The Real Thing (Taj Mahal album)

Template:Use mdy dates Template:Album ratings 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.

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