Track listing
Show track credits
- 1 Don't Call Us 4:22
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songwriter, guitar, harmonica
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mixer
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mixer
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songwriter, associate producer, programming
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drums
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bass
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background vocals
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background vocals
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background vocals
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lap steel guitar
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organ
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Mark Goodmanelectric piano, synthesizer
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congas, triangle, percussion
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- 2 River of Love 4:07
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mixer
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mixer
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songwriter
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drums
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bass
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songwriter, associate producer, background vocals
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Jimmy Scottsongwriter
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guitar
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Donald Robinsonkeyboards
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organ
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conga, bata
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background vocals
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background vocals
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background vocals
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background vocals
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baritone saxophone, tenor saxophone, horn arrangements
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alto saxophone
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Jeff Legotrombone
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background vocals
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- 3 Scattered 5:40
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mixer
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mixer
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drums, percussion
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bass
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background vocals
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background vocals
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guitar
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organ, background vocals
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Mark Goodmansynthesizer
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bata, percussion
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- 4 Ev'ry Wind (In the River) 4:50
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songwriter, guitar, harmonica
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mixer
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mixer
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songwriter
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drums, percussion
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bass
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mandolin
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- 5 Blues With a Feeling 3:53
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piano
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mixer
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mixer
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- 6 Squat That Rabbit 4:37
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songwriter, guitar
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producer, mixer, engineer, songwriter, programming
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drums, percussion
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cymbals
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tenor saxophone
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- 7 Take All the Time You Need 4:22
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banjo
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mixer
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mixer
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drums
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bass
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lead guitar, acoustic guitar, mandolin
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accordion
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Mark Goodmanorgan
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organ
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- 8 Love Up 3:10
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mixer
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mixer
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drums
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bass
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organ
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baritone saxophone, tenor saxophone, horn arrangements
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alto saxophone
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Jeff Legotrombone
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- 9 Cakewalk Into Town 2:59
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songwriter, guitar
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mixer
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mixer
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drums, castanets, tambourine
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accordion
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guitar
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- 10 Big Legged Mamas Are Back in Style 4:20
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songwriter, piano
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mixer
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mixer
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- 11 Take a Giant Step 4:40
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guitar
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mixer
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mixer
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comb, guiro, cabasa, iya, tambourine
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- Total length: 47:00
Rate/Catalog
Catalog
Set listening
Review
To rate, slide your finger across the stars from left to right.
2 Issues
3 Reviews
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1
Don't Call Us
-
2
River of Love
-
3
Scattered
-
4
Every Wind (In the River)
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5
Blues With a Feeling
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6
Squat That Rabbit
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7
Take All the Time You Need
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8
Love Up
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9
Cakewalk into Town
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10
Big Legged Mamas Are Back in Style
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11
Take a Giant Step
best album in 15 years
i may have given this 2 stars, but it's a hair from 2.5. there are actually a few decent songs. don't be turned off by the terrible adult contemporary openers. i have a theory that taj saw the little mermaid in 1990 and was embarrassed about all the terrible island music he had been making since the late 70s.keepers:
squat the rabbit
every wind
blues with a feeling
there's two covers of earlier songs that are pretty meh. if you are not familiar with earlier taj mahal and like cakewalk into town or take a giant step, please do yourself a favor and search out the much better earlier versions of each.
Published
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Why are there some artist who have been around forever, worked with nearly everyone, put out consistently good work ... yet forever seem to remain as an after thought.
“Like Never Before” is probably one of the most apt album titles I have ever come across ... because this is truly music like you’ve never heard before, from a man who is able to walk the line and balance genres like no one else. This is perhaps the tightest, most smooth, soulful album you will ever hear from the man. He has stretched out from the style we have come to know, sprinkling this release with some island sounds, and putting the likes of Boz Scaggs to shame on the opening track, “Don’t Call Us.” And while the album moves along with the touch of a velvet glove, he can quickly turn a corner with a song like, “Squat That Rabbit,” leaving you to scratch your head, wondering where in the world this gem came from ... or hit you with “Ev’ry Wind [In The River],” and take you right back to his 1960’s roots.
While the blues has been the main stay of Taj for nearly fifty years, soul and R&B have never been far from his front burner, and you will hear all of what he’s capable of on this release. To that end, this release sounds as if it could be a compilation because of the varied styles ... but it’s not, it’s just pure and sweet and simple. The slide seems to speak in unison with Taj, and the piano has all of the fun notes of a Dr. John recording ... but that’s probably because the Doctor makes both instrumental and vocal appearances, along with a host of other first rate musicians.
This is one you can not ignore, because it will crawl under you skin demanding to be recognized.
“Like Never Before” is probably one of the most apt album titles I have ever come across ... because this is truly music like you’ve never heard before, from a man who is able to walk the line and balance genres like no one else. This is perhaps the tightest, most smooth, soulful album you will ever hear from the man. He has stretched out from the style we have come to know, sprinkling this release with some island sounds, and putting the likes of Boz Scaggs to shame on the opening track, “Don’t Call Us.” And while the album moves along with the touch of a velvet glove, he can quickly turn a corner with a song like, “Squat That Rabbit,” leaving you to scratch your head, wondering where in the world this gem came from ... or hit you with “Ev’ry Wind [In The River],” and take you right back to his 1960’s roots.
While the blues has been the main stay of Taj for nearly fifty years, soul and R&B have never been far from his front burner, and you will hear all of what he’s capable of on this release. To that end, this release sounds as if it could be a compilation because of the varied styles ... but it’s not, it’s just pure and sweet and simple. The slide seems to speak in unison with Taj, and the piano has all of the fun notes of a Dr. John recording ... but that’s probably because the Doctor makes both instrumental and vocal appearances, along with a host of other first rate musicians.
This is one you can not ignore, because it will crawl under you skin demanding to be recognized.
Published
Taj is always good-his voice is black velvet and his blues is deep!I prefer his rougher material,but this is also a gooodie!!
Published
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