{"product_id":"mahal-taj-the-natch-l-blues-0693723429427","title":"The Natch'l Blues","description":"Henry St Claire Fredericks, aka Taj Mahal, was born in Harlem on the 17th May 1942. His father was a Jazz pianist and composer who wrote for Benny Goodman and Ella Fitzgerald, and his mother a teacher with a strong voice and a passion for gospel singing. After turning his back on the piano, clarinet and trombone, Henry took up the guitar and was introduced to the music of Muddy Waters, Lightnin’ Hopkins and John Lee Hooker. Having re-invented himself as Taj Mahal after a dream and after graduation, he went to investigate the blues\/folk scenes in Boston and New York, where he crossed paths with Maria Muldaur, Bob Dylan and David Van Ronk. He ran into a guitar player called Jessie Lee Kincaid and together gigged around Detroit and Canada eventually finding themsleves in LA where they met Ry Cooder. Together with future Spirit drummer Ed Cassidy and bassist Gary Marker they formed The Rising Sons, opening at Whiskey A Go Go for Otis Redding, Martha and The Vandellas and The Temptations. Disilusioned with The Rising Sons Taj went solo and recorded Three albums – Taj Mahal (1967), The Natch’l Blues(1968) and Giant Step\/Da Old Folks at Home(1969). \"Now this album,\" said Taj \"is a real mind blower. Let me tell you the way to enjoy this record. When you get it, don't play it, wait till you've had a really hard day, the hardest day you've ever had, you're miserable, nothin' went right for you, you just can't wait to get home; so you go home, take a shower, smoke some weed, and then put the record on, and listen to the whole thing and I guarantee it'll straighten some things out in your head\".","brand":"Blue","offers":[{"title":"Used - good","offer_id":53298830278998,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0925\/5829\/5382\/files\/product_image_0693723429427_1_fa13ca37-6077-43f5-98e1-e61a29ba18f9.jpg?v=1777860827","url":"https:\/\/www.momoxbooks.com\/products\/mahal-taj-the-natch-l-blues-0693723429427","provider":"momoxbooks","version":"1.0","type":"link"}