RS Essentials: 7 Taj Mahal Songs You Need to Hear
The American blues guitarist and singer will perform at the Mahindra Blues Festival in Mumbai this weekend
American musician Taj Mahal. Photo: Flickr/Wikimedia Commons CC-BY-2.0
American blues musician Henry St. Claire Fredericks Jr. aka Taj Mahal’s repertoire includes tons of albums from a nearly 60-year career. Through his brand of blues, Taj Mahal has also dabbled in various other forms of music, including elements taken from the Caribbean, Africa, India, Hawaii and the South Pacific. The legendary musician is all set to return to India and perform at the 11th edition of the Mahindra Blues Festival this weekend in Mumbai. Ahead of his performance, we’ve put together seven songs by Taj Mahal to get you in the mood for the gig.
“Statesboro Blues”
On his eponymous 1968 debut album, Taj Mahal included his version of the blues classic “Statesboro Blues,” which was originally penned by Blind Willie McTell, who recorded it in 1928. The track’s title refers to the town of Statesboro, Georgia, in the U.S. and Taj Mahal’s version is a modernized one as compared to the original, and leans towards a more blues-rock sound. The arrangement Taj Mahal recorded also inspired the version of the song the Allman Brothers Band released a few years later.
“Fishin’ Blues”
The 1911 blues song “Fishin’ Blues” written by Chris Smith was covered by Taj Mahal on his third album Giant Step/De Ole Folks at Home, launched in 1969. The acoustic ditty features Taj Mahal’s husky voice and finger-picked guitar work as he sings about catching, cooking, and eating your own fish.
“Gee Baby Ain’t I Good to You”
Taj Mahal released a single this past January called “Gee Baby Ain’t I Good to You,” off his forthcoming 2023 album Savoy. The slow blues offering includes elements of jazz and swing, controlled horn parts, profound musicianship as well as some heartfelt lyrics.
“She Caught the Katy (And Left Me a Mule to Ride)”
For his 1968 album The Natch’l Blues, Taj Mahal co-wrote the blues standard “She Caught the Katy (And Left Me a Mule to Ride)” with James Rachell. Recognized as a Taj Mahal classic, ‘Katy’ in the lyrics is a reference to the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad.
“Satisfied ‘N’ Tickled Too”
Taj Mahal is heard crooning about love and everything that comes with it on the reggae-blues/R&B track “Satisfied ‘N’ Tickled Too” off his 1976 album of the same title.
“(You’ve Got To) Love Her With A Feeling”
From 2003’s Blues With A Feeling, Taj Mahal expresses his feelings on the heavy, slow blues number “(You’ve Got To) Love Her With a Feeling.” The track features an exquisite electric guitar that breaks out into a fiery solo.
“Shady Grove”
For nearly 10 whole minutes, Taj Mahal takes us back to eastern Kentucky in the U.S. at the beginning of the 20th century with his version of the Appalachian folk song, “Shady Grove.” There’s jangly acoustic guitar playing, an improvised guitar solo, a bouncing bass line as well as Taj Mahal’s up-tempo vocals on this iconic tune from his 2012 compilation album, Hidden Treasures of Taj Mahal.
