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.
Intro:
The J. Geils Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In an age where not everyone can speak up for themselves
Its up to the bigger voices to speak up and get the message across,
Loud and Clear
This world needs a voice
And we never backdown to a challenge
Sage
The lyrics to The J. Geils Band's song "Intro" are an ode to the power of speaking up and having a voice in a world where not everyone is able to do so. The use of the word "sage" in the opening line is particularly significant as it is a word that connotes both profound wisdom and experience. It implies that the voice being referred to is one that has earned the right to be heard through years of living and learning.
The lines "In an age where not everyone can speak up for themselves / It's up to the bigger voices to speak up and get the message across, Loud and Clear" speak to a larger societal issue of inequality and the need for those who have the ability to speak up to do so on behalf of those who cannot. In this context, "bigger voices" may refer to individuals or groups with greater social, economic, or political power.
The final lines "This world needs a voice / And we never back down to a challenge" are a call to action, urging listeners to use their voices to effect change in the world around them. The repeated use of the word "sage" throughout the song reinforces the idea that these voices should be ones that have deep knowledge and understanding of the issues they are speaking about.
Line by Line Meaning
Sage
One with profound wisdom and experience
In an age where not everyone can speak up for themselves
In a time where some are unable to express their thoughts and feelings
Its up to the bigger voices to speak up and get the message across
It is the responsibility of those with more influence to communicate effectively and make their point understood
Loud and Clear
In a manner that is easily and distinctly audible
This world needs a voice
It is necessary for this world to have someone or something to communicate its concerns and desires
And we never back down to a challenge
We always face challenges and difficulty head-on with determination and perseverance
Lyrics Š DistroKid
Written by: Samuel Jackson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Heather Crawford
I'm feeling my NE roots today,this song is the boss especially with this intro :)
Thomas Ferraro
The original homeboy rap!!! Always loved this intro!
Sid Lipscomb
Thank you, These guy's rock, they were thee best live concert around !! I saw them in concert several times and they blew the roof off each and every time!! I was lucky enough to catch them In Detroit (Rock City) What a show those guys put on, they truly kicked ass live !!
04050626cb
Thank you. I haven't heard this in about 20 years. I used to have the album until my house flooded. This takes me back to my teenage party days. I love it
Matthew Bowen
THANK YOU !!!! The best version of I've been able to find. Great intro, great tune. They don't make em like that anymore.
J Bird
good stuff, my favorite version of one of my favorite songs of all time!!!
04050626cb
Thank you. This takes me back to my teenage party days, I love it
joetoronto
Thanks so much for posting this. I want to post more of "Blow Your Face Out" but I don't know how. Posting video is easy, music alone is hard, at least for me. :) There's a song from this album called "Chimes", this live version is by far the best, I have to figure out how to post it.
letmusicfillyoursoul
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!! Excellent, AWESOME song. LOVE the intro. Man, I haven't heard this song in YEARS. J Geils band ROCKS!!! Hey reputa lebuta, love that. Funny. Why can't they have cool, smokin rock bands like this nowadays? Thanks again for this post.
Keith Miller
Damn I havent heard this for almost 30 years. Great job!!!!!!!!!!!!!