The Blues Brothers: Original Soundtrack Recording

Take two comedians with an interest in the blues, give them a backup band, a movie, and some creative license, and look at what comes out...

The songs go from the campy (Peter Gunn & Rawhide) to the dancable (Shake Your Tail Feathers) to the standard (Sweet Home Chicago & Minnie the Moocher). With a phenomenal backup band (The old Saturday Night Live orchestra) and some classic guest vocalists (Chaka Khan, James Brown and Ray Charles to name a few) it's a treat for the ears. Eleven songs pack both a variety and depth of fun music.

The only downside on the album is two missing songs. Some might expect Soul Man, which was perhaps Belushi & Akroyd's most famous tune. I personally missed John Lee Hooker's Boom Boom Boom Boom, my favorite song and artist from the movie.

That said, the CD is great for those looking for a smiling memory of the movie or a wide pop introduction to the blues. I'm generally not one to review too many CDs, but this one warrants a good...Read more

The soundtrack album to the 1980 movie "The Blues Brothers" is one of THE greatest soundtrack albums ever made. Like the original musical comedy film that inspired it, the music from beginning to end is a whole ton of fun. The Blues Brothers themselves---Dan Aykroyd & John Belushi as Jake & Elwood Blues---and their ace, eight-man backup band sound positively *smokin'* on such numbers as the cruisin' "She Caught The Katy," the rockin' version of "Gimme Some Lovin'," the infectious "Everybody Needs Somebody To Love," the jammin' "Sweet Home Chicago," and the old Elvis Presley classic "Jailhouse Rock." They also do a hilarious take on "The Theme From Rawhide" (keep them doggies rollin', Rawhide!), and the band serve up a terrific version of the "Peter Gunn Theme" that rivals the TV original. And who can say no to the album's all-star guest list: Ray Charles' soulful rave-up "Shake A Tail Feather," James Brown masterfully leading the congregation through the gospel classic, "The Old...Read more

Time has been kind to the original Blues Brothers film. Lambasted by critics, but embraced by SNL fans and R&B lovers. The musical comedy is one that I have never grown tired of, and I played out my original LP and CD to death. The remastered CD brought this music back to life.

It is a testament to the conviction of Jon Landis, and especially to Dan Ackroyd and John Belushi, that they were able to re-immortalize Blues, R&B and Soul legends Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Ray Charles, Cab Calloway and (on film only, unfortunately) John Lee Hooker, by introducing them to people who had no idea who they were, and reminding fans of the past how good these people were, and continued to be.

Aretha Franklin acknowledged she was grateful to them for re-vitalizing her career. It is a worthy testament. Every appearance by these greats is a show-stopping number, and for me a personal favorite of Jake & Elwood is Sweet Home Chicago, a nod to Blues legend Robert Johnson, who influenced so...Read more