R.I.P. J Geils

J Geils

2017 continues to suck as much as 2016 as another rock icon goes to the great gig in the sky. J Geils who’s band bears his name passed away today, aged 71, from what is believed to be natural causes. While the world best knows his band for the great hit, “Centerfold,” the J Geils band had a series of cool blues rock albums throughout the 1970s. The bands commercial breakthrough came in 1980 with the album that bears the title of my all time favourite J Geils band song, “Love Stinks.”

The J Geils Band

Another sad day for rock, all we can say is rest in peace, J Geils. I have always wanted to delve more into their earlier stuff, so that’s what I’ll do to pay my respects.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great Rock Albums of 1981: Foreigner- 4

Foreigner’s fourth album has sparked a lot of debate among hard rockers. It has been said that this was where they shifted from their harder rock sound to a more commercial soft sound. The catalyst for this debate was the fact that in 1981, Foreigner’s ballad from “4” made it into the top ten. I remember my African American comrades in arms listening to this song along with their European American counterparts. “Waiting For a Girl Like You” was their biggest hit to date, even going to number one in several countries. In fact, that evening in April 1982, when I was in Israel, the song was the next one above “Centerfold” and if my mind is right on this, “Waiting For a Girl Like You” would have been number 4 in the Israeli pop charts.

So, it is fair to say that Foreigner sold out with this album? I have to say a sincere “NO!” on this one. The very first track, “Night Life” is a right hard rock awakener the way a good opening album track should be. Then there’s my favourite track on the album, “Juke Box Hero.” I love the fact that when Lou Gramm sings “that one guitar,” a guitar power chord kicks in immediately after, nice. The other top forty track on the album “Urgent” is not an abandonment from their hard rock roots. The very first time I heard it, I admit I was a little put off by the sax solo until I remember that my favourite song off the “Double Vision” album has one. What truly confirms to me that this album is a true rocker is the last four songs on the album. All of them good rock tunes and I particularly love the intro on “Woman in Black.” So no, the one ballad on this album doesn’t detract from the hard rock sound that made Foreigner an icon in the late 70s.

Track Listing:

1. Night Life

2. Juke Box Hero

3. Break It Up

4. Waiting For a Girl Like You

5. Luanne

6. Urgent

7. I’m Gonna Win

8. Woman In Black

9. Girl On the Moon

10. Don’t Let Go

Foreigner

Lou Gramm- lead vocals, percussion

Mick Jones- lead, guitar, keyboards, backing vocals

Rick Wills- bass, backing vocals

Dennis Elliot- drums, backing vocals

Additional Musicians

Mark Rivera- saxophone on “Urgent” (except solo)

Junior Walker- sax solo

I think that the problem Foreigner had with getting a ballad to number one in the pop charts manifested itself after this album. Like so many bands who achieved the same in the early 80s, they thought they had to keep making chart ballads from then on. I’ll go more into that in due course but right now, let’s enjoy a fine album from Foreigner. “4” is arguably their best album and it’s easy to see why.

Next post: Loverboy

To buy Rock And Roll Children, go to http://www.strategicpublishginggroup.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html

Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London

 

 

 

 

 

Great Rock Albums of 1981: J Geils Band- Freeze Frame

 

In the UK, The J. Geils Band are considered one hit wonders and “Freeze Frame” is the album which produced the one hit that they are known for. “Centerfold” was a humungous hit for them, not just in the US or UK, but throughout most of the world. I was in Israel in April of 1982 and it was in the top ten charts there. I think it was number five. The truth is that they are definitely not one hit wonders in the US. Not only was “Love Stinks” a big hit for them in 1980 but this very 1981 album produced some other hits as well.

As all of us know by now, it doesn’t take a couple of top 40 hits to make a good album and “Freeze Frame” has plenty of good material on it. I love the organ intro in the title track, which is the very first song on the album and there is some catchy keyboard melodies with “Flamethrower.” Both are really good songs and I like the Devo like sound with “Rage in the Cage.” A similar new wave sound is heard quite pleasingly on “Insane, Insane Again.” However, they don’t totally abandon their blues rock sound from the 70s. “Angel in Blue” is very reminiscent of that sound and has another memory for me. It wasn’t Twinkles at the Driftwood but another dancer at another similar type go-go bar. My memory is foggy, I will blame it on too much beer that night, but I think it was a bar called The Other Place. The dancer, who was dressed in blue, moved along to this song in a very hypnotic way. Even though this was the first time I heard this song in many years, that memory of the dancer’s movements to this song is etched in my brain. Still, it’s a fantastic song and the album ends with the very cool and amusing “Piss On the Wall.”

Track Listing:

1. Freeze Frame

2. Rage in the Cage

3. Centerfold

4. Do You Remember When

5. Insane, Insane Again

6. Flamethrower

7. River Blindness

8. Angel in Blue

10. Piss On the Wall

The J Geils Band

Peter Wolf- vocals

J. Geils- guitar

Seth Justman- keyboards

Danny Klein- bass

Magic Dick- harmonica, trumpet, saxophone

Stephen Bladd- drums

It’s a shame that the J. Geils Band only had the one hit in the UK when they had so many great records in the US. “Freeze Frame” itself has so many great songs on it alone. So, I hope my British readers will take my word for it and check this album out for themselves. In spite of all that I have said here, The J. Geils band aren’t my choice for the best American act not to crack the UK. After all, they did have one hit. That one is still yet to come.

Next post: Foreigner 4

To buy Rock And Roll Children, go to http://www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html

Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London