In Progress & in Motion: 1965-1998 (1998)

About this title: For being a nearly omnipresent figure, Taj Mahal has never quite gotten the respect he's deserved. At the beginning of his career, he earned a significant amount of attention, but as the years passed, he had woven himself into the fabric of blues culture so well that his presence was taken for granted. That is why the 1998 release of In Progress & in Motion: 1965-1998 was so welcome. Spanning three discs and over three decades, the box set accurately summarizes Mahal's career and makes a convincing case for his talents as a roots synthesist. Dedicated fans may notice a favorite or two missing ... read more

Tracks:

1. You're Gonna Need Somebody on Your Bond [Johnson]
2. Corrina [Mahal/Davis]
3. Checkin' Up on My Baby [Williamson]
4. Leaving Trunk [Estes]
5. Buck Dancer's Choice [Traditional]
6. Going Up to the Country, Paint My Mailbox Blue [Mahal]
7. She Caught the Katy (And Left Me a Mule to Ride) [Rachel/Mahal]
8. Ain't Gwine to Whistle Dixie Anymo' [Mahal/Davis/Gilmore]
9. Stagger Lee [Logan/Price]
10. Built for Comfort [Dixon]
11. Natural Man [Mahal]
12. Railroad Bill [Work]
13. Texas Woman Blues [Mahal]
14. Early in the Morning [Milton]
15. Dust My Broom [Johnson]
16. Blind Boy Rag [Mahal/Davis/Fuller/]
17. Oh, Susannah [Traditional]
18. Cakewalk into Town [Mahal]
19. Fishin' Blues [Live] [Thomas]
20. Nobody's Business But My Own [Live] [Mahal]
21. Sweet Mama Janisse [Mahal]
22. Little Red Hen Blues [Live] [Mahal]
23. Mary Don't You Weep [Live] [Traditional]
24. Sweet Home Chicago [Live] [Traditional]
25. Frankie and Albert [Hurt]
26. M'Banjo [Mahal]
27. Statesboro Blues [Take 2] [McTell]
28. Bye & Bye [Patton]
29. Six Days on the Road [Montgomery/Green]
30. We Gonna Rock [Live] [Mahal/Bishop/Scaggs]
31. Ain't It Funky Now [Mahal]
32. Tom & Sally Drake [Mahal]
33. Fishin' Blues [Thomas]
34. Blues with a Feeling [Little Walter]
35. Freight Train [Cotten]
36. When I Feel the Sea Beneath My Soul [Mahal]
37. West Indian Revelation [Mahal]
38. Eighteen Hammers [Mahal]
39. Johnny Too Bad [Crooks/Wilson/Baile]
40. Slave Driver [Marley]
41. Clara (St. Kitts Woman) [Mahal]
42. Do I Love Her [Mahal]
43. Everybody Is Somebody [Bailey]
44. But I Rode Some [Mahal/Hughes]
45. Crossing [Mahal/Hughes]
46. Sentidos Dulce (Sweet Feelings) [Mahal]
47. The Most Recent Evolution of Muthafusticus Modernusticus [Mahal/Mahal/Smith]
48. Curry [Fitzpartick]
49. Follow the Drinking Gourd [Traditional]
50. The Banana Boat Song (Day-O) [Burgie/Attaway]
51. Little Brown Dog [Traditional]
52. Seņor Blues [Silver]
53. Ain't That a Lot of Love [Banks/Parker]
54. Take a Giant Step [Goffin/King]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.