The Blues Brothers: The Best Music from the Soundtrack

The soundtrack to the 1980 film The Blues Brothers was released on June 20, 1980, by Atlantic Records. It features songs performed by the film’s fictional characters, the Blues Brothers Band, on their “mission from God”

The Movie

The Blues Brothers is considered by many as one of the best movies of all time. The movie was directed by John Landis and released in 1980. It stars John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd as “Joliet” Jake and Elwood Blues. The movie is set in the city of Chicago and is about the two brothers who try to save their old orphanage by raising money through a concert.

The Plot

Jake Blues, just out from prison, putting together his old band to save the Catholic orphanage in which they grew up. Meanwhile, a armed men make a deal with a TV host to frame Blues Brothers for a crime they didn’t commit.

The Characters

The Blues Brothers are a fictional rhythm and blues band founded in 1978 by comedy actors Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi as part of a musical sketch on Saturday Night Live. Belushi and Aykroyd, respectively, played lead vocalist/harmonica player Elwood Blues and bassist/singer Jake Blues. The band was intended to parody the musicians who had appeared on the show prior to their own appearance, including Steve Cropper, Paul Shaffer, Paul Butterfield, Booker T. & the M.G.’s, Sam & Dave and others.

In addition to Aykroyd and Belushi, the initial band included designers John Lee Hooker Jr. (vocals/guitar), Steve Cropper (guitar), Matt “Guitar” Murphy (guitar), Donald Duck Dunn (bass) and Alan Rubin (trumpet), with Aykroyd’s brother-in-law Tom Malone (trombone) soon replacing Rubin. Margaret Wheeler served as the band’s drummer during its active years from 1978 to 1980 and again from 1988 to 1991; she was replaced by Lou Marini (saxophone) during its 1980–1981 hiatus. The Blues Brothers first appeared on Saturday Night Live on January 17, 1976 in a sketch featuring Frank Oz as Muddy Waters where they performed “I’m a Man”.

The Music

It would be hard to overestimate the influence of the Blues Brothers movie and soundtrack on both music and film. The movie is a hilarious comedy, but it is the music that really makes it special. The soundtrack features some of the best blues, R&B, and soul performers of the late 20th century.

The Songs

The tracks were recorded mostly in one take with the musicians playing together in the studio. “Rubber Biscuit” was recorded in two takes; one with the band and one with Elwood on lead vocals. The tracks were recorded live with only a few overdubs. The album features two versions of “I Can’t Turn You Loose”; one sung by Belushi and one by Aykroyd.

“Theme from Rawhide” was performed by the Blues Brothers Band and featured on the soundtrack album, although it was not used in the film. It is an instrumental version of the theme song originally used for the Western television series Rawhide, which aired from 1959 to 1966.

“She Caught the Katy” is a cover of an old blues song originally performed by Taj Mahal. The version featured on the soundtrack album is sung by John Belushi and features Dan Aykroyd on harmonica.

“Everybody Needs Somebody to Love” is a cover of an old soul song originally performed by Solomon Burke. The version featured on the soundtrack album is sung by John Belushi and features Dan Aykroyd on background vocals.

“Gimme Some Lovin'” is a cover of an old soul song originally performed by Spencer Davis Group. The version featured on the soundtrack album is sung by John Belushi and features Dan Aykroyd on background vocals.

The Artists

The Music is a compilation album of songs recorded by The Blues Brothers. The album was released in 1998, and features tracks from the band’s 1980 film of the same name.

The album features tracks by well-known artists such as Ray Charles, James Brown, Cab Calloway, and Aretha Franklin. The Blues Brothers: The Best Music from the Soundtrack was well-received by critics, and peaked at number one on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

The Legacy

The Blues Brothers is a 1980 American musical comedy film directed by John Landis. The film’s soundtrack features several songs by rhythm and blues (R&B), soul, and blues artists. The Blues Brothers band was created for the film by former Saturday Night Live (SNL) musical performers Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi. The band became a real entity after the release of the film, touring throughout the 1980s and 1990s. The Blues Brothers have been credited with helping to revive interest in R&B and soul music. The film’s soundtrack was released on vinyl LP, cassette tape, 8-track cartridge, and Compact Disc in 1980.

The Impact

The influence of The Blues Brothers can be felt in many different aspects of popular culture. has inspired everything from fashion to catchphrases, and their music has been featured in countless movies and TV shows. The band’s popularity has only grown in the decades since their formation, and they remain one of the most beloved musical acts of all time.

Their legacy can be seen in fashion trends like battered denim and fedoras, which were popularized by the band’s signature style. The Blues Brothers also popularized many catchphrases that are now widely used, such as “We’re on a mission from God” and “I’m getting the band back together.”

The Blues Brothers’ music has been featured in many movies and TV shows over the years, including The Simpsons, Family Guy, Stranger Things, and Gilmore Girls. The band’s songs have also been used in commercials for products like Budweiser beer and KFC chicken.

The Blues Brothers continue to be one of the most iconic and influential bands in history, influencing everything from fashion to pop culture. Their music is timeless and their impact is still felt today.

The Cultural Significance

The Blues Brothers is a 1980 American musical action comedy film directed by John Landis. It stars John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd as “Joliet” Jake and Elwood Blues, characters developed from “The Blues Brothers” sketch on the NBC variety television series Saturday Night Live. The film’s screenplay was written by Aykroyd and Landis. It features musical numbers by rhythm and blues (R&B), soul, and blues singers James Brown, Cab Calloway, Ray Charles, and John Lee Hooker. The film is set in and around Chicago, Illinois, on a Saturday in May.

After the release of the film, the Blues Brothers band performed with a large number of well-known musicians. In contrast to the SNL sketch which featured mainly guest appearances by non-musical celebrities, the focus of the stage shows was on music. With songs written specifically for them by blues legend Willie Dixon,Jake and Elwood replaced Aykroyd’s original characters of “Beefsteak” Charlie and Muddy Waters Jr., respectively. The stage shows also featured Briefcase Full of Blues band members Matt “Guitar” Murphy, Steve Cropper, Donald “Duck” Dunn, Alan “Mr. Fabulous” Rubin (replacing Tom “Bones” Malone from the movie), Lou Marini Jr., Murphy Dunne (replacing Paul Shaffer from the movie) , plus various horn section members and female backup vocalists that were not in either the movie or SNL sketches such as Carolyn Brooks (a former Ikette), Bobby Murray (who also played guitar in James Brown’s band) and Alan Rubin’s then-wife Susan Tedeschi among others. The band’s first gig was opening for Steve Martin at Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles in October 1980; they continued to tour throughout the early 1980s