Junior Wells Movies
- 2009
This instructional program teaches aspiring viewers how to play the blues style harmonica, with instructions on cross-harp technique, changing keys, bending, cupping, octaves, vibrato, and more. ~ Cammila Albertson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Junior Wells
Dan Aykroyd and John Landis teamed to script this sequel to The Blues Brothers (1980), which they also co-scripted. With Landis once again at the helm as director, Aykroyd re-creates his role of rhythm-and-blues man Elwood Blues, and the film's numerous R&B performances and production numbers include Aretha Franklin singing her classic "Respect". Released from prison after serving 18 years for the havoc depicted in the first film, Elwood learns that while he was serving time, his pal Jake Blues (John Belushi) has died, as did their hi-de-ho music mentor Curtis (Cab Calloway). Times have changed, but the blues beat goes on. Elwood visits Mother Mary Stigmata (Kathleen Freeman), who runs the orphanage where Elwood and Jake were raised, and she puts 10-year-old Buster (J. Evan Bonifant) in Elwood's care. Seeking a loan, Elwood visits Curtis' son, Cabel Chamberlain (Joe Morton), and Buster picks Cabel's pocket. Now, 18 years after the original "mission from God," Elwood attempts to reorganize the Blues Brothers Band, beginning with bartender Mighty Mack McTeer (John Goodman) as a replacement for Jake. With the Russian Mafia in hot pursuit, Elwood, Mack, and Buster head cross-country, locating band members as they travel pell-mell toward a scheduled battle of the bands in Louisiana where the Blues Brothers Band competes with the Lousiana Gator Boys Band (Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Bo Diddley, Dr. John, Travis Tritt, Steve Winwood, Clarence Clemmons, Isaac Hayes). Filmed in Toronto and Chicago, this movie reunited Aykroyd and Goodman, who were seen previously in the 1996 video, The Return of the Blues Brothers, a performance taped January 24, 1995 at the House of Blues in Los Angeles. Elsewhere, the Blues Brothers are kept alive in a half-dozen or so websites, such as the House of Blues, and live stage productions. In England, the stage show A Tribute to the Blues Brothers began in 1991. At the request of Aykroyd and Judy Belushi, the title of that production was changed to The Official Tribute to the Blues Brothers. With various cast members in the roles of Jake and Elwood (Con O'Neill, Warwick Evans, Brad Henshaw, Simon Foster), the show toured Britain throughout the 1990s. The "original Blues Brother" (who coached John Belushi and originated some of the blues raps used by Belushi) is Curtis Salgado (of the Robert Cray Band). One cast member of Blues Brothers 2000, bluesman Junior Wells, the last of the great Chicago harmonica players, died in January 1998, only days before the film was released. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dan Aykroyd, John Goodman, (more)
A live video shot at a 1982 New Jersey date by British blues icon John Mayall and his Bluesbreakers (which at the time included former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor), this concert turned out to be a summit meeting of some of the great names in blues when guitarists Albert King and Buddy Guy, harmonica player Junior Wells and singers Etta James and Sippie Wallace all showed up to sit in with the band. The result was a blues lover's dream show, with Albert, Buddy and Mick swapping fiery solos, Sippie and Etta wailing as only they can, and Junior adding his trademark harp attack. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- 1974
Muddy Waters, arguably the single most important artist in postwar electric blues, gets the royal treatment in this concert video, recorded during his appearance at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1974. Joining Waters for this gig are two other blues legends, Buddy Guy and Junior Wells, while Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young drummer Dallas Taylor add some big-name firepower by sitting in with Muddy's band. Songs include "Messin' With the Kid" and "Hoodoo Man Blues" (Junior Wells), "Ten Years Ago" and "When You See the Tears From My Eyes" (Buddy Guy), and "Mannish Boy" and ("Got My Mojo Workin') (Muddy Waters). ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, (more)
- 1972
- R
Chicago, IL, was arguably the single most important American city in the growth of post-war electric blues. The city played host to one of the nation's most important blues labels, Chess Records, and was home to a number of wildly influential musicians, including Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Willie Dixon, and Buddy Guy. Chicago Blues is a documentary which looks at the rich history of Chicago's blues scene, as well as examining the city's African-American community and the various economic and sociological factors which helped to give the music and its message a home in the Windy City. Chicago Blues includes performances by Muddy Waters ("Hoochie Coochie Man," "She's 19 Years Old"), Junior Wells ("My Little Girl"), Johnny Lewis ("Hobo Blues"), J.B. Hutto ("If You Should Change Your Mind"), and Buddy Guy (" "The First Time I Met the Blues"), as well as interviews with Dick Gregory and Willie Dixon. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Add Don't Start Me Talkin': The Junior Wells Story to QueueAdd Don't Start Me Talkin': The Junior Wells Story to top of Queue
A mercurial master of the blues harmonica, Junior Wells played alongside some of the true legends of Chicago Blues, including Muddy Waters and Buddy Guy, and was known world wide for his fiery stage presence, powerful harp work, and such classic tunes as "Messin' With The Kid", "Hoodoo Man Blues", "Snatch It Back and Hold It", "Little By Little", and many more. Don't Start Me Talkin': The Junior Wells Story is a documentary which combines live footage of Wells on stage with interviews with some of his best known friends, fans and collaborators, including Carlos Santana, B.B. King, John Lee Hooker, Dr. John, Jimmie Vaughn, Dan Aykroyd, and many more. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
