Word: belushi
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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There really isn't a weak song on the rest of Side 1, either. "Messin' With the Kid" features some fine guitar work by Murphy and especially Steve Cropper, the legendary Memphis session man, producer, and mainstay of Booker T. and the MGs. Belushi smooths out his vocal delivery a bit in "Almost," and Tom Scott of the L.A. Express handles the sax break as the rest of the horn section punches away. Next comes Aykroyd's only solo number, a wonderfully obscure bit of nonsensical babbling called "Rubber Biscuit" which is, believe it or not, quite faithful...
SIDE 2 opens with an amusingly reggae-fied version of King Floyd's "Groove Me." Belushi does not do the most convincing Jamaican imitation in the world--he almost sounds Irish in some places--but the song succeeds nonetheless. "I Don't Know," which follows, is very funny and includes some extremely suggestive lines from Belushi ("Baby, you know when you bend over I see every bit of Christmas, and when you bend back I'm looking right into the new year."). On "Soul Man" Cropper delivers the same great riff he's been playing for years, and fellow...
...slipped into or between songs. Of course, the supposed saga of the Blues Brothers' road to the top, as told on the back cover, and the appearance and stage act of the band are intended to amuse. Some of the songs are in a light vein, as well. But Belushi and Aykroyd did not record Briefcase Full of Blues as a comedy album. Belushi is clearly out to prove that he is a singer, not just a comedian who sings a little. His performances here, along with his renditions of "Louie, Louie" and "Money" on the Animal House soundtrack...
Aykroyd, at least on record, plays second fiddle to Belushi, who first conceived the Blues Brothers act. Aykroyd's harmonica fills are never less than adequate, and are quite often strong. Unfortunately, they tend to get lost in the mix, marring the otherwise excellent production by Bob Tischler...
...beginning for the Brothers. A movie is rumored to be in the works, scripted by Aykroyd. If we are lucky, there will be more Blues Brothers albums to follow, perhaps (is this too much to hope for?) with the same superb band. Meanwhile, heed the words of John Belushi, a.k.a. Joliet Jake: "I suggest you buy as many blues albums...