Briefcase Full of Blues

recommended (58 items)
list by Blue Rowlf

1. Opening: I Can't Turn You Loose
2. Hey Bartender
3. Messin' With The Kid
4. (I Got Every Thing I Need) Almost
5. Rubber Biscuit
6. Shot Gun Blues
7. Groove Me
8. I Don't Know
9. Soul Man Listen Listen
10. 'B' Movie Box Car Blues
11. Flip, Flop & Fly
12. Closing: I Can't Turn You Loose

Description: "The Blues Brothers" began as an affectionate joke-cum-tribute to R&B music, and taken in that spirit it retained its entertainment value, even after this live album topped the charts, sold two million copies, and produced hit singles in "Rubber Biscuit" and "Soul Man". The guardians of popular music have always been entirely too reverent and humourless, however, and it wasn't long before they were levelling charges of rip-off against the Brothers and complaining that John Belushi couldn't sing as well as Otis Redding. So what? No one seems to have noticed that Belushi was as obsessive about cit "The Blues Brothers" began as an affectionate joke-cum-tribute to R&B music, and taken in that spirit it retained its entertainment value, even after this live album topped the charts, sold two million copies, and produced hit singles in "Rubber Biscuit" and "Soul Man". The guardians of popular music have always been entirely too reverent and humourless, however, and it wasn't long before they were levelling charges of rip-off against the Brothers and complaining that John Belushi couldn't sing as well as Otis Redding. So what? No one seems to have noticed that Belushi was as obsessive about citing his sources as Frank Sinatra is about naming his arrangers -- you'd have thought those critics would have appreciated the footnotes. The beneficiaries of Belushi's encomiums didn't mind the increased exposure or the renewed royalty checks ("I suggest you buy as many blues albums as you can", Belushi told the audience), and even today, what comes across in these performances is the sincerity of feeling -- that and some tasty playing from a top-notch band. --William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide ... (more) (less)