Briefcase Full of Blues

Debut album

Released in November 1978

Genres considered - R&B, Jump Blues

Recorded live on September 9, 1978 at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles when the band opened for Steve Martin

Includes covers of blues and soul songs from the 1950s to 1970s

No. 1 on Billboard 200

Over 2 million copies sold in the U.S. alone

3.5 million copies sold in total (estimated by Dan Aykroyd)

One of the highest-selling blues albums of all time

Released singles -

"Rubber Biscuit" - No. 37 on Billboard Hot 100

"Soul Man" - No. 14 on Billboard Hot 100

"Hey Bartender" (did not chart)

Dedicated to Curtis Salgado - inspiration behind the Blues Brothers characters

Review Scores -

AllMusic - 4/5 stars

Christgau's Record Guide - C+

Music Week - 3/4 stars

Rolling Stone - favorable

Track List -

1.  I Can't Turn You Loose

2.  Hey Bartender

3.  Messin' With The Kid

4.  (I Got Everything I Need) Almost

5.  Rubber Biscuit

6.  Shot Gun Blues

7.  Groove Me

8.  I Don't Know

9.  Soul Man

10.  'B' Movie Box Car Blues

11.  Flip, Flop and Fly

12.  I Can't Turn You Loose

Personnel -

"Joliet" Jake Blues (John Belushi) - Lead vocals

Elwood Blues (Dan Aykroyd) - Backing vocals, Harmonica, Lead vocals on "Rubber Biscuit"

Paul "The Shiv" Shaffer - Musical Director

- Backing vocals, Organ, Electric piano, Acoustic piano

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 & Alto saxophones, Backing vocals

Alan "Mr. Fabulous" Rubin 

- Trumpet, Backing vocals

Tom "Triple Scale" Scott 

- Tenor & Alto saxophones, Backing vocals

Tom "Bones" Malone - Horn Arrangements

- Tenor & Baritone saxophones, Trombone, Trumpet, Backing vocals

Certifications -

Gold in the UK

Platinum in Canada

2x Platinum in the U.S.

(Wikipedia)