Blues was big in Hollywood in the ‘50s. Dolphin’s of Hollywood was a legendary record store owned by John and Ruth Dolphin. They had a live DJ, Huggy Boy, at the window and at the microphone. He helped bring blues and low-down rock ‘n’ roll into the Los Angeles area with national blues stars from Louisiana, Texas and Tennessee, plus some of the biggest stars in the Los Angeles area. On this compilation (it contains 26 tracks, many previously unreleased), the blues is down to the bone; this is a real compilation of blues stylists and true blues legends. Though most record freaks already know about these blues stars, this great music is hereby made available on CD for the first time ever (with great liner notes by Billy Vera).

Being a retailer and record company at the same time, Dolphin’s of Hollywood could get a feel for the pulse of the market. This collection is a must for the serious blues fan, a treasure chest chock full of blues goodies. Get this and rock the house. Strong tunes: “All of Them,” “Baby Pat the Floor” by PeeWee Crayton (it makes Ready Teddy dance around the floor), “The Monkey Song” by Percy Mayfield, “Cadillac Funeral” by Peppermint Harris (it reminds me of my old car), “Big Family Blues” by Jimmy Witherspoon, “Never Know When A Woman Changes Her Mind” by Floyd Dixon and “Worried Life Blues” by Memphis Slim, plus great songs by Little Caesar (including “Cadillac Baby,” an old Roy Brown tune).