Show notes
ARE THEY FOR REAL?The Blues Brothers (Atlantic, 1978)Look what you get to do if you’re a monstrously famous and beloved comic performer: you get to live out your soul man fantasies, backed by some of the greatest living musicians. You get to sell 3.5 million copies of your vanity-project album, and then, parlay your karaoke delusion into a couple of hit movies. I saw John Belushi in Lemmings at the Village Gate in 1973, doing his immortal Joe Cocker impression in the Woodstock parody: “Woodshuck - Three days of peace, love, and death”. When he fell on the floor, convulsing and salivating, he captivated my imagination, and I fell in love. When SNL happened two years later, followed by his indelible turn in Animal House, Belushi became a star for the entire world. The Blues Brothers were first incarnated on SNL as a kind of joke, but Dan Ackroyd and John Belushi’s commitment and obvious love of Soul and Blues were undeniable. Musical Director Paul Shaeffer put together the most deluxe ensemble to sell the illusion, and the conceit scored. The boys couldn’t really sing like their idols, but it was a sleight of hand trick, bolstered by their unbridled zest and style. As I listen to JB’s croaking throughout this recording, I’m reminded of the super nova of his career that shot up and imploded like the Challenger rocket. The hit Blues Brothers movie of 1980, directed by John Landis, got packed with so many musical idols (Ray Charles and Aretha, etc) that the boys musical shortcomings were easily covered up, and their comedic acting skills were always the point anyway.For me, the most amazing cut on this album is Dan Ackroyd’s “Rubber Biscuit” , in which Elwood babbles like a psychedelic auctioneer with the most articulately rapid-fire mouth movements. That song was released as a single, and made it up to 37 on the Billboard chart. So, here’s my question: is this music? Is it comedy? Is it both? Is it real or is it Memorex? Tracklist:Opening: I Can't Turn You Loose | 1:17 | | Hey Bartender | 2:46 | | Messin' With The Kid | 2:46 | | (I Got Everything I Need) Almost | 2:36 | | Rubber Biscuit | 2:41 | | Shot Gun Blues | 5:13 | | Groove Me | 3:32 | | I Don't Know | 4:07 | | Soul Man | 2:54 | | "B" Movie Box Car Blues | 3:57 | | Flip, Flop & Fly | 3:35 | | Closing: I Can't Turn You Loose
