Rising Sons Featuring Taj Mahal And Ry Cooder
The title almost says it all. Rising Sons also included future member of The Byrds and The Rolling Thunder Revue Kevin Kelley, as well as veteran session drummer Ed Cassidy of Spirit—he was in his mid 40's here and he sounds like he loves playing with a bunch of kids!
But let's face it, if you're looking at this page, you came because you're wondering if a collaboration between two guitar legends, Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder, is worth listening to. I have good news for you. Rising Sons Featuring Taj Mahal And Ry Cooder is not simply worth listening to. Rather, if those two names mean anything to you, it's essential listening.
The guitar interplay is fantastic and is what you would expect from two virtuosos. But, this recording, which combines 22 tracks recorded between 1965 and 1966, is more than a guitar showcase. There are a lot of worthy cuts on here, which are treated with both plenty of integrity and originality.
Recommended tracks include: "If The River Was Whiskey," "Let The Good Times Roll," "11th Street Overcrossing," "Tulsa Country," "The Girl With Green Eyes" and "Take A Giant Step"—the latter two would have fit perfectly onto Workingman's Dead by Grateful Dead.
According to Richie Unterburger of the All Music Guide, "this archival release has value above and beyond historical interest."
True.
