Briefcase Full of Blues
Briefcase Full of Blues is the debut album by The Blues Brothers, released on November 28, 1978, by Atlantic Records. It was recorded live on September 9, 1978, at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, when the band opened for comedian Steve Martin. The album consists of covers of blues and soul songs from the 1950s to 1970s.
| Briefcase Full of Blues | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Live album by | ||||
| Released | November 28, 1978 | |||
| Recorded | September 9, 1978 | |||
| Venue | Universal Amphitheatre, Los Angeles | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 35:45 | |||
| Label | Atlantic | |||
| Producer | Bob Tischler | |||
| The Blues Brothers chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| Christgau's Record Guide | C+[3] |
| Rolling Stone | (favorable)[1] |
The album dislodged Billy Joel at #1 on the Billboard album chart and sold over two million US copies, going Double Platinum;[4] according to Blues Brothers member Dan Aykroyd, the album has sold 3.5 million copies in total.[5] It is among the highest-selling blues albums of all time.[5]
Three singles were released from the album: "Rubber Biscuit", which stalled at #37[6] on the Billboard Hot 100, "Soul Man", which reached #9 in Cash Box and #14 in Billboard, and "Hey Bartender", which did not chart at all.[7]
The album is dedicated to Curtis Salgado, the inspiration behind John Belushi's creation of the Blues Brothers characters.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Opening: I Can't Turn You Loose" | Otis Redding | Otis Redding (1965) | 1:50 |
| 2. | "Hey Bartender" | Dossie Terry | Floyd Dixon (1955) | 3:01 |
| 3. | "Messin' With The Kid" | Mel London | Junior Wells (1960) | 3:35 |
| 4. | "(I Got Everything I Need) Almost" | Don Walsh | Downchild Blues Band (1973) | 2:50 |
| 5. | "Rubber Biscuit" | The Chips (1956) | 2:57 | |
| 6. | "Shot Gun Blues" | Don Walsh | Downchild Blues Band (1973) | 5:23 |
| 7. | "Groove Me" | King Floyd | King Floyd (1970) | 3:46 |
| 8. | "I Don't Know" | Willie Mabon | Willie Mabon and His Combo (1952) | 4:14 |
| 9. | "Soul Man" | Sam & Dave (1967) | 3:28 | |
| 10. | "'B' Movie Box Car Blues" | Delbert McClinton | Delbert & Glen (1972) | 4:08 |
| 11. | "Flip, Flop and Fly" | Big Joe Turner (1955) | 3:38 | |
| 12. | "Closing: I Can't Turn You Loose" | Otis Redding | Otis Redding | 0:51 |
| Total length: | 39:41 | |||
Personnel
Partial credits from Richard Buskin.[8]
- "Joliet" Jake Blues (John Belushi) – lead vocals
- Elwood Blues (Dan Aykroyd) – backing vocals, harmonica, lead vocals on "Rubber Biscuit"
- Paul "The Shiv" Shaffer – Hammond organ, Wurlitzer electric piano, acoustic piano, backing vocals, musical director
- Steve "The Colonel" Cropper – guitar
- Matt "Guitar" Murphy – guitar
- Donald "Duck" Dunn – bass guitar
- Steve "Getdwa" Jordan – drums, backing vocals
- Lou "Blue Lou" Marini – tenor and alto saxophones, backing vocals
- Alan "Mr. Fabulous" Rubin – trumpet, backing vocals
- Tom "Triple Scale" Scott – tenor and alto saxophones, backing vocals
- Tom "Bones" Malone – tenor and baritone saxophones, trombone, trumpet, backing vocals
Charts
| Chart (1979) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[9] | 1 |
Singles
| Title | Date | Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Soul Man" | February 16, 1979 | US Billboard Hot 100[7] | 14 |
| "Rubber Biscuit" | April 6, 1979 | US Billboard Hot 100[6] | 37 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[10] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[11] | Gold | 100,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[4] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
- "Blues Brothers: Briefcase Full of Blues : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. 14 January 2010. Archived from the original on 14 January 2010.
- Briefcase Full of Blues at AllMusic
- Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: B". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved February 22, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- "American album certifications – The Blues Brothers – Briefcase Full of Blues". Recording Industry Association of America.
- Gatchet, Roger (18 May 2007). "Still on a Mission from God: interview with Dan Aykroyd". AustinSound. Archived from the original on 13 April 2010.
- "Blues Brothers Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
- "Blues Brothers Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
- Buskin, Richard. "Classic Tracks: The Blues Brothers 'Everybody Needs Somebody to Love;". SoundOnSound. Sound On Sound.
- "Blues Brothers Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
- "Canadian album certifications – The Blues Brothers – Briefcase Full of Blues". Music Canada.
- "British album certifications – The Blues Brothers – Briefcase Full of Blues". British Phonographic Industry.