Music from the Blues Brothers 2000 Soundtrack
The soundtrack to the 1998 film Blues Brothers 2000 features a mix of classic blues, R&B, and soul tracks, as well as new songs written specifically for the movie.
Introduction
The Blues Brothers 2000 soundtrack album was released on February 17, 1998, by Atlantic Records. The album features songs recorded for the 1998 film Blues Brothers 2000, a sequel to the 1980 film The Blues Brothers. Like its predecessor, the soundtrack features rhythm and blues, soul, and blues songs performed by various artists. Several musicians who appeared in the original film reprised their roles for the sequel, including James Brown, Cab Calloway, and John Goodman. In addition to songs featured in the film, the album includes several tracks that were not included in the final cut.
The album received positive reviews from music critics. Many praised the performances of the various artists, as well as the variety of genres represented on the soundtrack. However, some criticized the length of the album and its lack of focus. The soundtrack was a commercial success, peaking at number one on the Billboard 200 chart and selling over three million copies in the United States. It was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media.
1.”Blues Brothers Intro” – 0:43
2.”She Caught the Katy” (Taj Mahal) – 4:07
3.”Peter Gunn Theme” ( Booker T. & The MGs) – 2:17
4.”Rawhide” (Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown) – 2:51
5.”634-5789 (Soulsville, U.S.A.)” (Wilson Pickett) – 3:00
6.”Everybody Needs Somebody to Love” (Solomon Burke) – 4:02
7.”Respect Yourself” (The Staples Singers) – 4:39
8.”Theme from Rawhide” (Booker T. & The MGs) – 1:52
9.”Green Onions” (Booker T. & The MGs) – 2:53
10.”Funky Nassau Part I & II” (The Beginning of The End) – 3:56
11.”Minnie the Moocher” (Cab Calloway) – 3:26
12.”Sweet Home Chicago” (Robert Johnson/arranged by Paul Shaffer) – 4:02
13.”Shemekia’s Gospel Intro / Who Are You? / John The Revelator / CC Rider / amen” – 11:51
The Movie
The Blues Brothers 2000 is a 1998 American musical comedy film that is a sequel to the 1980 film The Blues Brothers. Directed by John Landis, the film stars Dan Aykroyd and John Goodman, with cameos by numerous musicians. Steve Cropper, Matt “Guitar” Murphy, Junior Wells and Woody Harrelson also reappear from the original cast in smaller roles. Aykroyd and Goodman co-wrote the script with Landis and Donn Tatum. Universal Pictures released it on February 6, 1998.
Set eighteen years after the original film, Elwood Blues (Aykroyd) is paroled from prison after serving three years for contempt of court. Upon his release he reunites with “Joliet” Jake Blues (John Belushi) who is now a Buddhist monk living at a local church orphanage run by Sister Mary Stigmata (Kathleen Freeman), who was once their teacher at Catholic school. They learn that their childhood orphanage is set to be closed down by the state due to overdue property taxes owed by the church. To raise the money needed to save it they decide to put their old band back together and raise the money by staging a benefit concert. They are joined by new members: Cab Calloway as Curtis, John Lee Hooker as Muddy, Lou Rawls as Rawls, Wilson Pickett as Wilson and Paul Shaffer as impresario Be Be Smith.[1] The new band records a album of new material at Chicago’s Atlantic Recording Studios and stages several successful concerts leading up to their big gig at Louisiana super dome in New Orleans which raises more than enough money save the orphanage but not enough to pay back all of its debts for back taxes so having done all they can do The Blues Brothers quietly disband leaving Elwood driftless without something to do or someplace go once again until he finds out that his long lost Biological father William J. Broadbent II played by Aykroyd’s real life father Sam has died leaving him an old dilapidated blues club called Dude’s which he promptly decides to reopen giving him something to do with his time and place go everyday once again
The Music
The Blues Brothers 2000 Soundtrack features some of the biggest names in blues music. Artists like B.B. King, Aretha Franklin, and John Lee Hooker all make appearances on the album. The album also features blues covers of popular songs like “Gimme Some Lovin'” and “Everybody Needs Somebody to Love”.
The Blues Brothers
The Blues Brothers are an American blues and soul revivalist 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 in character as lead vocalist “Joliet” Jake Blues and harmonica player/vocalist Elwood Blues, fronted the band which was composed of well-known and respected musicians. The band’s first album, Briefcase Full of Blues, was released in 1978. The music has been featured in every subsequent installment of the Blues Brothers film franchise, including the 1980 sequel, The Blues Brothers 2000.
The Band
The Band was a Canadian-American rock group formed in Toronto, Ontario, in 1967. The original lineup included Robbie Robertson on lead guitar, Ronnie Hawkins on drums, Rick Danko on bass guitar, Garth Hudson on keyboard instruments, and Richard Manuel on lead vocals and piano. The band survived multiple personnel changes until 1980 when they disbanded for good.
The group was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1989, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994, and thejuno Awards Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2008, Rolling Stone magazine ranked them No. 50 on its list of the 100 greatest artists of all time. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked them No. 63 on its 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.
The Soundtrack
The Blues Brothers 2000 Soundtrack was released on February 6, 1998, by Atlantic Records. The album features music from the movie of the same name, which is a sequel to the 1980 film The Blues Brothers. The soundtrack was produced by Matt Murphy, Donald Duck Dunn, and Steve Cropper.
The Songs
There are many great songs on the soundtrack, but here are a few of our favorites.
“She Caught the Katy” – This classic blues song was written in 1922 by Taj Mahal and Jeb Stuart and has been covered by many artists over the years, including the Blues Brothers. The version on the soundtrack is performed by Taj Mahal and features vocals by Deborah Harry.
“634-5789 (Soulsville, U.S.A.)” – This soul classic was written by Eddie Floyd and Steve Cropper and originally recorded by Booker T. & The MG’s in 1966. The version on the soundtrack is performed by Booker T. & The MG’s with guest vocals from Sam Moore.
“Respect Yourself” – This 1971 R&B hit was written by Luther Ingram and Mack Rice and originally recorded by The Staple Singers. The version on the soundtrack is performed by The Soulsville Horns with guest vocals from Bootsy Collins.
“Gimme Some Lovin'” – This 1967 R&B hit was written by Steve Winwood, Spencer Davis, and Muff Winwood and originally recorded by Spencer Davis Group. The version on the soundtrack is performed by James Brown with guest vocals from Steve Winwood.
Conclusion
What a great album! The Blues Brothers 2000 Soundtrack is a perfect blend of old and new, with classic tracks from legends like Aretha Franklin and B.B. King mixed in with modern hits from artists like Paul Shaffer and Jonny Lang. There’s something for everyone on this album, and it’s sure to get you dancing. Whether you’re a fan of the original movie or not, this soundtrack is sure to please.
