Product Review

The Blind Boys of Alabama & Taj Mahal

"Talkin' Christmas!"

Featuring Christmas favorites plus original holiday songs

In 2003, the Blind Boys of Alabama began a yearly tradition of touring during the holiday season. The success of that tour inspired the band to record a new Christmas album, "Talkin' Christmas!" Joining them for this special project is their friend and frequent touring partner, Taj Mahal. This collaboration brings a blues-meets-gospel sound unlike the usual Christmas-season fare. With Mahal on guitar, banjo, ukulele, harmonica, and lending his vocals on two key tracks, the album is a full-fledged holiday celebration evoking the true spirit of the season with pure joy, great voices and that "all-are-welcome message" that only the Blind Boys of Alabama can bring. "Talkin' Christmas!" includes both the familiar and fresh - with a rocking new take on the seasonal favorite, "Do You Hear What I Hear?'" plus five new Blind Boys originals (including the compassionate "What Can I Do?," featuring Taj Mahal on vocals which is one of two songwriting collaborations with Stax Records soul legend William Bell) and choice covers of some of gospel music's greatest seasonal gems.