LPCDreissues: Looking forward to the past

Rhino Handmade has taken three albums -- 1976's Music Fuh Ya' (Musica Para Tu) and 1977's Brothers Original Sound Track and Evolution (The Most Recent) -- and combined them, along with some contemporaneous previously unreleased audio surprises, into Sing A Happy Song: The Warner Bros Recordings.After a decade of recording for Columbia Records, Taj Mahal signed with Warner Bros. Records in 1976 and, within the span of just about a year, released three albums of diverse, inventive, and joyful music. Again and again, Mr Mahal has returned to his blues roots and maintained an active interest in African American studies, and the cultures around the globe and their indigenous folk music. He seemed especially interested, during this period, in the Caribbean Islands, and reggae and steel drum music.For the recording of these Warner Bros. albums, Taj Mahal formed his International Rhythm Band. These musicians included Hoshal Wright on guitar, Ray Fitzpatrick and Bill Rich on bass, Earl "Wire" Lindo, previously a member of Bob Marley And The Wailers, on keyboards and organ, Rudy Costa on reeds, Kwasi Dzizournu on congas and percussion, Robert Greenidge on steel drums, Larry McDonald on percussion and Kester Smith on drums. And it was with members from this basic group of musicians that Taj Mahal toured during this time.Sing A Happy Song: The Warner Bros Recordings collects together all three of these Warner Bros. albums for the first time and combines them with seven previously unreleased tracks that were recorded live with the International Rhythm Band in February 1977. Everything, of course, has been entirely remastered from the original Warner Bros. vault tapes. And all of this musical wonderment is contained in a 2-CD set that includes a 20-page booklet.Sing A Happy Song: The Warner Bros. Recordings is available as an individually-numbered limited edition of 3,000 copies.
TRACK LISTING () 1. You Got It (5:00 ) 2. Freight Train (4:46 ) 3. Baby, You're My Destiny (6:00 ) 4. Sailin' Into Walker's Cay (5:17 ) 5. Truck Driver's Two-Step (4:59 ) 6. The Four Mills Brothers (5:01 ) 7. Honey Babe (4:11 ) 8. Curry (6:35 ) 9. Ain't Gwine Whistle Dixie (Any Mo') (4:53 ) 10. Freight Train (5:42 ) 11. Going Up To The Country, Paint My Mailbox Blue (5:05 ) 12. Blackjack Davy (4:57 ) 13. Truck Driver's Two-Step (5:47 ) 14. Ain't Nobody's Business But My Own (3:23 ) 15. Johnny Too Bad (7:50 ) 1. Love Theme In The Key Of D (8:10 ) 2. Funky Butt (3:16 ) 3. Brother's Doin' Time (4:14 ) 4. Night Rider (3:00 ) 5. Free The Brothers (8:09 ) 6. Sentidos Dulce (Sweet Feelings) (5:15 ) 7. The Funeral March (3:59 ) 8. Malcolm's Song (2:32 ) 9. David And Angela (2:53 ) 10. Sing A Happy Song (3:37 ) 11. Queen Bee (4:28 ) 12. Lowdown Showdown (3:04 ) 13. The Most Recent (Evolution) Of Muthafusticus Modernusticus (6:53) 14. Why You Do Me This Way (3:03 ) 15. Salsa De Laventille (3:08 ) 16. The Big Blues (5:12 ) 17. Highnite (3:14 ) 18. Southbound With The Hammer Down (3:32 )