Track Listing

1. Honky Tonk
2. EZ Rider
3. Ain't That a Lot of Love
4. Ev'ry Wind [In the River]
5. Stranger in My Own Home Town
6. Woulda Could Shoulda
7. Leaving Trunk
8. Rain from the Sky
9. Mailbox Blues
10. Cruisin'
11. Corrina
12. Hoochi Coochi Coo
13. Sentidos Dulce (Sweet Feelings)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #103098 in Music
• Released on: 2000-06-20
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Amazon.com
Recorded live over three nights in Los Angeles in 1998, Shoutin' in Key provides an accurate snapshot of late-1990s Taj and his all-inclusive view of the blues. In fact, blues is really just one ingredient in a stew that offers hard-driving, horn-fueled R&B, gently swaying Caribbean-style rhythms, slow-burning soul, loose reggae jams, 12-bar stomps, smart jazzy grooves, and polished country-blues updates. On this album, he's most compelling the further afield he moves. His reading of Delroy Wilson's "Rain from the Sky," a Jamaican standard, is a highlight here, as is his own Latin-jazz-infused instrumental, "Sentidos Dulce." And he delivers fine readings of signature songs like "Mail Box Blues," "Corrina," and "Leavin' Trunk" as well. While he's not at his most consistently inspired throughout, there are certainly enough high points to make this a worthwhile introduction to the Mahal style. --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews

A master at the top of his game
Theeze days, the blues too often seem to be played by hormonal youngsters who skipped straight to the full-throated showboating of Stevie Ray Vaughan or Buddy Guy without stopping to learn the subtlety of Albert King, Muddy Waters, or even Robert Johnson.

Taj Mahal has never been one to strain himself keeping up with trends, but has been happy to trace his own path. Sometimes that path got a little wierd, but by keeping the faith of the aforementioned players, "Shoutin' in Key" represents a massive return to form of the most underrated of all the performers who played (the original) Woodstock.

Backed by a tight ensemble and blessed with the best and cleanest sound I have ever heard from a live blues recording, Taj Mahal lives up to the promise of the album's title, wringing great energy out of old and new songs, while never resorting to pyrotechnics or volume to compensate for a lack of ideas. On the contrary, each cut on this album is played with fierce originality and freshness. Songs like "Corrina, Corrina," or "Leavin' Trunk" absolutely cook, complemented by fantastic bandwork and swinging, economical solos.

With this recording, blues fans will find a refreshing break from the overheated riffage of too much current blues, and a reminder that great blues doesn't have to mean screaming at 200 mph.

Blends all sorts of musical flavors into a refined amalgam
This cleanly recorded, live set from Taj Mahal backed by the excellent, tight Phantom Blues Band, blends all sorts of musical flavors into a refined amalgam. The strain, stress, and anguish that make too many forays into contemporary blues a sure-fire ticket for a migraine are cast aside for grace, craft, and smoothness. On the other hand, there is enough edge here to add texture. In many ways, the energy, vibe, and diversity here remind me of the superb but obscure "Rust" by Kevin Brown, must more so than the largely sterile renderings from say Eric Clapton.

Everything comes together without sounding contrived or forced, and Taj Mahal, as always, marches to his own drum beat (well, actually some snappy percussion work from Tony Braunagel). Mick Weaver, a fellow who has sat in with about everybody at one time or another, handles the keyboards deftly. Danny Freeman, who cut his chops with the borthers Vaughan hits the right tone throughout, and Larry Fulcher clearly knows his way around on bass. The Texacali horns provide the bright seasoning, and Taj deftly stays out front without quashing everyone else's good time or taxing himself too much.

This recording would make a great soundtrack for a ramble through the country or a backyard cookout.

Excellent Blues!
Excellent show of years of blues vocals and experience! Taj Mahal is a legend in his own time.