Blues Brothers: The Arc of Gratitude

By: Dan Aykroyd

Narrated by: Dan Aykroyd

Length: 1 hr and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

The sound. The suits. The sunglasses. The Blues Brothers have firmly cemented their place as pop-culture icons in the annals of entertainment history. But how did a band that debuted as a goofy sketch on Saturday Night Live in 1976 go on to have a hit movie and a number one record in the space of just four short years? Simple. They were “on a mission from God”.

Now, nearly 50 years later, Elwood Blues (aka Dan Aykroyd) is on another mission—to tell the full story of how two young actors went from blues lovers to Blues Brothers. In this fascinating audio documentary Aykroyd “gets the band back together”, taking listeners on a road trip through time—from late nights in the early days with John Belushi at Dan’s speakeasy in Toronto, to working with blues legends Aretha Franklin, James Brown, and Ray Charles on The Blues Brothers movie, through the founding of House of Blues, the Blues Brothers 2000 sequel, and beyond.

Along the way, Aykroyd is joined by band members, friends, filmmakers, and cohorts who witnessed the Blues Brothers’ birth and meteoric rise firsthand, including Jim Belushi, Paul Shaffer, Curtis Salgado, John Landis, Steve Jordan, and more. Also featuring conversations with the late Judy Belushi Pisano, and a previously unheard interview with John Belushi himself.

Thoughtful, entertaining, and endlessly illuminating, Blues Brothers: The Arc of Gratitude is a joyous celebration of the legendary band that kick-started a blues revival and launched a lasting legacy.

©2024 Applied Action Research Inc. (P)2024 Audible Originals, LLC

The book I did not know I needed!

I loved every second of this! What an amazing walk down memory lane and insight to the movie and music that forever changed my life.

outstanding

this is great review of the life and times of the Blues Brothers story plus the wonderful behind the scenes greatness of all of them

A Loving Tribute

Fantastic to hear the motivations behind the Blues Brothers and everyones recollections. Jim Belushis audience with James Brown was especially touching. I really appreciate Dan giving a peek behind the curtain. Kudos! If you are a fan I highly reccomend.

Fantastic

Who knew… the story couldn’t have been told by anyone but Dan it was brilliantly executed

All about the music!

I loved it all!!! Dan Aykroyd is a gift to the human experience! Thank you.

I had no idea what into the making of this iconic film!

Beautifully produced. I haven’t seen this film in a long time, but this audiobook brought back a lot of fond memories. If you enjoyed the movie, you’ll love this!

You had to be there

A little sad and a lotta fun, this listen has me itching to re-watch the Blues Brothers.
Especially in the first half, there’s a lot of name dropping for actors, musicians, and industry heavies.
Not being familiar with most of the names, it played like background noise. Once past the names, however, and once the movie hit theaters, the story picked up and it sung to my soul.

Outstanding in its honesty and humility

This brought back fond memories of SNL and the Blues Brothers and my nerdy group of friends who tried to imitate Jake and Elwood. Mr. Akroyd and his peers keep the focus on the music and the legends. Thank you for publishing this.

Yet another telling of Blues Brothers story

Just because this is yet another telling of the Blues brothers story doesn't necessarily mean that it's not worth a listen. It's true there was honestly not much new information most hadn't already heard, but the value in listening to this particular story was the set of people that were interviewed and got to tell the story from their mouth. Frank and the perspective of Dan Aykroyd It also includes Belushi's widow, his brother Jim, John Landis, along with many members of the band , old and new.

I would also venture to guess that if you're anything like me you'll probably listen to it in one shot I honestly just headed his background while I was working on a project and it was definitely entertaining.

Like the music they played, this is a gift

Dan Aykroyd does a great job with this wonderful book story of the music, the musicians, friends and family.
I had the rare gift of actually being an extra in the scene with aroid and Belushi filmed in New Orleans for their one Mardi Gras special. John Belushi treated his Yankee cap for my goal conquistador hat from a Mardi Gras costume for that scene. Eric Idol ended up bumping me out of my chair by mistake and Belushi came over saying loudly “oh you poor drunk, Mardi Gras tourist“ and then he bent down to help me get up off the ground and whispered into my ear “ Listen, you little sh*t,, I’m the one that does slapstick around here!“ How cool is it that!
Belushi came over after the scene was shot to get his Yankees baseball cap back from me. He was kind enough to sign my goal Lamay hat. It would’ve been a great keepsake, except it was stolen off my head at Pat O’s in the French Quarter.
I grew up listening to the blues and the blues Brothers brought it back live to me from what was scratchy old records that I listen to. Many thanks for taking the love and time of putting this together.