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.
So Good
The J. Geils Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was always on the run
I kept my spirits high
And ready for some fun
Then I saw you
I couldn't believe my eyes
You grabbed me by the heart
And left me mystified
I had a feeling
That first time we met
There's something about you
Gonna be hard to forget
Your love is so, so good
It's so good
Your love is so, so good
It's so good
Your love is sooo,
It's so good
Your love is so, so good
It's so good
The proof is in the pudding
I can taste it all the time
You been spiced so good
I'm sure glad you're mine
I'm not ashamed
To let everybody know
I never never never
Felt this good before
Since that day
You're always on my mind
I want to be with you girl
All of the time
Your love is so, so good
It's so good
Your love is so, so good
It's so good
Your love is sooo,
It's so good
Your love is so, so good
It's so good
Come on
Ha!
Come on, baby
Oooo, yeah
Love's so good
Love's so good
Love's so good
It's so darned good
So good
I had a feeling
The first time we met
There's something about you
Gonna be hard to forget
Well, it's so, so good
It's so good
Your love is so, so, so, so good
Your love is sooo, so good
Your love is so good
It's so good
Give me a little lovin'
Give me a little lovin'
Give me a little looove
Want a little lovin'
So good
Oh
The J. Geils Band's song So Good is an upbeat, funky tune about falling in love and realizing that the other person's love is so good. The song's first verse sets the stage with the singer describing himself as wild and always on the run, looking for fun. But when he sees the love interest of the song, he is amazed and his heart is grabbed. He goes on to describe how he had a feeling when they first met that this person was going to be hard to forget.
The chorus of the song describes just how good the person's love is. The singer says he can taste it all the time, and that he's never felt this good before. He "never, never, never felt this good before." He wants to be with this person all the time, and can't get them out of his head. The bridge of the song repeats the sentiment that there's something about this person that is unforgettable, and that their love is so darned good.
Overall, the song is an upbeat ode to the joys of falling in love and realizing that someone else's love can make you happier than you've ever been. The J. Geils Band's funky and energetic sound adds to the celebratory feeling of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
I was wild
I used to be reckless in life
I was always on the run
I was constantly moving around and never in one place for long
I kept my spirits high
I always tried to stay positive and energetic
And ready for some fun
And open to new adventures and experiences
Then I saw you
Then I caught a glimpse of you
I couldn't believe my eyes
I was taken aback by your beauty
You grabbed me by the heart
You captured my attention and affection
And left me mystified
And left me feeling bewildered and amazed
I had a feeling
I had an intuition
That first time we met
When we first crossed paths
There's something about you
There is a certain quality or characteristic about you
Gonna be hard to forget
That will be difficult for me to forget
Your love is so, so good
Your affection for me is of exceptionally high quality
It's so good
It is really excellent
The proof is in the pudding
My satisfaction is evident
I can taste it all the time
I can feel it and experience it all the time
You been spiced so good
You have been seasoned or flavored to perfection
I'm sure glad you're mine
I am very happy that you belong to me
I'm not ashamed
I am not embarrassed or hiding anything
To let everybody know
To tell everyone how I feel
I never never never
I have never in my life before
Felt this good before
Experienced such strong and positive emotions before
Since that day
Ever since that moment
You're always on my mind
I am always thinking about you
I want to be with you girl
I want to spend time with you, my dear
All of the time
Continuously and frequently
Come on
Encouraging someone to take action or do something
Ha!
An exclamation of excitement or victory
Come on, baby
An expression of endearment and affection
Oooo, yeah
An expression of enthusiasm and pleasure
Love's so good
Love is exceptionally wonderful
Give me a little lovin'
Give me some affection or attention
Give me a little looove
Give me some love and affection
Want a little lovin'
I desire some affection and attention
So good
It is excellent and satisfying
Oh
An exclamation of excitement and enthusiasm
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PETER WOLF, SETH JUSTMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind