The Hollywood Blue Flames

: Larger Than Life, Vol. 2

: Deep In America

When you spend 30 years together playing music you are not only defying the odds of continuity as a band but you are also honing your musical chops. Ladies and gentlemen, say hello to the Hollywood Blue Flames!

Blues traditionalists and aficionados will be very pleased as their new CD Deep In America delivers on all fronts. While listening to this disc on would swear that the band you hear originated from the home of the blues, the Mississippi Delta. Nope, not the case. These are California boys. It’s the music that has roots here in this writer’s beloved home state.

This is a two-disc set with the second disc by West Coast Blues legends The Hollywood Fats Band‘s Larger Than Life, Vol. 2 rounding out this musical package. Led by the late first rate guitarist Michael “Hollywood Fats” Mann and comprised of members Fred Kaplan – piano, Al Blake – vocals & harmonica, Richard Innes – drums, and Larry Taylor – bass “Larger Than Life Vol 2″ is loaded with performances that laid the foundation for modern day West Coast Blues. Some of the tunes on this disc are culled from live performances released on the band’s then label PBR.

This writer recommends “Nit Wit”, “Jalopy To Drive”, “He’s A Blues Man”, and “My National Enquirer Baby”, for your playlists from the HBF CD. From THFB this writer recommends for your playlists “She’s Dynamite”, “Half Steppin’”, and “Baby, Let’s Play House”.