An archival recording of the original Blues Brothers — John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd — performing live, The Lost Recordings, will arrive this October.
The release coincides with a new graphic novel, The Blues Brothers: The Escape of Joliet Jake, written by Aykroyd’s daughter Stella, Luke Pisano (son of Belushi’s widow, Judy Belushi Pisano), and filmmaker and writer James Werner. The album, pressed on “royal blue” vinyl, is only available as part of a package with the graphic novel. The release, available to preorder now, coincides with the 45th anniversary of the release of the movie The Blues Brothers.
Judy Belushi Pisano recently rediscovered the live album, which features 13 previously unreleased recordings. The musicians backing up “Joliet” Jake E. Blues and Elwood J. Blues (Belushi and Aykroyd, respectively) are the original band members, a who’s who of notable soul men and bluesmen: members of Booker T. and the M.G.’s, the Bar-Kays, Howlin’ Wolf’s band, and the Saturday Night Live band at the time, including Steve Cropper, Donald “Duck” Dunn, Matt Murphy, and Paul Shaffer. The set list includes songs that appeared on the group’s 1978 album, Briefcase Full of Blues.
Dan Aykroyd, who provided editorial oversight and wrote a foreword for the graphic novel, spoke highly of the comic, which Felipe Sobriero illustrated, in a statement. “In this wonderful form of printed artistic expression we get to continue the legend of Jake and Elwood and pass it forward in ways that film can’t,” he said. “This graphic novel keeps the spirit of the Blues Brothers alive; mischievous recidivists, musical outlaws who above everything care about the blues.”
The story in the graphic novel picks up 10 years after the events of the eponymous 1980 movie, as Joliet Jake disappears from prison under mysterious circumstances. Did he break out or was he kidnapped? A new group of people attempt to find out.
“The quest for the Briefcase, full of unearthed lyrics and music from the greats, is an honorable Grail,” Aykroyd said. “The Blues Brothers: The Escape of Joliet Jake is a passing of the legacy to the next generation, echoing the true heart of our original story — keeping alive what should not be forgotten.”
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In addition to the deluxe edition, which includes the vinyl, publisher Z2 Comics has also put together a “platinum edition” of the graphic novel, which includes a framed plaque signed by Aykroyd. It has also produced T-shirts with Sobriero’s art.
The Blues Brothers debuted on Saturday Night Live in a 1976 sketch, when they performed “I’m a King Bee” in bee outfits. Belushi and Aykroyd developed it further, wearing suits and sunglasses, on the show in 1978, and the novelty of seeing a couple of ultra-serious white guys deadpanning as blues aficionados became a hit. Briefcase Full of Blues came out that year and was a Number One hit on the Billboard 200.
The John Landis–directed movie, The Blues Brothers, was also a hit in 1980. Following Belushi’s death in 1982, Aykroyd regrouped the Blues Brothers with help from John Goodman for the 1998 movie, Blues Brothers 2000, also directed by Landis. The last Blues Brothers live album, 1997’s Blues Brothers and Friends: Live from Chicago’s House of Blues, featured John’s brother James Belushi alongside Aykroyd.
The Lost Album track list:
Side A
1. “Welcome”
2. “Flip, Flop & Fly”
3. “Hey Bartender”
4. “Messin’ With the Kid”
5. “(I Got Everything I Need) Almost”
6. “Rubber Biscuit”
7. “Shot Gun Blues”
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Side B
8. “I Don’t Know”
9. “Groove Me”
10. “Excusez Moi Mon Cherie”
11. “Soul Man”
12. “B Movie Box Car Blues”
13. “Green Onions”
