Customer Reviews

Briefcase Full of Blues

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This album is superb for a party. The only bad thing about it is that it eventually ends, at which point you have a tough act to follow. Of course there's always the option of playing it again! Which seemed to be requested fairly often at our parties. The energy this album dumps into a party has to be seen to be believed.

Not often do you get the right group of people together at the right time and right place, but when you do, magic happens!!!

This recording captures that magic and is a joy to listen to over and over again! It's timeless as well! Just as fresh and fun to listen to today as it was 25 years ago!

Everyone involved with this took the music serious, but had fun at the same time, and the interaction with the audience is a testament to that!

A great R&B/Blues recording to add to any collection!

Shotgun Blues is still my favorite, but the whole recording groves me!

Okay, maybe you don't like the fact that these two guys started as a parody and then turned it into a moneymaker (I do like that). Maybe you think the original versions are better. (I don't). If nothing else, this is your chance to hear one of the greatest collections of professional musicians at the top of their game! I find myself wishing I had had the opportunity to see these guys in concert, because you won't find a tighter, better groove anywhere than the one these guys laid down.

Parody beginnings or not, Belushi and Akroyd took this music seriously and it shows in their knowledge of this music and in their soulful performances. This is one of the best collections of R&B you will ever find, performed by some of the guys that laid down the original tracks. You won't be disappointed.

I've had this thing for music for ages, but I'd never really thought about the blues until I saw the "Blues Brothers" movie. So after that, I was hooked, and I went out and bought this. All I can say is that these guys should be declared saints for doing what they have for blues and R&B. Anyone interested in learning more about blues, or who just likes blues, needs this album, because you can't have blues without the Blues Brothers.

Overrated? Shamefull? These people are the words of an extremely ignorant and deprived individual. I don't care if you don't think that the Blues Brothers weren't one of the best musical duos to graze the earth, but calling the dear, late Mr. Belushi shamefull and overrated is just plain wrong. John Belushi was one of the greatest comics of his time, no actually the greatest comic and if you can't see that well there's something very wrong. The Blues Brothers were one of the greatest rythym and blues bands, so what if they didn't write their music , they brought upon the best covers ever heard and exposed a new generation to the wonders of some of the greatest R&B songs ever written. To avoid making this rant the ramblings of a crazy person I will just say Briefcase full of blues is no doubt their best album and five stars just isn't a high enough rating for this record. I seriously suggest that if you enjoyed it find the album on vinyl, hearing it on vinyl gives a sound that you just can't get from a cd. . I hope my little rant has knocked a little sense into a few of you.

Who'd have BELIEVED a pair of white comedians would have wound up doing an album of R&B and Soul music THIS DAMN GOOD??? It started out as a joke on SNL, but with the aid of the best session players in the business (who at the time made up the SNL band!) BRIEFCASE FULL OF BLUES became a reality that outlasted the comedy that spawned it. EVERY song a classic, recorded live with style, class, POWER and panache-- MAN do I love the sound of a big band horn section doing "rock & roll"! I still remember at first not being sure about John Belushi's singing on this. Is he joking? Is he real? After a few plays it just didn't matter-- the recordings were just SOOOOO good! Of course "Soul Man" is the most well-known, but EVERY song here is a stand-out, with "B Movie Box Car Blues" one of my faves-- it builds and builds until it finally reaches that wild, explosive climax. WOW!!

I only wish the CD would have included "Excuse Moi Mon Chere", the "B" side of the "Soul Man" 45. What kind of oversight is that?

Like others have said, BRIEFCASE... introduced me to songs & artists I might never have heard otherwise, for which I remain grateful. Of the 6 (count 'em, 6!) albums to date by The Blues Brothers Band, this is my favorite. A VERY close follow-up is 1992's RED,WHITE AND BLUES, where the band proved they could make SENSATIONAL recordings even without Belushi. (Take it from me-- if you like this, RW&B will blow your mind!!!)

Hey "Blues Duke".....What have you ever done in your life? Calling Belushi "overrated" etc is a really courageous critique. At least they tried something and didn't sit jealously behind a keyboard and write meaningless drivel. Belushi was a genius. You, obviously, are not. Good luck with your hugely successful life.

The Blues Brothers were no joke, nor a gimmick. They WERE on a mission from god, and that is to keep the next generations connected to the Blues, or at least to know it exists. Elwood's (Dan Akroyd) prophecy about "the music we hear today" is just a re-programmed electronic music and the existence of Blues only in "the classical department of your local library" is not far from reality today (the prophecy is brought to you free of charge in track 1). So the two "brothers" took their blues (big) band (featuring Matt guitar Murphy, Blue Lue Marini, Alan Rubin and others), and recorded some easy-to-listen tracks, mostly covers to Blues, Soul & RNB classics like "Soul man", "Messin' with the kid", "I don't know" etc.
This CD features a great live performance with an excellent selection of songs. Each and every track gets its special treatment to make it "blues brothers style". Just listen to Willie Mabon's "I don't know" to know what I'm talking about.
I wouldn't want to use the whole 1000 words I have, so I'll just finish saying this is a 5 stars fun both for Blues fans (like myself) and for those who don't listen to the Blues on a regular basis. Enough. Just Buy this one!

I remeber listening to some of the songs on this album with my dad when i was really young, silly as hell, I love it :) I remember really liking "rubber biscuit" I dont own this album but I do want to buy it for nostalga....I couldnt really get into the movie, though I liked the massive car chase near the end :) If you have the money and the impulse to buy this album, do it! its cool man heheh

There are non words to describe this CD. It's maybe the best album recorded in the story! I love it, really! BUY IT!!!!