Taj Mahal Greatest Hits
In the mid 1980s, someone gave me a pamphlet to read. It was titled something along the lines of The Taj Mahal: Shiva Love Temple.
This hilarious premise is just one of the myths that swirl around India’s most beautiful structure. There is something about the Taj that causes normally sane people to take flights of fancy. As if the grace and beauty of the marbled minarets and dome were not sufficiently impressive, men, through the ages, have tried to gild the lily by adding tales of scandal, horror and mystery. I too have spread several of these tales to visiting friends and relatives.
The one about Shah Jahan ordering the gouging out of the eyes of all those who worked on the monument – 'So you shall never espy another building as glorious as this' – was a particular favourite. And of course, it was important to emphasise that though the building was commissioned by an Asian despot, it was an European architect who conjured up the design. The number of times I’ve passed off the 'black Taj' story as gospel truth is simply too high to count. Alas, all of these stories are untrue. As are the claims that the Taj is sinking, and that an early English ruler had plans to destroy it in a display of Christian superiority.
As for the historical 'factoid' that the Taj is in fact a Hindu monument, various high courts have repeatedly rejected the claim, most recently ten years ago. Still, the Taj Mahal will always fire up the imagination. Hundreds of poems and plays and films have been inspired by the tomb. This week, we listen to a few such musical moments. Umie Aida Salam Taj Mahal Umie Aida is one of Malaysia’s most popular actresses and is known for her epic performances. This is the title song of her 2006 film Salam Taj Mahal, filmed at least in part in Agra. The narrative appears to be a melodramatic love story, with not just Shah Jahan and Mumtaz references, but Romeo and Juliet (or Heer Ranjha?) undertones.
Clearly, the greatest Valentine’s Day present humanity has ever known remains the ultimate symbol of love for Muslim audiences, not just on the subcontinent but across the oceans as well. Sam Roberts Taj Mahal I’m Shah Jahan, you’re Taj Mahal Do you remember that night at the Minah Bazaar You were meant to be mine You were meant to be mine So sings Sam Roberts, one of Canada’s severely underrated songsters. Though the story is retold with facts that would drive historians to apoplexy (Taj Mahal instead of Mumtaz Mahal; surely he means Meena Bazar; and of course neither Bombay nor the Ganges run anywhere near the Taj), it is a beautiful love song nonetheless. Check out for its intricate Beatles-inspired arabesques, which are a thing of true loveliness. This has to be one of the great Taj Mahal songs of all time.
Decorative, beguiling and monumental, just like its inspiration. Mighty Mo Rodgers They Bombed the Taj Mahal! They went and bombed the Taj Mahal The greatest shrine, a temple to love From the live television broadcast of some catastrophic event that opens this song, to the faux nursery rhyme in the middle, this number hits on multiple cylinders from the get-go. A deep south Chicago blues groove drives the piece forward at a frenetic pace.
Like an olden day prophet, Mighty Mo mixes righteous indignation with despair to make his point, which appears to be that as the world burns, the 'juke joint is jumping' (the party rages on). What exactly the Taj Mahal has to do with any of this remains a mystery. After repeated listenings, however, I’m inclined to think it’s a reference to the bombing of Taj Mahal hotel and not the original monument in Agra. This has to be one of the more obscure (if groovy) paeans to Shah Jahan’s love temple ever recorded. Taj Mahal, Pandit Vishwamohan Bhatt and N Ravikiran Johnny Too Bad Henry Saint Clair Fredericks, the eminent blues master of America, had a dream one night in which an angel told him to change his name to Taj Mahal. “I liked the sound of it,” he claimed.
In an album entitled Mumtaz Mahal, Taj hooks up with Vishwamohan Bhatt and N Ravikiran to explore several blues and reggae classics, including this standout track. Taj was born into a middle class African American family, and with RyCooder (an early band mate), is regarded one of America’s great living, playing, singing musical encyclopedias. In addition to keeping the blues alive, he has ventured far from American shores to collaborate with African and Caribbean artists.
Sadly, this brief album is the only one with Indian artists. Django Reinhardt Taj Mahal We end this week’s set with an early jazz number by the first jazz guitar superstar, Django Reinhardt.
A Romani or gypsy from France, perhaps Django is channeling his ancient subcontinental roots in this gem of a piece. Joined by his partner in crime, Stephane Grappelli, whose violin provides a slightly oriental touch to the sound, Reinhardt as always plays naturally, calmly and elegantly.
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Taj Mahal also appears in this compilation. Tracks of Disc 1. 1. (I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man. 2. Hound Dog.
3. Call It Stormy Monday. 4. Reconsider Baby.
5. The Things That I Used To Do. 6. I'm A Man. 8.
Hard Times (No One Knows Better Than I). 9. I'm A King Bee. 10.
So Many Roads, So Many Trains. 11. Big Boss Man. 12. Spoonful.
13. Have You Ever Loved A Woman. 14.
Drivin' Wheel. 15. Turn On Your Love Light. 16.
Bring It On Home. 18. My Time After Awhile. 19. Hoodoo Man Blues.
20. Wang Dang Doodle. 21. One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer. Tracks of Disc 2. 1. Mean Old World.
2. All Your Love.
3. Shake Your Moneymaker. 4. Born Under A Bad Sign. 5.
I'd Rather Go Blind. 6.
She Caught The Katy (And Left Me A Mule To Ride). 7. The Thrill Is Gone.
8. If Walls Could Talk. 9. Trouble No More Live. 10. Luther's Blues. 11.
Down Home Blues. 12. Flood Down In Texas Live. 13. Bad To The Bone.
14. Smoking Gun. 15.
Good Morning Little School Girl. 17. Just Won't Burn. Song previews provided courtesy of iTunes. Entertainment Weekly: '.A breath of fresh air.drawing from his 1st 9 LPs, some of which remain out of print.' - Rating: A.
Tracks of Disc 1. 1. Statesboro Blues. 2. Leaving Trunk.
3. Going Up To The Country, Paint My Mailbox Blue. 5. She Caught The Katy And Left Me A Mule To Ride.
6. Take A Giant Step.
7. Six Days On The Road. 8. Farther On Down The Road. 9. Fishing Blues. 10.
Ain't Gwine To Whistle Dixie (Any Mo') (Live). 11. You're Going To Need Somebody On Your Bond (Live).
12. Cakewalk Into Town. 13. Oh Susanna.
14. Frankie And Albert. 15. Chevrolet. 16. Johnny Too Bad. 17.
Sweet Mama Janisse (Previously Unissued Studio Recording). Song previews provided courtesy of iTunes. Tracks of Disc 1. 1. Leaving Trunk. 2. Statesboro Blues.
Taj Mahal Greatest Hits
3. The Celebrated Walkin' Blues. 4. She Caught The Katy (And Left Me A Mule To Ride). 5. Going Up To The Country, Paint My Mailbox Blue. 7.
Take A Giant Step. 8. Six Days On The Road. 9. Country Blues. 10. Fishin' Blues.
11. Ain't Gwine Whistle Dixie (Anymo').
12. You're Gonna Need Somebody On Your Bond. 13. Happy To Be Just Like I Am. 14.
West Indian Revelation. 15. Texas Woman Blues. 16. Cakewalk Into Town. 17. Frankie & Albert.
18. Railroad Bill.
Tracks of Disc 2. 1. Johnny Too Bad.
2. Slave Driver.
3. Kitts Woman.
4. When I Feel The Sea Beneath My Soul. 5. Satisfied 'N' Tickled Too. 6. Love Theme In The Key Of D. 7.
Everybody Is Somebody. 8. Crossing. 9. Don't Call Us. 10.
Big Legged Mommas Are Back In Style. 11.
That's How Strong My Love Is. 12. Here In The Dark. 13. Lovin' In My Baby's Eyes.
14. Senor Blues.
15. The New Hula Blues. 16. Queen Bee. 17.
Cruisin'. 18. John Henry (With Etta Baker). Song previews provided courtesy of iTunes. Taj Mahal also appears in this compilation.
Tracks of Disc 1. 1. Mick Jagger's Introduction Of Rock & Roll Circus. 2.
Entry Of The Gladiators. 3.
Mick Jagger's Introduction To Jethro Tull. 4.
Song For Jeffrey. 5. Keith Richard's Introduction Of The Who. 6. Quick One, While He's Away. 7.
Over The Waves. 8. Ain't That A Lot Of Love. 9.
Charlie Watts' Introduction Of Marianne Faithfull. 10. Something Better. 11. Mick Jagger's And John Lennon's Introduction Of The Dirty Mac. 12.
Yer Blues. 13. Whole Lotta Yoko. 14. John Lennon's Introduction Of The Rolling Stones / Jumpin' Jack Flash. Siemens step 7 download free.
15. Parachute Woman. 16. No Expectations. 17. You Can't Always Get What You Want. 18.
Sympathy For The Devil. 19. Salt Of The Earth. Song previews provided courtesy of iTunes. Taj Mahal also appears in this compilation.
Tracks of Disc 1. 1. The Snake. 2. Love On A Mountain Top.
3. Shake A Tail Feather. 4. Love Factory.
5. Ride Your Pony. 6. I Dig Your Act. 7. The Same Old Thing.
8. More Today Than Yesterday.
9. Hold To My Baby. 10. Didn't Say A Word. 11. It Didn't Take Much (For Me To Fall In Love). 12.
Angel Baby. 13. Sweet Music. 14. You've Got Your Mind On Other Things.
15. What Can I Do. 16. You Don't Want Me No More. 17. Your Gonna Make Me Love You. 18.
I'm Where It's At. 19. 'Cause Your Mine. 20. Make Me Yours.
Tracks of Disc 2. 1. Soul Time. 2. Sliced Tomatoes.
3. Moonlight Music And You. 4. Let Love Come Between Us. 5. He's Coming Home.
6. He Who Picks A Rose. 7. Born A Loser.
8. I Can't Hold On. 9.
You Shook Me Up. 10.
Are You Ready For This. 11. There's Nothing Else To Say. 12. Shy Guy. 14. You Can't Bypass Love.
15. No More Doggin'. 16. Can We Share It. 17. If You Loved Me. 18.
It's All Over Me. 19. It's The Beat. 20.
That's What I Want To Know. Tracks of Disc 3.
1. Give Me Just A Little More Time. 2.
Hold Back The Night. 3.
Don't Leave Me. 4. Since I Found My Baby. 5. Look What You've Done To My Heart. 6. Crackin' Up Over You.
8. Ain't That A Lot Of Love.
9. I Worship You Baby.
10. Think It Over (And Be Sure). 11. Too Late.
12. The World Again. 13. Interplay. 14. Hang Up Your Hang Ups. 15.
Stranger In My Arms. 16. No Sad Song. 17. I Need Your Love So Desperately.
18. Change Your Ways. 19. Before It's Too Late. 20.
SOS (Stop Her On Sight). Tracks of Disc 4. 1.
Band Of Gold. 2. Right Track. 3.
Honest To Goodness. 4. I Can't Help Lovin' You.
5. Trying To Find My Woman. 6. A Little Bit Of Something (Beats A Whole Lot Of Nothing).
7. If You Can't Say Anything Nice.
8. You Don't Know Where Your Interest Lies. 9.
Cuz It's You, Girl. 10. Man Without A Woman.
11. I Just Can't Say Goodbye.
12. I Need You. 14. What's It Gonna Be.
15. Eternally. 16. (Blame It) On The Pony Express. 18. Gonna Get Along Without You Now.
19. You've Come A Long Way Ba.