I am not sure which is conspiring to drive me crazier, all of the troubles on a microsocietal level (personal things) or on a macrosocietal level. Either way, it can be amusing to watch people try to swim against Einstein’s reasoning about insanity, that repeating the same action but expecting a different outcome being insanity itself. I remember back in high school just wanting to beat my head against the walls in my history/government/economics classrooms when people think that reverting to the “way things were in the past” would lead to better things than they actually did in the past. I am always dumbfounded by that belief. Oh well, I guess I need the J. Geils Band worse than I thought I did.
For those of you who don’t remember the J. Geils Band, during the 70s and into the early 80s, the band from Boston was America’s premier party band. I think the best way to describe them would be to take Springsteen’s E-Street Band and have them back arguably the second best front man, behind The Boss himself, and have them play the music the Blue Brothers wish they could play. The front man, Peter Wolf, couples Springsteen’s energy and belief in the saving power of rock ‘n’ roll with the between song patter of those classic radio DJs from the early Sixties. Unfortunately, their live performances were rarely translated in the studio. Yet, when the band did capture that onstage magic in the studio, they hit huge hits, much like when lightning struck the band in 1981 with their now-classic album Freeze-Frame.
Every time the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominates them, I always grapple with whether they are worthy of induction. But, after 48 hours of the news reporting the antics of our country’s fearless leader, along with the wild fire tragedies in Southern California, in addition to some things happening surrounding one of my aging parents makes me want to crank Geils. So, for the past hour, I have been having a Geils Band jam session in the music room and make mood is lightening and my blood pressure is falling. So, I believe the J. Geils Band is deserving of induction in the RRHOF.
Let’s take a look at My 25 Favorite J. Geils Band Songs, and tell me I’m wrong! I’ll be like Robert Conrad daring you to knock a Geils album off my shoulder (Remember those EverReady battery commercials in the Seventies where Conrad dare the audience to knock the battery off his shoulder? That’s me in this situation!). Any of my Beta Sigma Psi brothers can attest to the party success of Geils’ music. Here’s a party playlist for you youngins out there.
- “Whammer Jammer” (“Live” Full House, 1972)
- “Flamethrower” (Freeze-Frame, 1981)
- “Love Stinks” (Love Stinks, 1980)
- “Centerfold” (Freeze-Frame, 1981)
- “Must of Got Lost” (Nightmares…and Other Tales from the Vinyl Jungle, 1974)
- “(Ain’t Nothin’ but A) Houseparty” (Bloodshot, 1973)
- “Freeze-Frame” (Freeze-Frame, 1981)
- “Come Back” (Love Stinks, 1980)
- “Give It to Me” (Bloodshot, 1973)
- “One Last Kiss” (Sanctuary, 1978)
- “Till the Walls Come Tumblin’ Down” (Love Stinks, 1980)
- “Just Can’t Wait” (Love Stinks, 1980)
- “Looking for a Love” (The Morning After, 1971)
- “Detroit Breakdown” (Nightmares…and Other Tales from the Vinyl Jungle, 1974)
- “I Do” (Monkey Island, 1977)
- “Givin’ It All Up” (Nightmares…and Other Tales from the Vinyl Jungle, 1974)
- “Surrender” (Monkey Island, 1977)
- “First I Look at the Purse” (The J. Geils Band, 1970)
- “Raise Your Hand” (Blow Your Face Out, 1976)
- “Did You No Wrong” (Ladies Invited, 1973)
- “You’re the Only One” (Monkey Island, 1977)
- “Serves You Right to Suffer” (“Live” Full House, 1972)
- “Angel in Blue” (Freeze-Frame, 1981)
- “Where Did Our Love Go” (Blow Your Face Out, 1976)
- “Land of a Thousand Dances” (Showtime!, 1982)
Now that I’m in a better mood, maybe I am ready to start trolling some politicians out there. I am tired of pretending that I am someone that I’m not just to play nice. My cheeks are getting bruised and my neck’s sore from turning the other cheek. Even though I have always been a man of science, I have always been keenly interested in history/political science/government/economics. Looking back is for perspective, but you gotta look forward to win the race. I wonder why that advice was only used in track & field? Hmmmm.
If My Records Could Talk 