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.
Floyd's Hotel
The J. Geils Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She had big rosy red hips
Really nice and round
She had juicy red lips
That really lay me down
She stuck me in a taxi
And drove me way cross town
She took me down
Down to Floyd's Hotel
She brought me down
Down to Floyd′s Hotel
They got a lotta cheap rooms
Always somethin' nice to sell
Smilin' Jim
He′s the cat that checks you in
Big fat smilin′ Jim
You know he signs you in
Don't ask where you′re goin'
He don′t care where you been
Oh, they're ′bout to get me, baby
They're about to hit me, too
Come on, Tarzan, howl
They got a fella there
They call him Tyrone
Fella hangs out in the hall
They call him Tyrone
Just give him five dollars
He can really turn you on
Check out
Everybody sing it now
C'mon down
Down to Floyd′s Hotel
C′mon down
Down to Floyd's Hotel
They got a lotta cheap rooms
Always somethin′ nice to sell
Take me with you, baby
The J. Geils Band's song "Floyd's Hotel" is a song about a woman who takes the singer to an enticing and exotic hotel known as Floyd's Hotel. The woman who takes him there is described as having big red hips and juicy red lips which suggests that she is very attractive. She takes him there in a taxi and after arriving, they meet Smilin’ Jim who is the person in charge of checking in the guests. Smiling Jim is a friendly character who does not ask any questions but just signs them in. The hotel has cheap rooms and they always have something nice to sell.
The singer seems to be in danger as he pleads for Tarzan to help him avoid a possible assault. Then there's a character they call Tyrone who is found in the hall of the hotel. He is available to provide services upon giving him five dollars which could refer to prostitution. In the end, the chorus beckons everyone to come down to Floyd's Hotel as they always got some cheap rooms and something nice to sell.
Line by Line Meaning
Let me tell ya ′bout it
The singer wants to share a story.
She had big rosy red hips
The woman had a curvaceous figure.
Really nice and round
Her shape was pleasing to the singer.
She had juicy red lips
The woman had full, desirable lips.
That really lay me down
Her appearance was so attractive it made the artist weak.
She stuck me in a taxi
The woman put the singer in a taxi.
And drove me way cross town
She took the singer on a long ride through town.
Guess where she took me?
The artist is asking the listener to guess where they went.
She took me down
The woman brought the artist to a location.
Down to Floyd's Hotel
The location they went to was Floyd's Hotel.
She brought me down
The woman escorted the singer to Floyd's Hotel.
They got a lotta cheap rooms
Floyd's Hotel has a lot of inexpensive accommodations.
Always somethin' nice to sell
The hotel has attractive options for guests.
Smilin' Jim
The person checking guests in is named Smilin' Jim.
He's the cat that checks you in
Smilin' Jim is responsible for registering guests.
Big fat smilin' Jim
Jim is a large, cheerful man.
You know he signs you in
Jim is the one who registers guests.
Don't ask where you're goin'
Jim doesn't care where guests are headed.
He don't care where you been
Jim isn't interested in knowing where guests have been before coming to the hotel.
Oh, they're 'bout to get me, baby
The artist feels in danger.
They're about to hit me, too
The artist thinks physical violence is imminent.
Come on, Tarzan, howl
The artist is encouraging someone to yell for help.
They got a fella there
There is a man present in the hotel.
They call him Tyrone
The man's name is Tyrone.
Fella hangs out in the hall
Tyrone spends time in the hallway of the hotel.
Just give him five dollars
Tyrone can be bribed with five dollars.
He can really turn you on
Tyrone can provide sexual services.
Check out
The artist is inviting someone to leave the hotel.
Everybody sing it now
The artist is prompting a group to sing together.
C'mon down
The singer is inviting the listener to join them somewhere.
C'mon down to Floyd's Hotel
The singer wants the listener to come to Floyd's Hotel with them.
They got a lotta cheap rooms
Floyd's Hotel has many economical lodging options.
Always somethin' nice to sell
The hotel has appealing merchandise to offer guests.
Take me with you, baby
The artist wants to go somewhere with their companion.
Writer(s): Peter Wolf, Seth Justman
Contributed by Vivian S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.