Sacred Island


Sacred Island is an album by the American blues/world artist Taj Mahal and the Hawaiian music group the Hula Blues Band, released in 1998.
The album peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Blues Albums chart.

Production

"Coconut Man" is a rewrite of the Toots Hibbert song "Monkey Man"; "Betty and Dupree" is a cover of the Chuck Willis song.

Critical reception

The Edmonton Journal wrote that "the sounds of tenor, baritone, and Liliu ukuleles, Hawaiian steel guitar, pan pipes and slack-key guitars combine with the main man's National dobro and harmonica to create a wonderful musical trip thru the islands." The Dayton Daily News thought that "a gentle Calypso backbeat snakes its way through the project, creating a warm, laid-back, breezy feel." The San Diego Union-Tribune noted "the shock of hearing first song: 'The New Calypsonians' sounds a bit like a gruff-voiced Mose Allison singing reggae at Don Ho's lounge."

Track listing

All tracks composed by Taj Mahal; except where indicated
  1. "The Calypsonians"
  2. "Coconut Man"
  3. "Sacred Island "
  4. "Betty and Dupree"
  5. "The New Hula Blues"
  6. "No Na Mamo"
  7. "Mailbox Blues"
  8. "Kanikapila"