THE HOLLYWOOD BLUE FLAMES "DEEP IN AMERICA" Source: Muzink Reviews Date: 04/2010 Writer: Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck

The Hollywood Blue Flames are Kirk Fletcher (guitar), Al Blake (vocals, harmonica), Larry Taylor (bass), Richard Innes (drums), Fred Kaplan (piano), Junior Watson (guitar) and the late great Michael “Hollywood Fats” Mann (vocals, guitar).

Chances are if you love the blues like I do this new two disc set titled Deep In America will satisfy that appreciation tenfold.
Deep In America breaks down into two sections. The first disc opens the vaults and blows the dust off of tracks that have not seen the light of day yet covering the Hollywood Blue Flames era with support from six-string slingers Junior Watson and Kirk Fletcher. The problem I had with first disc is that every track was so good I did not know where to start! There are 14 tracks that would make any blues purist smile from ear to ear.

What makes the sound of this band are a number of factors however what I heard standout more than anything was the flavorful vocals of Al Blake and the steady roll of Fred Kaplan’s honky tonk inflected ivory tickling. “Hushpuppy” is an instrumental incursion into deep blues born in the Mississippi Delta. What a perfect example of what the blues should be. Every other track complete with vocals takes it all one step further. That toe tapping rhythm which is the essential backbone of every blues track is never missing anywhere amongst the 14 tracks. Perhaps the most fitting way to close out the first disc is a rollicking number called “He’s A Blues Man”. The blues personified…what more could one ask for?

The reliable flow and splendid technique of each band member make the first disc one of the best representations of real blues that I have heard in a long time. If that wasn’t a good enough kick in the pants disc two compiles 12 live tracks from various sources with Hollywood Fats displaying his talents on lead guitar. This serves as another example but one that gives you a snapshot in time and the evolution of a band’s sound presented on stage to an appreciative audience. As with any blues concert you will hear some well know genre standards such as “Kansas City” mixed in with the band’s original material. The live recording is good just lacking a bit in the finale production end of things but it still smokes and crackles with some red hot blues and dynamite guitar licks peeled off by Fats.

It seems The Hollywood Blues Flames have given us the best of both worlds on these two discs. Maybe they should have called this Deep In The Blues instead but then again if you are Deep In America then you are bound to hear the blues done right like this if you throw on this set or catch them live.