I watched one of my favorite movies over the weekend. I adore it as much for the celebration of music as the improbable story that’s centered on two of Saturday Night Live’s best male cast members.
It’s something I watch regularly and then pretty much forget about until the hankering starts to rise again. But as I was cleaning my desk out earlier today, one of the songs started playing on the radio station in my mind. That led me to think of another hit song and to wonder if they’re connected.
This version of “Boom Boom” is from blues legend John Lee Hooker’s 1992 album of the same name. The Blues Brothers included just a bit of the tune in a transitional scene; that movie was released in 1980. I don’t remember my parents owning any blues albums, but I could be wrong about that. Several other things contributed to the movie enchanting me immediately: my adoration of Chicago, based on flimsy memories of a train trip to it with my maternal grandfather; the fantastic music; the silly story and its great energy; Dan Aykroyd, Henry Gibson1, and Cab Calloway; and the fantastic music, which helped blot The Empire Strikes Back from my mind.2
The first time I saw The Blues Brothers, I probably confused “Boom Boom” with a 1973 hit by ZZ Top for a few seconds. The bluesy sound isn’t that similar, but the “how how how how” line is probably what brought “La Grange” to mind. The newer version of “Boom Boom” featured above is rather different from the movie snippet, but it’s over four minutes of beautiful blues.
Not knowing as a kid that the blues gave birth to rock & roll, for too many years I claimed not to like the blues, even as I was grooving to British and American bands that were heavily “borrowing” from Black blues musicians without crediting or paying them for their work. I was probably in my early 30s before I came to my senses and discovered that the blues includes some of the most joyful damn music ever created. Thinking back, it’s possible that The Blues Brothers planted that seed. Just what I need: another excuse to rewatch it more often.
I recognized him from Laugh-In, which was a must-watch for my family
I worked at our local mall’s main cinema that summer, and that damn movie was the only thing playing the whole time. For years, I could recite the entire movie because there was just no escaping it while at work.
On a mission from god….still one of my favorite movies. Such rollicking, goofy fun.
I love this album, JLH was legend.
Great choice!