The Real Thing (Taj Mahal album)

The Real Thing is a double live album by Taj Mahal, released in 1971. It was recorded on February 13, 1971, at the Fillmore East in New York City and features Taj Mahal backed by a band that includes four tuba players.

The Real Thing
Live album by Taj Mahal
Released	1971 (CD in 2000)
Recorded	February 13, 1971
Venue	Fillmore East, New York City
Genre	Blues
Length	66:51
Label	Columbia/Legacy
Producer	David Rubinson (original recording), Bob Irwin (CD reissue)
Taj Mahal chronology
Giant Step/De Ole Folks at Home (1969) The Real Thing (1971) Happy Just to Be Like I Am (1972)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Christgau's Record Guide	B[2]
Entertainment Weekly	B+[3]
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings	[4]
Rolling Stone	(not rated)[5]

Track listing

All tracks by Taj Mahal except where noted.

1. "Fishin' Blues" (Henry Thomas) – 2:58
2. "Ain't Gwine to Whistle Dixie (Any Mo')" (Chuck Blackwell, Jesse Ed Davis, Gary Gilmore, Taj Mahal) – 9:11
3. "Sweet Mama Janisse" – 3:32
4. "Going Up to the Country and Paint My Mailbox Blue" – 3:24
5. "Big Kneed Gal" – 5:34
6. "You're Going to Need Somebody on Your Bond" (Blind Willie Johnson) – 6:13
7. "Tom and Sally Drake" – 3:39
8. "Diving Duck Blues" (Sleepy John Estes) – 3:46
9. "John, Ain' It Hard" – 5:30
10. "She Caught the Katy (And Left Me a Mule to Ride)" (Taj Mahal, Yank Rachell) – 4:08
    • Omitted from the vinyl issue, added to 2000 CD issue. Studio recording appears on The Natch'l Blues (1968).
11. "You Ain't No Street Walker Mama, Honey but I Do Love the Way You Strut Your Stuff" – 18:56

Personnel

• Taj Mahal – vocals, blues harp, chromatic harmonica, National steel-bodied guitar, five-string guitar (banjo), fife
• Howard Johnson – tuba (BB♭, F), flugelhorn, baritone saxophone, brass arrangements
• Bob Stewart – tuba (CC), flugelhorn, trumpet
• Joseph Daley – tuba (BB♭), valve trombone
• Earle McIntyre – tuba (E♭), bass trombone
• Bill Rich – Electric bass
• John Simon – piano, electric piano
• John Hall – Electric guitar
• Greg Thomas – drums
• Kwasi "Rocky" DziDzournu – congas

Technical

• Tim Geelan, Glen Kolotkin, Frank Abbey, Jerry Smith – engineer
• Anna Hornisher – cover, artwork, design
• Irene Harris – cover photography