“The J Geils Band?” we hear you say. “Weren’t they the ones that did that vile 1982 hit single ‘Centerfold’?” Yes they were, but ignore that and start at the beginning. Guitarist J Geils, along with bassist Danny Klein, drummer Stephen Bladd, harpist Magic Dick, organist Seth Justman and singer Peter Wolf formed the band at the tail-end of the ’60s and toured the States relentlessly with their greasy covers of obscure soul and R&B songs. Their first three albums all rock and feature covers of The Contours, Otis Rush, Dyke & The Blazers and The Showstoppers among many others. They also threw up some great originals – Gram Parsons was so impressed with ‘Cry One More Time’ he covered it on ‘GP’ and then there’s the Rock’N’RollSoul favourite, the stomping harmonica-crazed jam of ‘It Ain’t What You Do (It’s How You Do It!)’ which has prompted many a punter (once they’ve stopped dancing and wiped the sweat from their brow) to ask, “Who’s this, it’s as funky as fuck?!” And when they find out they say, “Weren’t they the ones that did that vile 1982 hit single ‘Centerfold’?” |
