Giant Step/De Ole Folks at Home


Giant Step/De Ole Folks at Home is the third studio album by American blues musician Taj Mahal. A double album, the first disc is electric, while the second is acoustic. Esquire included the album at number 27 on its list of "The 75 Albums Every Man Should Own".

Background

The original LP was a double album. Disc one, Giant Step, features performances backed by Jesse Ed Davis, Gary Gilmore, and Chuck Blackwell, while disc two, De Ole Folks at Home, consists of Mahal's solo performances. "Take a Giant Step" is a cover of a song written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin for the Monkees. Mahal had also recorded a cover of the song under the name Rising Sons prior to his solo debut, although the Rising Sons version remained unreleased until 1992.

Reception and legacy

With this album, Mahal achieved his first entry into the top 100 of the U.S. charts, reaching a peak position of number 85 on the Billboard 200 dated October 25, 1969. The original song "Further On Down the Road" from the album was later covered in a reggae arrangement on Eric Clapton's album Old Sock. Mahal himself also appeared as a guest on Clapton's version.

Track listing

Giant Step
  1. "Ain't Gwine Whistle Dixie No More"
  2. "Take a Giant Step"
  3. "Give Your Woman What She Wants"
  4. "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl"
  5. "You're Gonna Need Somebody on Your Bond"
  6. "Six Days on the Road"
  7. "Farther on Down the Road "
  8. "Keep Your Hands Off Her"
  9. "Bacon Fat"
De Ole Folks at Home
  1. "Linin' Track"
  2. "Country Blues No. 1"
  3. "Wild Ox Moan"
  4. "Light Rain Blues"
  5. "Little Soulful Tune"
  6. "Candy Man"
  7. "Cluck Old Hen"
  8. "Colored Aristocracy"
  9. "Blind Boy Rag"
  10. "Stagger Lee"
  11. "Cajun Tune"
  12. "Fishin' Blues"
  13. "Annie's Lover"

Personnel

Giant Step
De Ole Folks at Home
  • Taj Mahal - vocals, harmonica, guitar, banjo
;Technical
  • Brian Ross-Myring, Chris Hinshaw, Jerry Hochman - engineer
  • Virginia Team - cover design
  • Jesse Ed Davis - typography/hand lettering