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.
Do You Remember When
The J. Geils Band Lyrics
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I overheard now my heart feels the pain
I though that I would get over you with time
But here are again you're back in my mind
Time moves slowly since you've gone
away (Tick-tock Tick-tock)
Life moves slowly since you've gone
away (Tick-tock Tick-tock)
Do you - Do you remember when
Our hearts - Our hearts were together then
You're gone - We're out on our own again
My love - Do you remember when
I walk the room where we both used to sit
I walk the room and I refuse to admit
That I'm all alone and our love's been left behind
And now, once again, you are back in my mind
Life's so empty since you've gone
away (Tick-tock Tick-tock)
I'm so empty since you've gone
away (Tick-tock Tick-tock)
Chorus
You're gone
You're gone
You're gone
In The J. Geils Band's song Do You Remember When, the lyrics tell the story of a heartbroken individual who cannot seem to forget about a past love. The song opens with the singer overhearing someone mention the name of their former lover. This unexpected reminder causes their heart to ache, bringing to mind the pain of their heartbreak.
The singer reflects on the slow passage of time since the break-up as they struggle to move on. They describe the emptiness they feel, both in their life and in their heart, since their love has left. As they walk around the rooms that they once shared with their former partner, they struggle to come to terms with the fact that they are alone and that their love has been left behind. The song's chorus asks the former lover if they can remember when their hearts were together and intimates the hope that they might one day be reunited.
Overall, the song's lyrics are a poignant meditation on the pain of heartbreak and the struggles of moving on. The slow passage of time and the singer's constant reminders of their former love serve as a reminder of the lasting impact that love can have on our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
I overheard someone mention your name
I heard someone mention your name and it reminded me of you
I overheard now my heart feels the pain
Hearing your name brought back memories that are now causing me pain
I thought that I would get over you with time
I believed that time would heal the pain of losing you
But here are again you're back in my mind
Despite my efforts to move on, you continue to occupy my thoughts
Time moves slowly since you've gone away (Tick-tock Tick-tock)
The passing of time feels slow and agonizing without you in my life
Life moves slowly since you've gone away (Tick-tock Tick-tock)
Every aspect of my life feels slower and more difficult without you here
Chorus
Reflecting on our past together and the painful reality that you're gone
Do you - Do you remember when
Do you recall the time when we were together
Our hearts - Our hearts were together then
We shared a deep connection and intimacy
You're gone - We're out on our own again
Now that you're gone, we are left to navigate life on our own
My love - Do you remember when
My endearment for you remains, do you remember how we felt
I walk the room where we both used to sit
I revisit the places where we spent time together
I walk the room and I refuse to admit
I struggle to accept that our love and connection is now gone
That I'm all alone and our love's been left behind
The pain of being alone is heightened by the absence of the love we once shared
And now, once again, you are back in my mind
Despite trying to move on, thoughts of you continue to resurface
Life's so empty since you've gone away (Tick-tock Tick-tock)
The absence of you in my life has left me feeling empty and lost
I'm so empty since you've gone away (Tick-tock Tick-tock)
I am consumed by feelings of emptiness without you
You're gone
The painful reality that you are no longer here with me
You're gone
Reiterating the profound loss I feel with your absence
You're gone
The gut-wrenching feeling of being left behind when you're gone
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: PETER WOLF, SETH JUSTMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind