Bob Margolin: Hold Me To It

Muddy Waters alum Bob Margolin continues to demonstrate ties to his mentor on Hold Me To It (Blind Pig 5056; 43:36), which features the same vicious slide work and authentic John Lee Hooker-styled boogie-fied picking that distinguished his previous five albums. The potent Muddy influence comes across strongest on “All You Left Behind,” the mournful “Mean Old Chicago” and “Wee Baby Blues,” featuring a guest spot by Muddy’s son, Big Bill Morganfield. Margolin turns in some stirring Delta-styled dobro work on the stark, unaccompanied “No Consolation” and on a moving treatment of Bob Dylan’s “Not Dark Yet.” He also summons up some sanctified slide playing on the instrumental piano-guitar duet “Consolation,” performed with his sister Sherry. Tad Walters’ Little Walter-styled harmonica honking on “Lost Again,” “Slam ‘Em Down” and the title track helps to complete this authentic portrait of ’50s Chicago.

Originally Published March 1, 2000