Exclusive: Bob Margolin Shares Video for ‘Lonely Man Blues,’ Co-Written with Muddy Waters

In case you missed it, Bob Margolin offers Thanks to rejoice 50 years since he joined Muddy Waters Band! He performs the identical Gibson archtop electrical guitar that he performed subsequent to Muddy and The Band in The Last Waltz on each tune on the album.

He recorded one tune by Muddy from 1952, and one which he and Muddy wrote collectively in 1977. He sings “The Shape I’m” In by The Band as a blues with four-part concord. He interprets Willie Dixon’s “Who,” first executed by Little Walter however later carried out with Bob by R&B legend Nappy Brown. He lined “Hard Working Man” by his buddy Jimmy Rogers, a Chicago Blues legend who performed guitar with Muddy 25 years earlier than Bob did. He rearranged Paul Gayten’s “For You My Love,” which Bob used to play with piano legend Pinetop Perkins once they performed along with Muddy till Pinetop handed at 97 in 2011. And he performed 4 of his personal songs, rearranging them to be performed on that Gibson archtop now.

Old songs, previous guitar, new hearth.

Bob created each sound on the album apart from the joyous bark of Levon Margolin, Bob’s Border Collie, throughout the guitar solo in “No Consolation.” He tracked, blended, mastered and produced the album – a really private labor of affection and a five-decade journey. His time in Muddy’s band led to 1980 and Muddy handed in 1983. Muddy’s distinctive spirit and voice are gone, however he intentionally positioned Bob on the bandstand the place he may comply with, watch and study. Particularly on slide guitar, Bob can evoke Muddy.

We wish to rejoice Bob Margolin’s seventy fifth Birthday with an unique video premiere! When Bob wrote “Lonely Man Blues” in 1977, Muddy preferred what he heard and added a verse of his personal, shared the credit score and recorded it for his I’m Ready album — his second for Johnny Winter’s Blue Sky label.

Here’s what Bob has to say in regards to the tune on his “Deep Dive Liner Notes,” together with a particular accompanying image:

Inside cowl of 1978’s ‘I’m Ready.’ Back row: Jimmy Rogers, Muddy, Big Walter Horton, Pinetop Perkins, Bob Margolin. Front row: Jerry Portnoy, Johnny Winter, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith.

Before CDs, vinyl records may solely be about 35 minutes lengthy or bassy sounds would make the stylus soar out of the groove. Our tune didn’t make it onto the unique vinyl album. But in 2003, my buddy – Sony Legacy producer Steve Berkowitz – gave me the chance to co-produce reissues of Muddy’s Blue Sky albums.

I heard the tune once more for the primary time in 25 years. I performed bass on it, with Muddy, Jimmy Rogers, Johnny Winter, Big Walter Horton, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith and Pinetop Perkins — not a shabby Chicago Blues band. In 1998, I recorded it for my Hold Me To It album. For this album, I exploit the ES-150, the proper guitar for it. And I play it in Muddy’s Mississippi Open-G Tuning slide guitar model.

I additionally add a second guitar half that thanks Jimmy Rogers’ complementary, past the idea of lead and rhythm guitar. Jimmy advised me he and Muddy did that intentionally and referred to as it ‘filling within the cracks.’