Taj Mahal Recycling The Bues & Other Related Stuff (2 LP)

This album was released on Columbia Records in 1972 and caused some confusion. The young Taj Mahal not only played a country blues with the simplest musical accompaniment by his own national steel guitar, kalimba, banjo or simply clapping hands. He also combined it with Caribbean rhythms and to top it all off, there were live recordings in front of a clearly good-humored audience. However, since these recordings by Filmore West were too short for a full album, studio recordings with the Pointer Sisters are also included.

The concept was crazy, absurd and the sound - completely unexpectedly - was excellent. Maybe it was just because of the minimalist approach of the recordings, because the double 45rpm LPs newly cut by Bernie Grundman on 180g vinyl sound excellent and you have the feeling of sitting at the mixer during the live performances and listening to Taj's jokes Amusing Mahal on stage. Everyone probably grins when they hear the combination of the banjo, tuba and a whistling Taj Mahal.

The ORG edition appears in a hinged cover made of particularly sturdy cardboard with two 180g LPs and is limited to 2,500 copies worldwide.