Garage Sale Vinyl: The Blues Brothers
Briefcase Full of Blues / Atlantic Records / November 1978
by Christopher Long
From such glam and prog artists as David Bowie and Peter Gabriel, to heavier rock acts including Alice Cooper and KISS, I was inspired and influenced greatly as a pop culture-crazed teen by musicians who created and assumed unique and fascinating alter egos. As a result, when Saturday Night Live cast members John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd transitioned into “Joliet” Jake Blues and his brother Elwood Blues on a 1978 episode of the wildly popular sketch comedy show, I was ALL IN, straight out the gate. It remains one of my all-time favorite TV moments — still giving me a tingle every time I watch it, nearly 50 years later. And it ultimately would launch an unimaginable brand that would encompass not only TV, but also the record, movie, and nightclub industries.
The Blues Brothers concept was truly brilliant. The comedic genius of Belushi and Aykroyd was the irresistible bait that hooked their unsuspecting audience posthaste. But the band and the music were no joke. As a result, the nearly forgotten authentic tunes performed by such veteran players as R&B guitarist Steve Cropper and bassist Donald “Duck” Dunn, legendary blues guitarist Matt “Guitar” Murphy, and future Rolling Stones drummer Steve Jordan kept the audience reeled in from start to finish. The horn section of Lou “Blue Lou” Marini, Alan “Mr. Fabulous” Rubin, Tom Scott, and Tom “Bones” Malone was simply superb — smoke-flavored icing on the whisky-soaked cake. And it was all overseen by keyboardist and celebrated music director Paul Shaffer.
Following their extraordinary initial 1978 SNL performance, the Blues Brothers were soon opening for one of the biggest names in the entertainment world at the time — comedian Steve Martin. From their September 9 performance opening for Martin at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles came their debut album Briefcase Full of Blues. For music-hungry teenaged consumers like myself, kids who grew up on a steady diet consisting primarily of David Cassidy, The Carpenters, and Tony Orlando & Dawn, Briefcase Full of Blues was a bona fide game changer. The record also resonated with millions of others, as the 12-track live set soared to #1 on the Billboard chart and achieved multi-platinum-selling stats.
Any perceived novelty factor that may have been attached to the Blues Brothers dissipated (for most) within the record’s first four minutes and three seconds. Briefcase Full of Blues was the real deal — a real band consisting of “master bluesmen practicing their craft,” without the use of tracks or laptops. GASP!
Although the straight-legit version of the 1967 Sam & Dave classic “Soul Man” and the playful remake of the 1956 Chips single “Rubber Biscuit” were mighty chart busters, the album featured a slew of equally bright and memorable moments. The (now) iconic, Ottis Redding-penned intro and outro still give me chills. Heck, that piece of music performed by that band was so perfect that to this day, it makes me wanna cry — not just because it’s so freaking awesome, but also because it serves as such a vivid reminder of how much everything sucks now. Everything that is, except for Harry Styles, Dancing with the Stars, and binging near-endless episodes of House. Boy, that Cuddy sure can get a guy “chubby.” But I digress.
Additional album highlights include the funky, soulful “Hey Bartender” and the blistering harmonica-driven “Messin’ with the Kid.” And speaking of the “real deal,” anyone who can deny the qualified blues cred of “Shot Gun Blues” and “‘B’ Movie Box Car Blues” really needs to consider having that stick removed.
Fun fact — in the late ’80s, my hardcore band was performing at the same club where Matt “Guitar” Murphy was also scheduled to appear the next night, and he happened to be in town a night early, hanging out in the venue, and watching my band’s set. I passed Murphy while en route to the men’s room for a post-show pee. And I may have gone a bit super-fan. Opting to NOT go in for a hug, I merely went for a handshake. With noticeable disdain, he just kinda glared at me. “Crazy-ass white boy,” he snarled. I’ll treasure that magical moment forever.
Like so many others from my teenage record collection, my original vinyl copy of Briefcase Full of Blues vanished over the years. However, I would replace it years later on CD. Fortunately, a couple of years ago, I snatched up a clean vinyl copy at a Florida rummage sale for just three bucks. I’ve allowed it to reside at the GF’s. #CrazyAssWhiteBoy
(5/5) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Briefcase Full of Blues Track List
SIDE ONE
1. Opening: I Can’t Turn You Loose (O. Redding) – 1:17
2. Hey Bartender (F. Dickson) – 2:46
3. Messin’ with the Kid (M. London) – 2:46
4. (I Got Everything I Need) Almost (D. Walsh) – 2:36
5. Rubber Biscuit (C. Johnson) – 2:41
6. Shot Gun Blues ( D. Walsh / R. Walsh) – 5:13
SIDE TWO
1. Groove Me (K. Floyd) – 3:32
2. I Don’t Know (W. Mabon) – 4:07
3. Soul Man (D. Porter / I. Hayes) – 2:54
4. “B” Movie Box Car Blues (D. McClinton) – 3:57
5. Flip, Flop & Fly (C. Calhoun / L.W. Turner) – 3:35
6. Closing: I Can’t Turn You Loose (O. Redding) – :28
