The Blues Brothers Briefcase Full of Blues LP (Blue Vinyl)

After their phenomenal success on Saturday Night Live and a number of smash comedy movies already in their resume, John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd dove headfirst into their love of soul, blues and R&B and began the Blues Brothers duo, netting them a number one album, top hit singles, a box office smash and acclaim from purists and blues lovers from all over with their first LP, Briefcase Full of Blues.

Recorded in 1978 at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles, the late great John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd opened a set before comedian and good friend Steve Martin. To the crowd's amazement, the duo blasted through a blistering rock 'n' blues performance which was captured on tape for their first album, Briefcase Full of Blues. They later appeared on SNL and the rest, as they say, is history.

Released during the holiday season, the album became a number one smash and netted two smash singles with the classic nod to the Stax sound with Sam & Dave's "Soul Man" as well as the '50s doo wop classic "Rubber Biscuit."

With a stellar musician lineup of classic R&B and traditional blues purists like Steve Cropper and Duck Dunn from Booker T. & The M.G.'s, Chess Records sideman, to the stars Matt "Guitar" Murphy, saxophone champion Tom Scott and a handful of New York City's finest on the reeds, rounded out with Paul Shafer on keys, The Blues Brothers were a force to reckon with as their albums would go on to sell in the millions, making them one of the biggest bands in the late seventies into the eighties.

With a stunning set list of righteous blues and soulful interpretations, this masterpiece is filled with non-stop classics like the hard-boppin' opener "Hey Bartender," blues belters like Junior Wells' "Messin' with the Kid" and Big Joe Turner's "Flip, Flop, & Fly," plus southern rockers like Delbert McClinton's "'B' Movie Box Car Blues."

In addition to these legendary performances, this unique concert recording yielded more with powerhouses like the smash "I Don't Know," King Floyd's "Groove Me," and the blues thriller "Shot Gun Blues."