The band started as an acoustic blues trio in the mid 1960s with singer and guitarist J. Geils (born February 20, 1946; died April 10, 2017), bassist Danny Klein (Dr. Funk) and harpist Richard Salwitz (stage name Magic Dick). The band formed under the name Snoopy and the Sopwith Camels while Geils was attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute for a couple of semesters. In 1967 the band switched focus, starting to play electric guitar and bass and recruiting drummer Stephen Jo Bladd and fast-talking ex-disc jockey singer Peter Wolf, born Peter Blankenfeld, both from Boston. The following year Seth Justman joined as an organist, and the group signed to Atlantic Records in 1970.
The J. Geils Band first received FM radio airplay with the live single "First I Look at the Purse", then had several hit singles in the 1970s, the most successful of which was "Must Of Got Lost" (1974). Later in the 1970s, the band signed with EMI America Records.
The band had good success covering soul singles. Besides the well-known aforementioned "First I Look at the Purse" from The Contours, they covered the more obscure "I Do" from The Marvelows and "Ain't Nothing But a House Party" from The Showstoppers.
The group's commercial fortunes improved in the early 1980s, first with the humorous "Love Stinks", then with their great success with the Freeze Frame album which included "Centerfold" (#1 for six weeks on the Billboard Hot 100) and then the title cut (#4). Wolf left the group in 1983 for a solo career not long after, over disagreements about whether to continue to take the band in more of a popular direction, or continue with the purist tradition.
The band went on to record one more album of new material, You're Gettin' Even While I'm Gettin' Odd, after Wolf left. He was not replaced, and Seth Justman took over most of the vocal duties. The album produced only one single - "Concealed Weapons", a song about breasts - and was not a success. The band toured in support of the album, but never again recorded anything new. The group then disbanded in 1985 after contributing the title song to the 1985 horror film Fright Night.
The group was not reunited with Wolf until 1999, and subsequently broke up again when ticket sales proved extremely disappointing. Wolf continues to tour with his own backup band, and the rest of the Geils band makes occasional appearances. Since the semi-retirement of the band, Geils has been restoring sports cars in Massachusetts.
On 22 May 2006, the six original members had a surprise reunion, the first time they had all played together in over 20 years, at bassist Danny Klein's 60th birthday party at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston.
Since 2009 they are reunited once more.
The band disbanded in 2017 after the death of bandleader J. Geils.
Cruising For A Love
The J. Geils Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Somebody help me now
Somebody help me now
Somebody help me
Find my baby
Somebody help me
Find my baby right now
(CHORUS)
I`m looking for a love
I`m looking for a love
I`m looking here and there
I`m searching everywhere
I`m looking for a love
To call my own
Gonna get up in the morning
And rub my head
I`m looking for a love
To call my own
Fix my breakfast
And bring it to my bed
I`m looking for a love
To call my own
Do my love
Do it all the time
I`m looking for a love
To call my own
With lots of love and kisses
But people until then
I`m looking for a love
To call my own
(CHORUS)
Stay in my corner
All the way, yeah
I`m looking for a love
To call my own
Stick by me, baby
No matter what they say
I`m looking for a love
To call my own
I`ll give my love
To her all the time
I`m looking for a love
To call my own
Loving, kissing
People on the way
I`m looking for a love
To call my own
(CHORUS)
Somebody help me
To find my baby
I said I`ve got to find
My baby right now
I`m looking in the morning
I`m looking at night
Got to find my baby
But she`s nowhere in sight
Somebody help me
To find my baby
I said I`ve got to find
My baby right now
I`m looking in the morning
I`m looking at night
Got to find my baby
She`s nowhere in sight
I`m looking, I`m looking
I`m looking, I`m looking......
The J. Geils Band's "Looking for a Love" is an upbeat, soulful song about searching for love. The lyrics convey a sense of urgency as the singer pleads for somebody to help him find his baby. He is looking everywhere, morning and night, and is desperate to find someone to call his own.
The singer talks about doing everything for his love, from fixing breakfast to giving her lots of love and kisses. He promises to stay by her side no matter what everyone else says. Ultimately, he is looking for that special connection that will make his life complete.
The repeated chorus emphasizes the singer's desire for love and the importance it holds in his life. Despite the upbeat tone, there is an underlying sadness to the lyrics as the singer expresses his longing for a deep and meaningful connection.
Overall, "Looking for a Love" is a powerful song about the search for love and the way it can consume one's thoughts and emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
Somebody help me
The singer is asking for assistance
Somebody help me now
The singer is urgently requesting help
Somebody help me now
The singer is asking for immediate assistance
Somebody help me
The artist repeats their plea for assistance
Find my baby
The artist is looking for their romantic partner
Somebody help me
The singer is seeking aid in finding their partner
Find my baby right now
The singer needs to find their partner immediately
I'm looking for a love
The artist wants to find a romantic relationship
I'm looking here and there
The artist is searching in different places
I'm searching everywhere
The artist is looking in all possible locations
I'm looking for a love
To call my own
The singer wants a love interest that is exclusive to them
Gonna get up in the morning
And rub my head
The artist is describing their morning routine
I'm looking for a love
To call my own
The singer repeats their desire for a committed romantic relationship
Fix my breakfast
And bring it to my bed
The singer is describing how they want to be cared for by their partner
Do my love
Do it all the time
The singer wants to express their love and affection to their partner consistently
I'm looking for a love
To call my own
The artist repeats their desire for a committed romantic relationship
With lots of love and kisses
But people until then
The artist wants love and affection from their partner, but will settle for it from anyone else in the meantime
I'm looking for a love
To call my own
The singer repeats their desire for a committed romantic relationship
Stay in my corner
All the way, yeah
The singer wants their partner to support them and remain loyal
Stick by me, baby
No matter what they say
The artist wants their partner to remain with them despite any criticism or opposition
I'll give my love
To her all the time
The artist wants to express their love and affection to their partner consistently
I'm looking for a love
To call my own
The artist repeats their desire for a committed romantic relationship
Loving, kissing
People on the way
The singer desires love and affection from other people they meet, but still wants a committed partner
I'm looking for a love
To call my own
The artist repeats their desire for a committed romantic relationship
I said I've got to find
My baby right now
The singer reiterates the urgency of finding their partner
I'm looking in the morning
I'm looking at night
The singer is searching for their partner at all times of the day
Got to find my baby
But she's nowhere in sight
The singer cannot locate their partner
I'm looking, I'm looking
I'm looking, I'm looking......
The artist is still searching for their partner
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALEXANDER BENEDICT CHUAQUI, JOHN DONNELLY, KEVIN LYLE FYHN, JEFFREY GERMAIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mike Evans
can't get enough of that harmonica, good stuff
fidge54
One of the tightest live bands I ever saw
J. Greaney
2021 and Peter's still kickin and kickin it.
dntamu76
RIP J Geils.
MamaXPapaX
thank you so much for posting this great music
Carleton Candis
Best party band period
Chuck Wagon
This is how American blues is played!
sayyes2bull
perfect.
Josh Richard
Let’s take a walk on the wild side.
Peter Z
Thumbs up for Galaxia