Sunday Blues

The Blues Brothers

Dan Aykroyd & John Belushi

Founded in 1978

"Joliet" Jake Blues (Belushi, Vocals) & Elwood Blues (Aykroyd, Harmonica)

Band itself, including Saturday Night Live studio musicians & outside musicians (Steve Cropper and Donald Dunn from Booker T. & the M.G.'s) -

Steve "The Colonel" Cropper*, Donald "Duck" Dunn, Matt "Guitar" Murphy, "Blue" Lou Marini, Tom "Bones" Malone, & Alan "Mr. Fabulous" Rubin

*Steve Cropper especially had an impact on Dan Aykroyd and the Blues Brothers, leaving a reflective message on his (Aykroyd's) official Twitter feed.

Noted members at times include Jim Belushi, John Goodman, and many more.

The Blues Brothers style took cue from John Lee Hooker's trademark Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses and soul patch.  They were also known for matching black suits, black pencil ties, and black trilby hats.

Genres considered - Blues, Rhythm & Blues, Soul, Blues Rock, Rock & Roll, Jump Blues, Country & Western

Debuted as musical guest on the April 22, 1978 episode of Saturday Night Live hosted by Steve Martin

(Origins)

The duo and full band opened for Steve Martin at the Universal Amphitheater (September 1978) and the Grateful Dead at Winterland Arena (New Year's  Eve 1978).

The duo gained further fame with the 1980 comedy film, The Blues Brothers.

When John Belushi passed in 1982, the Blues Brothers continued with a revolving door of guest singers and band members.  In 1998, the sequel film, Blues Brothers 2000, was released.

(Wikipedia)

The Blues Brothers have a lasting impact on modern then and now popular culture, not just in genre-spanning music.  On Sundays in this month of January, I will dive deeper into the cool classic brothers with highlights on their first album, soundtrack album, live albums, and iconic singles.

With that said, sing the blues as a soul man until then!

Set List Recommended - Pearl Bailey

Pearl Mae Bailey

March 29, 1918 - August 17, 1990

Highlights

American actress, singer, comedian, author

Toured the country with the USO in 1941

Broadway debut in St. Louis Woman in 1946

All-Black production of Hello Dolly! in 1968

This version of the production inspired producer David Merrick to take the musical to Broadway, playing to sold-out houses.

Sang the national anthem at Shea Stadium prior to Game 5 of the 1969 World Series (Baltimore Orioles v. New York Mets in the '69 season)

The Pearl Bailey Show - January - May 1971

Featured such guests as Lucille Ball, Bing Crosby, and Louis Armstrong

Sang the national anthem at Yankee Stadium prior to Game 1 of the 1981 World Series (New York Yankees v. Los Angeles Dodgers in the '81 season)

Degree in Theology from Georgetown University, 1985

Spokesperson for Duncan Hines

Appeared in commercials for Jell-O & Westinghouse

Books -

The Raw Pearl (1968)

Talking to Myself (1971)

Pearl's Kitchen (1973)

Hurry Up America and Spit (1976)

Duey's Tale (children's book, 1976)

Between You and Me (1989)

Esteemed honor -

- Appointed special ambassador to the United Nations by President Gerald Ford in 1975...Held this position under three presidents

- Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Ronald Reagan in 1988

In November 1952, Pearl Bailey married jazz drummer Louie Bellson.  The marriage lasted until her passing in 1990.  Pearl and Louie were an interracial couple and his father was opposed to the marriage based on race.

Pearl and Louis adopted a son, Tony in the mid-1950s (passed away in 2004).  They had a daughter, DeeDee Jean, in April 1960 (passed away in July 2009).  Louie Bellson passed away in February 2009.  

Performances

Discography

(Wikipedia)

Lick It Up

11th album

Released in 1983

Genres considered - Glam Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal

Over one million in sales in the U.S. alone

No. 10 in Guitar World's Top 10 Guitar Albums of 1983

1984 MTV Video Music Award Nomination

"All Hell's Breakin' Loose" video

"Lick It Up" is a live performance staple

Performed over 1,500 times as of December 2022

One of the band's top ten most played songs

Review Scores -

AllMusic - 3.5 Stars

Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal - 8/10

Encyclopedia of Popular Music - 2/5 Stars

The Rolling Stone Album Guide - 2/5 Stars

Track List -

Side One -

1.  Exciter

2.  Not for the Innocent

3.  Lick It Up

4.  Young and Wasted

5.  Gimme More

Side Two -

6.  All Hell's Breakin' Loose

7.  A Million to One

8.  Fits Like a Glove

9.  Dance All Over Your Face

10.  And on the 8th Day

Charts -

No. 24 on Billboard 200

No. 7 on UK Albums

No. 10 in Switzerland

No. 3 in Sweden

No. 24 in Spain

No. 7 in Norway

No. 15 in Japan

No. 5 in Iceland

No. 18 in Germany

No. 17 in France

No. 7 in Finland

No. 46 in Canada

No. 13 in Austria

No. 36 in Australia

Certifications -

Gold in Canada & Sweden

Platinum in the U.S.

(Wikipedia)

Kiss

Debut album

Released in February 1974

Despite the band's promotion, only 75,000 copies were sold after release and there was no released hit single from the album.

Included in Spin magazine's essential glam rock albums list (2003)

Best hard rock album of 1974 (Loudwire, 2024)

Noted a favorite by Gene Simmons & Ace Frehley

Review Scores -

AllMusic - 4.5/5 Stars

Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal - 7/10

The Encyclopedia of Popular Music - 3/5 Stars

Pitchfork - 8/10

The New Rolling Stone Album Guide - 2/5 Stars

Spin Alternative Record Guide - 6/10

Uncut - 5/5 Stars

Track List -

Side One -

1.  Strutter

2.  Nothin' to Lose

3.  Firehouse

4.  Cold Gin

5.  Let Me Know

Side Two -

1.  Kissin' Time

2.  Deuce

3.  Love Theme from Kiss

4.  100,000 Years

5.  Black Diamond

No. 87 on Billboard 200

No. 38 in New Zealand

No. 54 in Japan

No. 82 in Canada

Certified Gold in Canada & the U.S.

(Wikipedia)

Freaky Friday - KISS

Original Lineup : Left to Right

Peter Cross - Drums, Vocals

Ace Frehley - Lead Guitar, Vocals

Gene Simmons - Vocals, Bass

Paul Stanley - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar

The original lineup became a revolving door with Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley as the only consistent members.

Final lineup - Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Tommy Thayer (Lead guitar, Vocals), & Eric Singer (Drums, Vocals)

KISS was formed in 1973 in New York City.

Genres considered - Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Glam Metal

Known for face paint, stage costumes, & shock rock live performances...Fire breathing, smoking guitars, levitating drum kits, and pyrotechnics

Known for comic book-style characters - Stanley (Starchild), Simmons (Demon), Spaceman/Space Ace (Frehley), Catman (Criss)

Commercial success in the 1970s 

"Unmasked" era (without makeup and costumes) in the early 1980s brought a new generations of fans.

KISS nostalgia in the 1990s (with makeup and costumes) - the 1996-1997 reunion tour was the band's most successful, grossing $143.7 million

KISS retired after their final performance in New York City in December 2023.

One of the most influential rock bands of all time

One of the best-selling bands of all time

30 Gold albums - most of any band in the U.S.

14 Platinum albums

3 Multi-Platinum albums

The original lineup were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April 2014.

9th greatest metal band of all time, MTV

No. 10 on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock

No. 3 on Loudwire magazine's Best Metal and Hard Rock Live Band of All Time

No. 16 on Classic Rock magazine's The 50 Best Rock Bands of All Time

The KISS history is extensive and exhaustive to write here, so read more on Wikipedia.  By section -

Early Years (1971 - 1975)

Rise to Prominence (1975 - 1978)

Solo & Film Projects (1978)

Final Makeup Years (1979 - 1983)

Unmasking (1983 - 1996)

Reunion T0ur & Remasking (1996 - 2001)

Post-reunion (2001 - 2008)

Sonic Boom & Monster (2008 - 2012)

40th Anniversary, RRHOF, & International Collaboration (2013 - 2015)

Continued activities & Final Tour (2016 - 2023)

Aftermath/Death of Frehley 

Discography

Tours 

British Steel

6th album by Judas Priest

Released in April 1980 (CBS Records)

Released in May 1980 (Columbia Records)

Genre considered - Heavy metal

Track List -

Side One -

1.  Breaking the Law

2.  Rapid Fire

3.  Metal Gods

4.  Grinder

5.  United

Side Two -

6.  Living After Midnight

7.  You Don't Have to Be Old to Be Wise

8.  The Rage

9.  Steeler

Personnel -

Rob Halford - Vocals

K. K. Downing - Guitars

Glenn Tipton - Guitars

Ian Hill - Bass

Dave Holland - Drums

Charts (1980)

No. 34 on Billboard 200

No. 4 on UK Albums

No. 20 in Sweden

No. 69 in Japan

No. 45 in Canada

Charts (2010)

No. 5 on UK Rock & Metal Albums

No. 78 on UK Albums

No. 92 in Switzerland

No. 55 in Spain

No. 74 in Scotland

No. 4 in Greece

No. 59 in Germany

No. 46 in Finland

Certifications -

Gold in Sweden

Silver in the UK

Platinum in Canada & the U.S.

(Wikipedia)

Judas Priest

Meet Judas Priest

"Metal Gods"

Ian Hill (Bass)

Richie Faulkner

Replaced K. K. Downing

Rob Halford (Vocals)

Glenn Tipton (Guitar)

Scott Travis (Drums)

Replaced Dave Holland & Les Binks

Formed in Birmingham, England in 1969

Genre considered - Heavy Metal

Over 50 million albums sold

11 Top 30 albums in the UK

11 consecutive albums certified by the RIAA - Gold, Platinum, or higher

One of the greatest metal bands of all time

Considered a pioneer of the new wave of British heavy metal

Considered an influence on metal sub-genres, hard rock, and glam metal

Inaugural inductee into VH1 Rock Honors, 2006

5 Grammy Award Nominations

1 Grammy Award Win (Best Metal Performance, "Dissident Aggressor," 2010)

Kerrang! Awards 

Hall of Fame (2007)

Inspiration (2015)

7 Loudwire Music Award Nominations

1 Loudwire Music Award Win (Lemmy Lifetime Achievement Award, Rob Halford, 2017)

2 Metal Hammer Golden Gods Award Nominations

4 Metal Hammer Golden Gods Award Wins 

(Best Album/2005, Icons/2011, Best British Band/2018, Best Album/2024)

Sweden GAFFA Award Nomination 

(Best Foreign Band, 2019)

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 2022

via Award for Musical Excellence - not Performer category

Nominated in the Performer category in 2018, 2020, 2022

Greatest Metal Band of all time (by MTV, second to Black Sabbath)

Discography

Spanning 1974 to 2024

Tours

Spanning 1974 to a plan for 2026

Point of intrigue - Judas Priest has a large commercial base but has failed to achieve critical acclaim.  The Rolling Stone Album Guide passed on the band's albums early on.  Village Voice critic Robert Christgau refused critique altogether.  Christgau's Meltdown list consisted of artists he did not consider having any material worth listening to.  Judas Priest was on this list.

The history of Judas Priest, the revolving member door, album history, and overall background is extensive and exhaustive to write here.  Follow the link below.

(Wikipedia)

I am not familiar with Judas Priest beyond their name only.  I tend as far as Nirvana but forever stay close to jazz and rock genres.  If you are a fan, tell me why I should be.  A Set List task for the new year 2026.