-that soothing voice, the unhurried, laid back arrangements, the fine musicianship-everything unfolds in it's own time and comes together. And now we have more good early Mahal-both in the studio and live. For anyone who missed him in person during this era, this live set will give you a good idea of what you missed. There's other Taj Mahal concerts tucked away. Hopefully he will see fit to release other live sets from this era-or perhaps even from his earlier period, when his first two albums were released within a very short span of time. I'd love to hear some of those great tunes from those two albums in a concert setting. But for now, this will do nicely. Read more ›

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Truely a Hidden Treasure! August 29, 2012

By Thomas Robert Langford

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

This truely is one of the best Taj mahal records ever released!
I have not stop listening to this record. Taj has always produced some of the best music ever But I actually think
the 1968 thru 1973 was his magic time! Taj had the best band ever with Jesse Ed Davis leading the pac with some of the most brilliant guitar playing of it's time and his slide playing stands right along side Johnny Winter, Duane Allman, george hariison, derek Trucks!
This record is a must have for any music lover. The blues people for sure.

The Disc "Live at The Royal Albert Hall" truely brings out the magic of Taj and his band. Jesse Ed davis is encredible on this live set
no wonder people like, Eric Clapton, George harrison, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood, and many more brought Jesse Ed Davis
in on some of thier best rcords.

The Studio disc is wonderful as well, I love Sweet Mama Janisse,Jacob's LadderYan-nah mama-loo, and Tomorrow may not be your day!
You must do yourself a favor and get this record sit back and let the music take you away!

thanks Taj, again!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinary set of early rarities and a superb 1970 concert September 18, 2012

By hyperbolium

Format:Audio CD

This 2-CD set of previously unreleased material provides a superb complement to the previously issued Essential anthology. Where Essential set surveyed thirty-three years of Mahal's immense catalog, this latest collection focuses on five years from early in his career. Those formative years found Mahal exploring numerous threads of the blues, including pre-war styles, as well as soul and funk. The first disc includes a dozen finished studio tracks that clock in at a generous 77 minutes. The recordings were made in Woodstock, Miami, the San Francisco Bay Area and New Orleans, the latter produced by Allen Toussaint in rustic, drumless arrangements. The bands include 3- and 4-piece combos, as well as larger aggregations that feature the Dixie Flyers and a brass band. Jesse Edwin Davis' guitar provides a strong, guiding presence on many tracks, and Mahal's harmonica adds an expressive voice on a superb cover of Dylan's "I Pity the Poor Immigrant" and a soulful instrumental version of "People Get Ready" titled "Butter."

Disc two features a 1970 concert at London's Royal Albert Hall. The live set features both original material and covers, including Sleepy John Estes' "Diving Duck Blues," Sonny Boy Williamson's "Checkin' Up on My Baby," and a lengthy take on Robby Robertson and Garth Hudson's pre-Band era "Bacon Fat." Mahal starts his set - an opening slot for Johnny Winter and Santana - with a gutsy, a cappella version of the traditional "Runnin' by the Riverside." His stage manner is warm and welcoming, offering detailed introductions to his songs and drawing on the folk tradition of audience participation.... His performances are backed by a superb four-piece that includes Jesse Davis (guitar), John Simon (Piano), Bill Rich (Bass) and James Karsten (Drums), as well as Mahal's National Steel and harmonica.

Perhaps most amazing is that this entire set - both the studio and live tracks - is previously unreleased. Few artists ever record material this good, let alone in such quantity that they can leave some of it in the vault. Mahal is equally compelling in the studio as he is on stage, something few artists achieve; his studio recordings breathe freely and his stage work is lively but tight. Miles Mellough's liner notes are detailed and informative, though a bit over-the-top in their devotion. Sound quality is good throughout, with the concert tapes sounding full and punchy - perhaps having Santana and Johnny Winter on the bill brought out the A-list live truck. This is a terrific find for Mahal's fans, providing insight into both his studio process and the musical alchemy he brought to the stage. [©2012 Hyperbolium] Read more ›

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars More of the same please February 1, 2013

By Kurt Plunk

Format:MP3 Music|Amazon Verified Purchase

This contains music from my favorite time period in Taj's career. I particularly like the studio stuff, the version of "you ain't no street walker..." is awesome.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Somre real gems... November 22, 2012

By gavalos

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Taj has always been a chameleon of sorts. He has been able to transcend style to make whatever he touches his own. There are some real gems on this record. If you love Taj you just gotta get it.

5.0 out of 5 stars Taj May 23, 2013

By Shreimer

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Taj Mahal albums are always great to listen to and this one of his earlier years is no exception. The man is wonderful to hear in person. Check this out.