On
Down in the Alley, his first album for Alligator Records,
Steady Rollin' Bob Margolin doesn't quite follow though on the success of its predecessor Chicago Blues, yet that's only a relative scale.
Margolin is one of a handful of musicians to keep classic Chicago blues alive in the '90s, both through covers and original material. His association with
Muddy Waters is, if anything, overhyped by journalists and Alligator alike, but it has to be said that he does Muddy proud with down-and-dirty recordings like this.
Margolin's guitar has true muscle, and there's genuine grit to the recording, unlike many contemporary Chicago blues albums. For some tastes, the album may be a little predictable since he never breaks from the tradition, but anyone looking for a straight-ahead slice of electric blues like Chess used to make them should be pleased with
Down in the Alley. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine