Características
Taj Mahal's second album, recorded in the spring and fall of 1968, begins, much like his first, with a stripped-down Mississippi Delta-style blues, but is a bit more powerful (thanks in part to Al Kooper on organ) before evolving into a much fuller sound with tracks like "She Caught The Katy And Left Me A Mule To Ride" and "The Cuckoo." The latter in particular puts crunchy electric and acoustic guitars front and center, while Gary Gilmore plays bass almost like a lead instrument - a blues musician's answer to John Entwistle.
Perhaps most notable, however, are the two self-penned closing tracks, "You Don't Miss Your Water ('Til Your Well Runs Dry)" and "Ain't That A Lot Of Love," when Taj Mahal enters Otis Redding territory in the soul realm. This is especially noticeable on "You Don't Miss Your Water," which reaches a gospel-like intensity, a Stax/Volt-style horn arrangement by Jesse Ed Davis included that sounds more genuine than real. "Ain't That A Lot Of Love," by contrast, is driven by a hard electric guitar sound and merciless bass that sounds more like a more urgent version of the bass line in "Gimme Some Lovin'" by the Spencer Davis Group. This reissue of "The Natch'l Blues" includes a trio of bonus tracks: a faster tempo rendition of "The Cuckoo" with prominent lead guitar, the electric, slow wailing "New Stranger Blues" with great guitar played like a mandolin, and the rocking instrumental "Things Are Gonna Work Out Fine" which is a stunning example of Davis' electric lead guitar and Taj Mahal's virtuosity on harmonica.
Taj Mahal (hca, g); Jesse Edwin (g, p, arr); Al Kooper (org, p); Gary Gilmore (b); Chuck Blackwell, Earl Palmer (dr)
Side 1
1. Good Morning Miss Brown
2. Corinna
3. I Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Steal My Jellyroll
4. Going Up to The Country, Paint My Mailbox Blue
5. Done Changed My Way Of Living
6. The Cuckoo
Side 2
1. She Caught The Katy And Left me A Mule To Ride
2. The Cuckoo
3. You Don't Miss Your Water
4. A Lot Of Love
5. New Stranger Blues
6. Things Are Gonna Work Out Fine