The Blues Brothers Albums (4)
'The Blues Brothers & Friends: Live from House of Blues'
Release Date 5/20/1997
Tracks 15
Label A&M
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Recorded as the Blues Brothers were preparing to film the sequel to their 1980 movie, Live from Chicago's House of Blues was designed as a way to get the group back into the spotlight, as well as a way to showcase the House of Blues chain. It performs both tasks admirably. The Blues Brothers -- which are now Dan Aykroyd, Jim Belushi and John Goodman -- have the smarts to hire a skilled, professional band that delivers these soul and blues perennials with ease. Even with the new members, the Blues Brothers remain limited vocally, but they have passion for the music, which makes Live from Chicago's House of Blues a thoroughly entertaining affair. ~ Thom Owens, All Music Guide
'Live at Montreux Casino'
Release Date 5/28/1990
Tracks 14
Label WEA International
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
After John Belushi's death in 1982, many assumed that they had heard the last of the Blues Brothers. While it seemed that way during the period immediately following Belushi's passing, by the end of the decade, most of the group (including such notables as Matt "Guitar" Murphy, Steve "The Colonel" Cropper, Donald "Duck" Dunn, Lou "Blue Lou" Marini, Tom "Bones" Malone, and Alan "Mr. Fabulous" Rubin) was raring to go once more. One major hurdle remained, however -- who would supply the vocals? With Belushi obviously out of the running, Dan Aykroyd decided for one reason or another not to partake when the group landed a one-off gig at the Montreux Casino on July 12, 1989. Hence, replacement frontmen were lined up -- Eddie Floyd (best known for the hit "Knock On Wood") and Larry Thurston (who previously was a vocalist in Matt "Guitar" Murphy's band). Additionally, a set list was compiled of such favorites as "Soul Man" and "Sweet Home Chicago," as well as a handful of tracks never performed before by the band. And while there's no denying the greatness of the players (anytime two original members of the legendary Booker T. & the MG's are present, how bad could it be?), the whole attraction of the Blues Brothers was having Belushi and Aykroyd doing their shtick at the front of the stage. Not horrible, but what's the point without Elwood and Jake? ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Like the Grateful Dead or the Minutemen, the Blues Brothers are a band that, regardless of their own quality, ultimately did more harm than good by influencing an endless stream of horrible imitations. This pet project of John Belushi and Dan Ackroyd featured top session players and had great taste in song selection, but Jake and Elwood also spawned thousands of terrible white R&B cover bands and made possible the soulless House of Blues franchise. Made in America is easily the band's weakest album; Briefcase Full of Blues has a sincere grit and energy, and Blues Brothers (Original Soundtrack) is filled with vibrant guest spots from ringers like Aretha Franklin and James Brown. On this third release, however, after the propulsive opening salvo of "Soul Finger" and "Who's Making Love" everything slows down and the highlights become thin. "Do You Love Me" is clumsy and "I Ain't Got You" is by the numbers. Most of the famous session players from the first two LPs remain as Jake and Elwood's crack back-up band. Bassist Donald "Duck" Dunn and guitarist Steve Cropper from Booker T. & the MG's are still the soul of the Blues Brothers, and Matt "Guitar" Murphy rips out a mean solo once in a while. Of course, this remains musical director Paul Schaffer's baby, so nothing gets too raw. "Who's Making Love" was the hit single, a rousing version of Johnnie Taylor's 1968 R&B smash that is as good as it gets musically on Made in America. As for the stars of the show, Ackroyd's stage raps are usually hilarious, a deadpan mix of jingoistic politics and junkie hep-talk, but Randy Newman's depressing torch song "Guilty" is harrowing in Belushi's hands, as the theme of self-destruction is all too appropriate for his life at the time. It's eerie to hear the audience cheer him on after a line like, "Got some whiskey from a bar/Got some cocaine from my friends)." Made in America was the last official Blues Brothers release before Belushi's 1982 death, but Ackroyd saw fit to resurrect the band fifteen years later with Jim Belushi and John Goodman vainly trying to fill the real Jake's big shoes. ~ Fred Beldin, All Music Guide
'Briefcase Full of Blues'
Release Date 1/1/1978
Tracks 12
Label Atlantic
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
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 humorless, however, and it wasn't long before they were leveling 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
