Digging into Taj Mahal's past brings up, among other things, the historic partnership that first put him on the map in the '60s. He and Ry Cooder played in the Rising Sons, whose blend of blues and rock helped forge the template for Taj's solo career. They ignited the fire by fusing Chicago blues stomp with Sunset Strip rock ‘n' roll on ".44 Blues" and giving Elmore James a run for his money on the down 'n' dirty slide-guitar showcase "Dust My Broom".