Briefcase Full of Blues
{{More citations needed|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox album|
| name = Briefcase Full of Blues
| type = live
| artist = the Blues Brothers
| cover = BriefcaseFullofBlues.jpg
| alt =
| released = November 28, 1978
| recorded = September 9, 1978
| venue = Universal Amphitheatre, Los Angeles
| studio =
| genre = {{Flatlist|
}}
| length = 35:45
| label = Atlantic
| producer = Bob Tischler
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = The Blues Brothers: Music from the Soundtrack
| next_year = 1980
}}
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r2178/review|pure_url=no}}
| rev2 = Christgau's Record Guide
| rev2Score = C+{{cite book|last=Christgau|first=Robert|authorlink=Robert Christgau|year=1981|title=Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies|publisher=Ticknor & Fields|isbn=089919026X|chapter=Consumer Guide '70s: B|chapter-url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_chap.php?k=B&bk=70|accessdate=February 22, 2019|via=robertchristgau.com}}
| rev3 = Music Week
| rev3score = {{Rating|3|4}}{{cite magazine|date=March 24, 1979|title=Album Reviews: A Case of the Blues. Blues Brothers — "Briefcase Full of Blues"|magazine=Music Week|page=36|publisher=Pensord Press Ltd.|location=Gwent|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1979/Music-Week-1979-03-24.pdf#page=30|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520093118/https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1979/Music-Week-1979-03-24.pdf#page=30|archive-date=May 20, 2024|access-date=March 26, 2025|via=WorldRadioHistory.com}}
| rev4=Rolling Stone
| rev4Score=(favorable){{cite magazine|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/bluesbrothers/albums/album/92948/review/5942196/briefcase_full_of_blues|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100114161106/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/bluesbrothers/albums/album/92948/review/5942196/briefcase_full_of_blues|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 January 2010|title=Blues Brothers: Briefcase Full of Blues : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone|magazine=Rolling Stone |date=14 January 2010}}
| noprose = yes
}}
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;{{Certification Cite Ref|title=Briefcase Full of Blues|artist=The Blues Brothers|type=album|region=United States}} according to Blues Brothers member Dan Aykroyd, the album has sold 3.5 million copies in total.{{cite web| url=http://www.austinsound.net/author/roger-gatchet/page/2/| title=Still on a Mission from God: interview with Dan Aykroyd| first=Roger |last=Gatchet| date=18 May 2007| publisher=AustinSound |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413124119/http://www.austinsound.net/author/roger-gatchet/page/2/|archivedate=13 April 2010}} It is among the highest-selling blues albums of all time.
Three singles were released from the album: "Rubber Biscuit", which reached number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100, "Soul Man", which reached number 14, and "Hey Bartender", which did not chart.
The album is dedicated to Curtis Salgado, the inspiration behind John Belushi's creation of the Blues Brothers characters.
Track listing
{{track listing
| total_length = 39:41
| extra_column = Original Artist
| title1 = Opening: I Can't Turn You Loose
| writer1 = Otis Redding
| extra1 = Otis Redding (1965)
| length1 = 1:50
| title2 = Hey Bartender
| writer2 = Dossie Terry
| extra2 = Floyd Dixon (1955)
| length2 = 3:01
| title3 = Messin' With The Kid
| writer3 = Mel London
| extra3 = Junior Wells (1960)
| length3 = 3:35
| title4 = (I Got Everything I Need) Almost
| writer4 = Don Walsh
| extra4 = Downchild Blues Band (1973)
| length4 = 2:50
| title5 = Rubber Biscuit
| writer5 = {{hlist|Charles Johnson}}
| extra5 = The Chips (1956)
| length5 = 2:57
| title6 = Shot Gun Blues
| writer6 = Don Walsh
| extra6 = Downchild Blues Band (1973)
| length6 = 5:23
| title7 = Groove Me
| writer7 = King Floyd
| extra7 = King Floyd (1970)
| length7 = 3:46
| title8 = I Don't Know
| writer8 = Willie Mabon
| extra8 = Willie Mabon and His Combo (1952)
| length8 = 4:14
| title9 = Soul Man
| writer9 = {{hlist|Isaac Hayes|David Porter}}
| extra9 = Sam & Dave (1967)
| length9 = 3:28
| title10 = {{-'}}B' Movie Box Car Blues
| writer10 = Delbert McClinton
| extra10 = Delbert & Glen (1972)
| length10 = 4:08
| title11 = Flip, Flop and Fly
| writer11 = {{hlist|Jesse Stone|Big Joe Turner}}
| extra11 = Big Joe Turner (1955)
| length11 = 3:38
| title12 = Closing: I Can't Turn You Loose
| writer12 = Otis Redding
| extra12 = Otis Redding
| length12 = 0:51
}}
Personnel
Partial credits from Richard Buskin{{cite web |last1=Buskin |first1=Richard |title=Classic Tracks: The Blues Brothers 'Everybody Needs Somebody to Love; |url=https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/classic-tracks-blues-brothers-everybody-needs-somebody-love |website=SoundOnSound |publisher=Sound On Sound}} and the album's liner notes.{{cite AV media notes |title=Briefcase Full of Blues |author=The Blues Brothers |year=1978 |type=booklet |url=http://albumlinernotes.com/Briefcase_Full_Of_Blues.html|location=California}}
- "Joliet" Jake Blues (John Belushi) – lead vocals
- Elwood Blues (Dan Aykroyd) – backing vocals, harmonica, lead vocals on "Rubber Biscuit"
- Paul "The Shiv" Shaffer – backing vocals, Hammond organ, Wurlitzer electric piano, acoustic piano, musical director
- Steve "The Colonel" Cropper – guitar
- Matt "Guitar" Murphy – guitar
- Donald "Duck" Dunn – bass guitar
- Steve "Getdwa" Jordan – backing vocals, drums
- Lou "Blue Lou" Marini – tenor and alto saxophones, backing vocals
- Alan "Mr. Fabulous" Rubin – trumpet, backing vocals
- Tom "Triple Scale" Scott – tenor and alto saxophones, backing vocals
- Tom "Bones" Malone – tenor and baritone saxophones, trombone, trumpet, backing vocals, horn arrangements
;Production and technical staff
- Bob Tischler - producer, mix engineer
- Belinda Tischler - "assistant to the producer"
- Laila Nabulsi - production coordinator
- Warren Dewey - engineer
- Jay Krugman - assistant engineer
- Frank Sheiback, Bruce Spillman - crew
- David Alexander - album photography
- Judith Jacklin - "design and photo coloring"
;Venues
- "Recorded live at the Universal Amphitheater, L.A."
- "Record Plant, L.A." - remote recording, mixing location
Charts
| class="wikitable" |
| Chart (1979)
! Peak |
|---|
| {{album chart|Billboard200|1|artist=Blues Brothers|refname=BB2|accessdate=April 25, 2021}} |
=Singles=
| class="wikitable" |
| Title
! Date ! Chart ! Peak |
|---|
| "Soul Man"
| February 16, 1979 {{single chart|Billboardhot100|14|artist=Blues Brothers|refname=BB3|accessdate=April 25, 2021}} |
| "Rubber Biscuit"
| April 6, 1979 {{single chart|Billboardhot100|37|artist=Blues Brothers|refname=BB4|accessdate=April 25, 2021}} |
Certifications
{{certification Table Top}}
{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Canada|artist=The Blues Brothers|title=Briefcase Full of Blues|award=Platinum|certyear=1979|relyear=1978}}
{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United Kingdom|artist=The Blues Brothers|title=Briefcase Full of Blues|award=Gold|certyear=1989|relyear=1978|id=1087-197-2}}
{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United States|artist=The Blues Brothers|title=Briefcase Full of Blues|award=Platinum|number=2|certyear=1984|relyear=1978}}
{{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20081229162319/http://www.bluesbrotherscentral.com/albums.php?album_id=1 Album Information on Blues Brothers Central] (archive)
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20081007024814/http://www.fortunecity.com/tinpan/fitzgerald/12/bio.html Biography of the Blues Brothers from the album Briefcase Full of Blues]
{{The Blues Brothers}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:The Blues Brothers live albums
Category:Atlantic Records live albums