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Briefcase Full of Blues
Live album by
the Blues Brothers
ReleasedNovember 28, 1978
RecordedSeptember 9, 1978
VenueUniversal Amphitheatre, Los Angeles
Genre
Length35:45
LabelAtlantic
ProducerBob Tischler
The Blues Brothers chronology
Briefcase Full of Blues
(1978) 		The Blues Brothers: Music from the Soundtrack
(1980)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Christgau's Record GuideC+[3]
Rolling Stone(favorable)[1]

Briefcase Full of Blues is the debut album by the Blues Brothers, released on November 28, 1978, by Atlantic Records. It was recorded live on September 9, 1978, at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, when the band opened for comedian Steve Martin. The album consists of covers of blues and soul songs from the 1950s to 1970s.

The album hit number 1 on the Billboard album chart and sold over two million US copies, going double platinum;[4] according to Blues Brothers member Dan Aykroyd, the album has sold 3.5 million copies in total.[5] It is among the highest-selling blues albums of all time.[5]

Three singles were released from the album: "Rubber Biscuit", which reached number 37[6] on the Billboard Hot 100, "Soul Man", which reached number 14, and "Hey Bartender", which did not chart.[7]

The album is dedicated to Curtis Salgado, the inspiration behind John Belushi's creation of the Blues Brothers characters.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Original ArtistLength
1."Opening: I Can't Turn You Loose"Otis ReddingOtis Redding (1965)1:50
2."Hey Bartender"Dossie TerryFloyd Dixon (1955)3:01
3."Messin' With The Kid"Mel LondonJunior Wells (1960)3:35
4."(I Got Everything I Need) Almost"Don WalshDownchild Blues Band (1973)2:50
5."Rubber Biscuit"
The Chips (1956)2:57
6."Shot Gun Blues"Don WalshDownchild Blues Band (1973)5:23
7."Groove Me"King FloydKing Floyd (1970)3:46
8."I Don't Know"Willie MabonWillie Mabon and His Combo (1952)4:14
9."Soul Man"
Sam & Dave (1967)3:28
10."'B' Movie Box Car Blues"Delbert McClintonDelbert & Glen (1972)4:08
11."Flip, Flop and Fly"
Big Joe Turner (1955)3:38
12."Closing: I Can't Turn You Loose"Otis ReddingOtis Redding0:51
Total length:39:41

Personnel

Partial credits from Richard Buskin.[8]

Charts

Chart (1979) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[9] 1

Singles

Title Date Chart Peak
position
"Soul Man" February 16, 1979 US Billboard Hot 100[7] 14
"Rubber Biscuit" April 6, 1979 US Billboard Hot 100[6] 37

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[10] Platinum 100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[11] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[4] 2× Platinum 2,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b c "Blues Brothers: Briefcase Full of Blues : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. 14 January 2010. Archived from the original on 14 January 2010.
  2. ^ Briefcase Full of Blues at AllMusic
  3. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: B". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved February 22, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  4. ^ a b "American album certifications – The Blues Brothers – Briefcase Full of Blues". Recording Industry Association of America.
  5. ^ a b Gatchet, Roger (18 May 2007). "Still on a Mission from God: interview with Dan Aykroyd". AustinSound. Archived from the original on 13 April 2010.
  6. ^ a b "Blues Brothers Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Blues Brothers Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  8. ^ Buskin, Richard. "Classic Tracks: The Blues Brothers 'Everybody Needs Somebody to Love;". SoundOnSound. Sound On Sound.
  9. ^ "Blues Brothers Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  10. ^ "Canadian album certifications – The Blues Brothers – Briefcase Full of Blues". Music Canada.
  11. ^ "British album certifications – The Blues Brothers – Briefcase Full of Blues". British Phonographic Industry.

External links

The Blues Brothers
Authority control databases
Categories