Music Deaths: Two Blues Greats

The Blues Music community recently lost two of their best, James Cotton and Lonnie Brooks.

JAMES COTTON, 81.  1935 to March 16, 2017.

LONNIE BROOKS, 83.  Died April 1, 2017.

Born in Louisiana, moved to Chicago in 1960.  He had a huge hit with Robert Johnson's "Sweet Home Chicago," later covered by the Blues Brothers.

Lonnie Brooks was one of my all-time favorite blues performers, but his two sons carry on the family tradition.

The Vatican Actually OKs "The Blues Brothers"

From the June 19th Chicago Tribune.

It took them long enough, thirty years, but in honor of the 30th anniversary of "The Blues Brothers"'s release, the Vatican has finally given its approval as "a Catholic film" to it.

The Vatican newspaper devoted a full page to the movie and had five additional articles about it. One of the articles said there "is no lack of evidence that 'The Blues Brothers' can be considered" an acceptable film.

"It notes that Jake's release from prison and then the commitment by him and Elwood to pit their blues revival band back together to raise money to save an orphanage from forced foreclosure has parallels with the biblical story of the prodigal son."

Their "Mission from God" symbolizes "redemption obtained with sacrifice." The film is sprinkled with Catholic and moral references such as the nun Sister Mary Stigmata whom they call "The Penguin."

Elwood even passes up a chance to spend a night with a woman in order to fulfill his mission.

"This is a memorable film," the newspaper said, "and judging by the facts, a Catholic one."

What took you so long to figure this out. That sequence with "The Penguin" was one of the funniest-ever.

The Blues Brothers, on a Mission to Make Us Laugh and Enjoy Some Truly Great Music. --RoadDog


No Pun Intended: Those who jump off a bridge in Paris are In-Seine.

30th Anniversary of the Blues Brothers-- Part 3

This June 20th marks the 30th anniversary of the opening of the Blues Brothers in screens across the US. As I said, it is my second most favorite all-time movie. It really was an ode to Chicago and Chicagoland and the music, especially soul and blues (like Tom Marker says on his WXRT Bluesbreakers Show, "Chicago, the World Capital of the Blues."


Some more questions. Answers Below:


6. Where did Jake "see the light?" This is where they got their mission from God.

7. Complete: "They're not going __ _____ __, we're on a mission from God."

8. Year and make of Elwood's car.

9. Strangely it had been used by who before Elwood got it. Bonus, what town sold it.

10. Elwood's home had a sign over the door that welcomed who?


And then, there was the great music. The soundtrack of "The Blues Brothers" is on my Ultimate CD Jukebox.


Life Before Computers: A mouse pad was where mice lived.




ANSWERS


6. Temple Rock Church

7. "to catch us"

8. 1974 Dodge sedan

9. police car. Bonus-- the Mount Prospect Police Department auction where they were practically giving them away.

10. Transients (kind of fitting)

30th Anniversary of the "Blues Brothers"-- Part 2

I am writing about this movie because it is my second all-time favorite movie.

Last night, I did get the old VHS tape out and watched part of the movie. Yesterday was its first public showing 30 years ago in a suburb of Chicago, Norridge. It opened nationally a few days later.

I wrote down some questions as I watched. Answers are below.

1. Why was Jake in prison?

2. How did Jake sign for his stuff when getting out of prison?

3. What did Jake do with the lighter after lighting his first freedom cigarette?

4. What name did they call the nun they went to see?

5. What was the name of the church James Brown was preaching in?

Love This Movie. --RoadDog


Life Before Computers: A CD was a bank account.




ANSWERS


1. He had gone there to cover for the band.


2. With the letter "X" He also leaned way over from the line he couldn't cross.


3. He threw it out the window and later told Elwood the car needed a lighter.


4. They called her "The Penguin."


5. Temple Rock.

30th Anniversary of the "Blues Brother"

There was a big article in today's Chicago Tribune about the 30th anniversary of my second favorite all-time movie, "Blues Brothers." It premiered this date 1980 at a small theater in Norridge so that the rest of the money that would have been spent on a gala premier was given to charities.

Not only was this the one of the best movies-ever (AND REALLY BETTER THAN "MACGRUBER"), but also, this marked the real beginning of the Chicago film industry in that since then so many movies have been filmed here.

And, of course, much of it was filmed here, including the beach scene in Wauconda along with he police car smash up by the US-12 Wauconda bypass. I remember driving by the car crash scene shortly afterwards and wondering why so many police cars were smashed up at the bottom of the overpass. The beach scene was filmed at Phil's Beach, right next to the place I spent so much time during high school summers, Honey Hill Beach.

Then, there was John Belushi, one of my favorite all-time actors. And, even better, that fantastic music!!!

I may just have to break out my VHS and watch it on the ol' VCR tonight.

It's Really More of a Mission. --RoadDog


Life before Computers: A web was a spider's home.