Taj Mahal's been chasing the blues around the world for years, but rarely with the passion, energy, and clarity he brought to the The Real Thing. The live 1971 set, The Real Thing, finds him still carrying the Mississippi torch, while adding overt elements of jazz and Afro-Caribbean music to its flame. His band sounds under-rehearsed, and the arrangements seem more like rough outlines. Nonetheless, this album sets the stage for Mahal's career.This is one of the best ROOTS recordings EVER! Now, how many acts could have gotten away with playing a tune with nothing but a banjo and a TUBA! a highlight is "Ain't Gwine Whistle Dixie No Mo'", where every band member gets a piece of the action, and my spine tingles at the thought of John Simon groovin' on the piano, and John Hall doing a GREAT guitar solo, and ending, with Taj whistling over the many horns. This is Taj's moment in Time, Live - History, I believe it's called - and he grabs on and holds tight. Any fan of blues, jazz, roots, gospel, or African-American music History has to consider this a MUST HAVE CD. Period.