6 replies to this topic

[Maury_Sline_Jr]

We know that Paul Shaffer wasn't in The Blues Brothers because of a contractual conflict with Saturday Night Live, but why wasn't the original BB drummer Steve Jordan in the movie and on the soundtrack??

Jordan was one of the original members and his absence from the film was never explained. He did resurface for the 1980 tour, which produced the final Blues Brothers album, Made In America.

Hopefully someone here knows why this great drummer didn't get to be in one of the greatest movies of all time.

[JolietJustin]

Well, I do know that he wouldn't be able to deliver the line "You got that money you owe us mutha f....." quite like Willie!

But, if that's not the reason (which it's not), I have no idea.

[Maury_Sline_Jr]

JolietJustin said:

Well, I do know that he wouldn't be able to deliver the line "You got that money you owe us mutha f....." quite like Willie!

Maybe not, but how do you definitely know??

Just kidding. I'm just wondering because the subject has never been covered anywhere to my knowledge. It's possible he too could have had other obligations, as he was a top session player.

Somebody out there's gotta know!

[SolomanDHBlues]

I'm so dumb. I met Willie Hall and I should have asked, "How come you're only in the movies and not on tour?" That would have answered this question, too, I bet.

[King_Bee]

from what I understand it's for the same reasons as Paul, still contracted to SNL,,,, I THINK :lol:

[ChAnOoD_bLuEs]

Maury_Sline_Jr said:

but why wasn't the original BB drummer Steve Jordan in the movie and on the soundtrack??

He was in the Soundtrack. Check the "Additional musicians": Drums: Steve Jordan, Arthur Dickson.

Also, Paul did some things with the background vocals on Everybody Needs Somebody To Love...

[Maury_Sline_Jr]

I had forgotten that Steve Jordan was in the Saturday Night Live band back then. They've always had top of the line musicians. Remember Lou Marini's sax solo from inside a sarcophagus during Steve Martin's song "King Tut?"

BTW, for some good reading, find a copy of the out-of-print Saturday Night: A Backstage History Of Saturday Night Live. The book was written in 1986 and only covers the first decade, but it's an excellent read.

There's a section in there that deals with the behind-the-scenes turmoil regarding Paul Shaffer being involved in a tug of war between Belushi, who'd left the show and wanted Paul to do the movie with him and Lorne Michaels and SNL.

Belushi was supposedly furious and said that Shaffer was out and would never be a Blues Brother again, but the two reconciled and Shaffer rejoined for the tour in support of the movie and the Made In America album.

I thought it was interesting that they kept Murphy Dunne for the tour - unusual to have two keyboardists. But he did appear in the movie, so I guess we got the best of both worlds when it came to the keyboards.