Briefcase Full of Blues by The Blues Brothers (Vinyl record album review)

Record basics

Album name: Briefcase Full of Blues

Group name: The Blues Brothers

Year: 1978

Number of discs: one

Label: Atlantic Records

Collection: Selman

Distinguishing characteristics:

Stamp on front: Promotional Copy / NOT FOR SALE

Ballpoint pen on front: DAN AKROYD (on Dan Akroyd’s face), JOHN BELUSHI (on John Belushi’s face), WAMU-AM (on Dan Akroyd)

Sticker on front: track list with ATLANTIC RECORDS and LICENSED FOR PROMOTION ONLY – SALE IS UNLAWFUL / Ownership and right to possession is reserved by Atlantic Recording Corporation

Written on both sides of LP: WAMU AM

Buy it on Amazon: $24.06

My review

Level of familiarity before listening

I watched the Blues Brothers movie a few times in my childhood, but didn’t know that this record existed.

What I expected

Blues and soul.

What it was actually like

This turned out to be a really enjoyable live record that consisted entirely of cover songs.

Rubber Biscuit was a doo wop song from the 1950s that I recognized, and it was a joke song, but kind of cute. I do have to wonder what kind of drugs someone would have to take to create a song like this.

Groove Me was another that I recognized, though this was kind of a reggae version, which I’m not sure was a good idea.

I also knew Soul Man, and it might have been the best on the record.

The intro and outro songs, Opening: I Can’t Turn You Loose and Closing: I Can’t Turn You Loose were both fast, with great bass lines, and Flip, Flop and Fly was even lively enough to be a reminder that blues is dance music.

Grade

5/5: love it