2023 – Vizztone
By Phillip Smith; Oct. 21, 2023
Release Date : Oct. 27, 2023
Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com
Armed with the very same ’56 Gibson ES-150 he used while playing with Muddy Waters and with The Band in The Last Waltz concert and film, Bob Margolin commemorates fifty years since joining The Muddy Waters Band with his latest release Thanks. This fabulous album captures the pure essence of The Blues, as Margolin creates every sound heard on all ten songs of this recording, with one very special exception. The vocals of his very special guest and border collie Levon join along during a guitar solo on “No Consolation”.
The record begins with a smoking version of “Going Down to Main Street”.. Dedicated to Muddy Waters and Levon Helm, the song was originally released in 1952 with Muddy’s original band, and was recorded again in 1975 for Muddy Waters’ Woodstock Album featuring Margolin, Helm, and Paul Butterfield. I love his cover of The Band’s “The Shape I’m In”. Played as a blues shuffle, the song stands out as an absolute favorite. As the first few notes of “Mean Old Chicago” are played, I ’m enamored to say the least. Margolin wrote this song on a drink napkin while in flight to Chicago to pay final respects to friend and Chicago blues legend Jimmy Rogers. Originally on Margolin’s 1993 album Down in the Alley “Baby Can’t Be Found” is an amazing song and is no wonder why it was a favorite of Johnny Winter’s. It sounds wonderful with Margolin performing on that Gibson archtop electric guitar. Originally recorded in 1999 for Blind Pig Records using a National Steel guitar which was a gift from Pinetop Perkins, “No Consolation” is one of my favorite Margolin-penned tracks. It is blues to the core and its jagged edges dig deep into the soul.
Selecting ten songs to sum up fifty years could not have been an easy task, however Margolin takes his choices very seriously. It is refreshing to hear these songs stripped down to just a man and his guitar. The background stories behind each of the tracks on Margolin’s website is refreshing and insightful. They offer a glimpse inside the man who has truly lived the blues.
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For more information about the artist, visit this website : https://bobmargolin.com/
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