As the legendary Taj Mahal’s career has moved, in his middle age, to a Caribbean based almost reggae formed base, it’s easy to forget what a rocker and bluesman he was in his early years. Thankfully, this recent box set spans his career and allows listeners to experience both sides of him.

  Had it not sat on the cutting room floor for over 20 years, Taj Mahal’s career probably would have taken off from his incredible performance in the Rolling Stones "Rock and Roll Circus," some of which is captured here for the first time. His energy and spirit pushed him up at that time, but it never saw the light of day until recently.

  Instead, Taj signed with Columbia Records, and released a handful of wonderful blues based rock and roll records, including "Natchl’ Blues," and "Take A Giant Step." No matter what he covered, he stamped it with a special breed, inclusive of both his country blues, city blues and folk-rock roots. The latter album, which is not covered enough in this box set, included a second record, dubbed "De Old Folks At Home," which includes some of his best country blues picking performances.

  This disc also contains some of his live work, mostly from "Austin City Limits," with the Pointer Sisters, as well as songs from his group, the Rising Sons, which also included Ry Cooder, and with Boz Scaggs at the Fillmore West. The final disc takes us through to the present, with the more "Island-like" sounds replacing the pushed and pushing blues of his younger days.

  This set points out that Taj Mahal could do it all, rock with the rockers, play the blues with those pickers, and sing of the islands. It has been a far reaching career, and is well documented here.