GET ON BOARD

Get On Board: The Songs of Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee marks a historic reunion between Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder, their first collaborative studio outing since their days in The Rising Sons in the mid-1960s. Recorded in Joachim Cooder's living room, the album is a tribute to the legendary Piedmont blues duo Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee. The production is intentionally sparse and raw, eschewing modern polish for a 'field recording' aesthetic that emphasizes the physical space of the room. Musically, it centers on the interplay between Taj's harmonica and Cooder's guitar and piano, with Joachim Cooder providing subtle percussion. The tracklist pulls from the deep well of American roots music, including gospel-inflected spirituals and boogie-woogie romps. Critics noted the album's infectious energy, praising it not just as a nostalgia trip, but as a vital, breathing document of blues as a living language. It stands as a late-career highlight for both artists, showcasing a rare level of musical telepathy.