The Blues Brothers - Sweet Home Chicago (Official Audio)

The Blues Brothers - Sweet Home Chicago (Official Audio)
From 'The Blues Brothers: Original Soundtrack Recording' (1980)

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Jake had a vision. It was his, the only real one he'd ever had, and he clung to it. It had always been the blues. Even back in the Rock Island City orphanage (that sweaty kid factory) Jake and Elwood were saved by the music. Actually, saved by a gray-haired janitor everybody called Curtis. He wore sinister midnight shades, a narrow black tie and a porkpie hat that he kept pushed back on his head. Curtis wrapped his waxy brown hands around his guitar neck and played the most dangerous blues this side of Robert Johnson. The nuns scorched the brothers’ days with holy threats and Curtis rescued them by night. Down in the coolness of his basement he taught them the blues and set in motion their mission: to live the healing message of music.

Silent Elwood never did put more than two sentences together, but all those lost words burned from his Special 20 blues harp. And Joliet tore that voice from some hidden darkness, twisting his chubby body, snarling at the heavens, a born sinner. They used the basement because it was secret and because the echo gave them a nice dirty sound: Howlin’ Wolf and Little Walker, slapping like a bad dream around the chilly room. And then one night, Jake brought in a gleaming E string he said came from Elmore James’ guitar. He held it tight and as it glowed in the bulb light, Jake sliced Elwood’s middle finger and then his own. Now the solo boys with soul in their blood were brothers. Jake and Elwood Blues … the Blues Brothers.

The official Blues Brothers YouTube channel is here to continue the mission. Come here for everything Blues Brothers, from our classic albums to upcoming events and profiles of BB accomplices.

[TimACroninMusic]

The Blues Brothers was so much more than a movie. It was a showcase for some of the absolute best talent in the blues/funk/R&B world at the time. Not even mentioning the guest appearances in the movie, this band itself is a masterclass. Willie Hall on drums, Matt "Guitar" Murphy and Steve Cropper on guitars, Duck Dunn on bass, Lou Marini on saxophone, Tom Malone on trombone, Alan Rubin on trumpet, and George "Murphy" Dunne on keyboards. Beasts, all of them!

[b.richardsalas]

I drove from Los Angeles to Chicago in August of 2020. Played this song as soon as I saw the skyline. Amazing city.

[holdtightadele]

Can we all just appreciate how good a bassist Donald Dunn is.

[collettewhite]

986 people don't have a full tank of gas, any cigarettes and aren't wearing sunglasses in the dark.

[DiHeu]

I swear, those solos from each instrument gotta make this one of the greatest "jam" of history. Masterpiece.

[mikechristelow]

There are no bad versions of Sweet Home Chicago... but boy, this one is up there with the very very best ever ♫ ♪ ♥

[warrenash]

"We're on a mission from God!"

[alxrs]

When movies were gold... And this one will never die... You could watch It over and over again until 2050 and never get bored

[wlbwjln]

Ahh, the Good Ol’ Blues Brothers Boys 👍🏻 Pity they don’t make films like this anymnore.

[MegaShiva]

Blues Brothers fan through and through. NEVER get tired of the music!

[ldcraig]

I can't help but wonder what some of the great Swing Band artists of the 1940's would have thought of this arrangement. It's not swing, not quite blues, not quite boogie-woogie, but there's a compelling beat to it that's hard to ignore. The way each instrument is featured throughout the nearly eight-minute-long song rivals even that of Benny Goodman's "Sing, Sing, Sing." This is a great driving song.

[glorideefaithperez]

John Belushi was a good enough Blues singer to have done it professionally. He had a perfect voice for it, and the material they chose to cover was just brilliant and showed a deep knowledge of Blues and R&B. What began as a comedy wound up being one of the most important musical documents of the 20th Century!

[adeadebayo]

A Chicagoan here!! I’ve been in California for the last month for work and just feeling incredibly homesick 🙁. This just lifted my spirit. Blues brothers!!!👍

[Axeman]

The most massive of kudos has to go to Paul Schaeffer for putting this band together and working his magic. Absolutely brilliant.

[CamiKhaste]

I love how all the comments are so recent. Goes to show this stands the test of time. Truly unique.

[lesmills]

It was such a shame that we lost John Belushi so early, he was so talented...

Go and check out the albums they did as the Blues Brothers, such good music!!!

[joelmohr]

I Do Not Believe This Band Has Ever Gotten The Recognition For How Truly Great They Were.
This Was A Collection Of Some Very Good Musicians Who Checked Their Egos At The Door And Were Able To Put Together Some Of The Greatest Covers Of Some Classic Songs.
This Song Shows Each Musician's Talents In Different Solo Arrangements Through The Song And The Final 2:30 Minutes Bring All Of Their Talents Together In One Classic And Monumental Jam Session.
I Hope I Am Wrong But I Do Not Think We Will See Such A Collection Again In My Life-Time.
RIP To The Members Of The Good Ol' Blues Brothers Boys Band That Have Joined The Band In Rock-N-Roll Heaven....Cuz You Know They've Gotta Helluva Band.

[heavyd]

Still jammin in 2019!!!
RIP John Belushi and John classics.

[lance]

i went to a Chicago blues, jazz club in 1976, still hooked on Chicago blues and the big horns, this is one of the greatest blues, jazz songs i have ever heard.

[amygravelle]

I was a toddler when the original Blues Brothers skits were on SNL, but I love this music deep in my soul. Belushi and Ackroyd will forever be both music legends and comic geniuses.