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'Holler’ is a powerful country blues with just Ian's guitar and soaring vocals and we finish with
the cheery, upbeat 'Onwards and Upwards'! This record really shows off both Ian's vocal and
guitar skills and also his songwriting, he doesn't really need anyone else to help out but the
additional musicians that do feature just add that extra interest that rounds out this varied and
intimate album.

Graham Harrison

Ry Cooder and Taj Mahal—Get On Board—Nonesuch
ASIN : B09R82YBSS

Ry Cooder and Taj Mahal first worked together in the group
The Rising Sons in the mid-60s but only a single was issued by
them at the time, although Ry did play on Taj’s first album in
1968. However, now they have got together again (along with
Ry’s son Joachim on percussion) to pay tribute to two of their
inspirations – bluesmen Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee.

Ry sings and plays electric and acoustic guitars, mandolin, and
banjo while Taj contributes harmonica, guitar, piano and
vocals. The title and cover are taken from the 1952 album by

Sonny and Brownie (and percussionist Coyal McMahan) although Ry and Taj don’t do all the
same songs that appeared on that record, and the album was recorded mainly in Joachim’s
living room with just a few overdubs.

We start with a S&B song that wasn’t on the original album ‘My Baby Done Changed the Lock
On The Door’ featuring Taj on acoustic guitar and Ry on electric slide and this is followed by a
song that was, the oft-played ‘Midnight Special’ which keeps the loose, knockabout feel of the
S&B version. Another song from the original ‘Get on Board’ ‘Hooray Hooray’ has Taj on harp
and Ry on mandolin with both men adding their vocals and ‘Deep Sea Diver’ (for “all you
monkey men”) has Taj on piano and Ry on vocals and electric guitar. On ‘Pick a Bale of Cotton’
Ry really does channel Brownie’s rhythm guitar playing and again they keep the ramshackle
spirit of S&B’s original version, while ‘Drinkin’ Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee’ (a song by Brownie’s
younger brother Stick) is taken at a slower pace and features Ry’s acoustic slide.

I really liked the poignant gospel song ‘What a Beautiful City’ that has both men on vocals and
the album closes with another gospel song the upbeat ‘I Shall Not Be Moved’. In between we
get ‘Pawn Shop Blues’ a beautiful Brownie blues with Ry and Taj both playing guitar and Ry
taking the vocals. ‘Cornbread, Peas, Black Molasses’ has Taj back on harp and ‘Packing Up
Getting Ready to Go’ has a world music feel with eery backing vocals, chugging banjo and

electric slide. It is probably the most radical song here —although this isn’t an attempt to
replicate Sonny and Brownie’s sound both Taj and Ry are such distinctive artists with their
own sound that it’s always apparent who is playing here. I really liked the loose arrangements
and the minimal production that felt like we were eavesdropping on two friends having a jam
at home. Joachim's percussion also plays its part in linking this record to S&B’s original and
underpinning all the songs.

Graham Harrison