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.
River Blindness
The J. Geils Band Lyrics
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Black flies rise as the water flows
Human kindness - River blindness
Angels cry as the fever grows
Indications Demographics
Control of the basics is all you see
Correlations Disintegrations
Cessation - of life expectancy
Can't erase it
Or the tropical lands
Or the tropical lands
Or the tropical lands
Gonna rip up Tinsel Town
Blueprint morality Twist off neutrality
This must be reality This must be the place
Just imbalance trickling down from the falls
Trickling down from the falls
Trickling down
Trickling down
Trickling down
Human kindness - River blindness
Black flies rise as the water flows
Human kindness - River blindness
Angels cry as the fever grows
Got to face it
Can't erase it
Or the tropical lands
Or the tropical lands
Or the tropical lands
Gonna rip up Tinsel Town
In "River Blindness," The J. Geils Band sings about the devastating reality of river blindness, a disease caused by a parasitic worm that is transmitted through the bites of black flies that live near rivers. The chorus repeats the phrase "Human kindness - River blindness," emphasizing the irony that such a terrible disease is caused by the same rivers that sustain life and enable human kindness. The black flies rise as the water flows, and the fever grows as the disease spreads. The song speaks to the hopelessness of the situation, with references to "disintegrations" and "cessation of life expectancy." The lyrics suggest that the disease is taking hold in "tropical lands," making it difficult to eradicate.
The song also speaks to the larger societal issues surrounding river blindness, such as the imbalance of power and resources that allows the disease to persist. The lyrics mention "blueprint morality" and "twist off neutrality," suggesting that the structures in place to combat the disease are inadequate, and that there is a need for a more proactive and equitable approach. The final verse, which mentions "ripping up Tinsel Town," suggests that even the glitz and glamour of Hollywood cannot distract from the seriousness of the situation.
Overall, "River Blindness" is a powerful and poignant commentary on a disease that affects millions of people worldwide.
Line by Line Meaning
Human kindness - River blindness
The paradox of a disease named after the kindness of humans toward each other.
Black flies rise as the water flows
The correlation between the rise of black flies and flowing river water that contributes to the spread of the disease.
Angels cry as the fever grows
The devastating impact of the disease on people, illustrated by the metaphor of angels crying.
Indications Demographics
The patterns of the disease in different populations revealed by demographic data.
Control of the basics is all you see
The limited resources available to those affected by the disease, and the focus on meeting basic needs rather than seeking a cure or prevention methods.
Correlations Disintegrations
The connections between different factors that contribute to the spread and impact of the disease, and the resulting breakdown of communities and societies.
Cessation - of life expectancy
The stark reality that the disease can lead to premature death and a decrease in life expectancy.
Got to face it
The need to confront the harsh reality of the disease and its impact.
Can't erase it
The impossibility of simply eliminating the disease, as it is deeply ingrained in affected communities and their environment.
Or the tropical lands
The geographical context in which the disease thrives, and which poses challenges to efforts to prevent and treat it.
Gonna rip up Tinsel Town
The determination to challenge the status quo and disrupt the dominant narrative about the disease and its impact.
Blueprint morality Twist off neutrality
The moral imperative to take action against the disease and its impact, and to reject neutral or passive attitudes.
This must be reality This must be the place
The recognition that the disease and its impact are a painful but unavoidable part of the affected communities' reality and environment.
Just imbalance trickling down from the falls
The way in which imbalances and discrepancies in resources and power trickle down through society and contribute to the spread and impact of the disease.
Human kindness - River blindness
Reiteration of the paradox and tragic reality of the disease.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: SETH JUSTMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind