THE HOLLYWOOD BLUE FLAMES "DEEP IN AMERICA" Source: BVS Reviews Date: 02/2010 Writer: Bruce Von Stiers

Great New Album Of Classic Styled Blues

A few bands crank out traditional blues really well. One such band is the Hollywood Blue Flames. The band had its beginnings with members of the Hollywood Fats Band, fronted by noted blues guitarist Michael “Hollywood Fats” Mann.
With a couple of good albums under their belt, the The Hollywood Blue Flames are set to release their third album. It, like their two previous albums, is being released on the Delta Groove label. The title of the album is Deep In America.
The release is actually two albums in one. The first is Deep In America. The second disc is Larger Than Life, Vol. 2. This is material gathered from the originating band, the Hollywood Fats Band.

The members of The Hollywood Blue Flames are Al Blake, Fred Kaplan, Kirk Fletcher, Richard Innes, Junior Watson and Larry Taylor. Richard is on drums and Fred plays piano. The guitar work on the album is shared by Junior and Kirk. Larry kicks in on bass. And Al does vocals, plays the harmonica and does a bit of the guitar work.

The album starts out with a great classic. It is Nit Wit and the band does a really good job with it, especially Al’s vocals.
Most of the songs on the album are original compositions. As is the second song, Rambler & Rollin’ Stone. It has terrific harmonica and piano emitting a tough blues base for Al to sing.

Crescent City Rock is a head bopping instrumental that has a tough guitar solo.

Most of us have peeked at the trash publications perched at supermarket check-out lines. I look at the headlines just to see how ridiculous they have gotten or to see whose publicist got their client the cover of one or more weekly publications. I know, that’s kind of jaded, but that’s the way I roll. Anyway, the album has a song that kind of deals with the subject matter. It’s called My National Enquirer Baby. The song is about a guy whose girl is a celebrity and their dirty laundry is front page, supermarket check-out stand news. She’s treating him badly but he just can’t let go.

Music Man is a classic blues styled song that features great harmonica and vocals by Al.

Leavin’ California is a Leon Redbone kind of blues with good guitar and piano.

Jalopy To Drive is a fun toe-tapper with rollicking piano. It also has some tough harmonica.

Bad Boy Blues is a moderate blues piece with nice guitar and harmonica.

I Don’t Care has some cool blues piano.

Rocky Mtn Blues continues the blues with good vocals, piano and a bit of awesome guitar playing.

Hip-Hoppin’ Toad gives Al a different vocal range; kind of a nasally thing. This one only has Al on vocals and guitar.

Hushpuppies is a piano instrumental from Fred.

Fly Like The Eagle, Cry Like The Dove is a too tough classic styled blues piece.

The album ends with He’s A Blues Man, a tribute to a dad who was a true blues man.

As for the second album, Larger Than Life, Vol. 2, it is full of original compositions and renditions of classic blues tunes.

She’s Dynamite is the first song on this second disc. It is a tasty blues tune about a hot and too fine woman.

Blue And Lonesome is a great piano laden blues tune.

The band then does a decent job with Freddie King’s Hide Away.

A lot of blues and jazz bands do Kansas City. This rendition is pretty good, although a bit more sedate than most versions that I’ve heard.

One of the original tunes is a light toe tapper called Half Steppin’.
Another original song is an earlier version of My National Enquirer Baby called Read About My Baby. It has some pretty tough guitar.

Then there is the Hollywood Fats Band version of Nit Wit.

The band does an excellent job with Robert Bruce’s Blues After Hours.

One more original song is a rollicking tune called Jumpin’ With Duncan.

And then there is a nice version of Peter Chatman’s Lonesome. There is some really good guitar by Hollywood Fats on this one.

The last original song is a slick toe tapper called Shake Your Boogie.

The final song is a decent rendition of Baby, Let’s Play House.

Deep In America is a terrific collection of classic blues tunes and original compositions that will help keep the blues tradition alive in today’s hectic music world.

The album was due to be released in early January. You should be able to pick up a copy through your favorite music retailer.

Check out the band and their music at www.hollywoodblueflames.com.