The J. Geils Band is a former American rock band founded in 1967. The band was active from 1967 to 1986, with brief revivals in 1999 and 2006. The band is named after singer and guitarist J. Geils.
The band started in the mid-60s in Worcester as an acoustic blues trio consisting of John Geils, Danny Klein and Richard Salwitz. This trio performed under the name Snoopy and the Sopwith Camels, while Geils was studying at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute. In 1967 the band changed its musical style. Drummer Stephen Jo Bladd and former disc jockey singer Peter Wolf joined. They called themselves the J. Geils Blues Band, but the word “blues” was soon dropped. The following year Seth Justman also joined the band. In 1970 the band signed a contract with Atlantic Records. While living in Boston, the band members considered Detroit their second home due to their enormous popularity there. All three of their live albums were recorded in Detroit.
The J. Geils Band first hit the radio with the live single "First I Look at the Purse". After that, they scored several hits, including a cover version of the Showstoppers' "Ain't Nothin' But a Houseparty" (1973) and "Musta Got Lost" (1974). Later in the seventies, the band signed a contract with EMI America Records.
After the initial commercial success, the band seemed to go downhill for a while, until they released Monkey Island in 1977, followed by Sanctuary in 1978. The group's success continued to grow in the 80s thanks to hits like Love Stinks and Freeze Frame. This album included the song "Centerfold", which stayed at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks. Centerfold was the band's only major hit in the United Kingdom.
Wolf, who was married to American actress Faye Dunaway from 1 August 1974 until their divorce in 1979, left the band in 1983 after disagreements with the other members. He was not replaced by a new band member. Instead, Seth Justman took over most of the vocals.
After contributing to the title track of the horror film Fright Night, the band decided to stop in 1986. However, reunion tours were held in 1999 and 2006. Wolf was also present during the 1999 tour. Geils occasionally performed. Besides that, he repaired sports cars in Massachusetts and owned KTR European Motorsports in Ayer.
Top 2000
In the 24th edition of the Top 2000, there are no longer any songs by The J. Geils Band.
Sunday Morning Classic
On the first day of 2023, we paid attention to the album Freeze Frame as Sunday Morning Classic. The album is the tenth studio album by The J. Geils Band.
If you had never heard of The J. Geils Band before the release of the album Love Stinks, you knew who they were after this great album was released. The album Love Stinks was released on 28 January 1980. The album quickly climbed the charts and reached number 18 in the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. Three singles were released from the album, starting with the rocking track titled "Come Back". However, it was the third single and title track of the album "Love Stinks" that helped ignite the J. Geils Band mania that would sweep the music world in the years to come. And who could ever forget that video with Peter Wolf singing the words "Love Stinks." in the mouth of a giant fish.
The song Freeze Frame is a nice starter. The atmosphere is immediately right to get going. Then comes the highlight of this album: Rage in the Cage. The accelerator pedal is now being pressed down further and further.
Source: Wikipedia and various sites Photo: public domain and Carl Lender CC BY-SA
Below you will find what we consider the best albums by The J. Geils Band. If you are looking for one of these albums or perhaps another album by this great band, please let us know. We are happy to search with you within our network.
