Review: Taj Mahal & The Phantom Blues Band – Time
Taj Mahal & The Phantom Blues Band – Time
Format: CD – Vinyl LP – Digital / Label: Thirty Tigers
Release: 2026
Text: Tom Wouters
‘Time’ seems to be blues veteran Taj Mahal’s umpteenth album, although it is already recorded in 2010 and just now released. The album is recorded with his Phantom Blues Band and produced by Steve Berkowitz.
‘Time’ sounds like the way Mahal sings in the third song Crazy About A Jukebox, a juke joint blues in which all his favourite artists and songs are mentioned. ‘Time’ consists of all musical styles Mahal played in his career, like the optimistic New Orleans-style in the opener Life Of Love and the closer Rowdy Blues. Reggae is the style in Wild About My Lovin’ and in one of the highlights of ‘Time,’ the originally by Bob Marley recorded Talkin’ Blues, with Bob’ son Ziggy (a reggae-star in his own right) guesting.
You Put The Whammy On Me is pure Latin soul, as is Sweet Lorene, a Sam & Dave soul burner. Ask Me About Nothing (But The Blues) is blue-eyed soul and It’s Your Voodoo Working is up-tempo soul/blues. But the absolute highlight of the album is the title song, Time, an unrecorded and almost lost Bill Withers-song unearthed by producer Steve Berkowitz and performed beautifully by Taj Mahal and his band.
Fortunately ‘Time’ is long after it was recorded in 2010 released, because it shows the versatility of Taj Mahal and his excellent Phantom Blues Band.
Tracks:
1. Life of Love
2. Wild About My Lovin’
3. Crazy About A Jukebox
4. Time
5. You Put The Whammy On Me
6. Talkin’ Blues
7. Sweet Lorene
8. Ask Me ‘Bout Nothing (But The Blues)
9. It’s your Voodoo Working
10. Rowdy Blues
Website: https://www.tajblues.com/