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.
Wait
The J. Geils Band Lyrics
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And everything I try to do is just misunderstood
But I don't care if your daddy says it's wrong
I just can't stand to be away from you too long
I just can't wait, I just can't wait
I just can't wait, I just can't wait
The clock open my wall, it must be runnin' slow
Tonight when you're here next to me, I'll never let you go
I wish the day would hurry up and set us free
Because tonight with you is where I want to be
I just can't wait, I just can't wait
I just can't wait, I just can't wait
Ooh, girl, holdin' me so tight
Ooh, girl, I can't wait 'til tonight
But I don't care if your daddy says it's wrong
I just cant stand to be away from you to long
I just can't wait, I just can't wait
I just can't wait, I just can't wait
I just can't wait, I just can't wait
I just can't wait, I just can't wait
I just can't wait, no, no, my baby
I just can't wait, no, no, no
I just can't wait, no, no, my baby
I just can't wait, no, no, no
The J. Geils Band's song "Just Can't Wait" is a classic rock song that speaks of young love that is being threatened by the opinions of an overprotective parent. The song's protagonist is in love with a girl who is being told by her father that he is no good for her, and that anything he tries to do is just misunderstood. Despite the negative opinion of the girl's father, the singer cannot stand to be away from her for too long.
The clock on the singer's wall seems to be running slow, and he is eagerly awaiting the moment when the girl he loves will be by his side. The song speaks of the time being spent together as being a moment of freedom from the constraints of the outside world, and the singer wishes that the day would hurry up so that he can be with her.
The song's chorus, which repeats the phrase "I just can't wait" four times in a row, is a testament to the singer's impatience and eagerness to be with the girl he loves. Despite the disapproval of her father, he cannot help but to feel the way he does, and the song ends with a reprise of the chorus.
Overall, "Just Can't Wait" is a classic rock song that speaks to the experience of young love and the challenges that come with it, especially when parental opinions are involved.
Line by Line Meaning
Your daddy's tellin' you, I just ain't no good
The singer's lover's father disapproves of the relationship.
And everything I try to do is just misunderstood
Despite his efforts, the singer feels like he cannot win over his lover's father.
But I don't care if your daddy says it's wrong
The singer is willing to risk the disapproval of his lover's father to be with her.
I just can't stand to be away from you too long
The artist cannot bear to be apart from his lover for an extended period of time.
The clock on my wall, it must be runnin' slow
The artist is impatient for time to pass.
Tonight when you're here next to me, I'll never let you go
When his lover is with him, the singer never wants to let her leave.
I wish the day would hurry up and set us free
The singer longs for the present day to end and for a new day to begin with his lover by his side.
Because tonight with you is where I want to be
The artist's ideal place to be is with his lover tonight.
Ooh, girl, holdin' me so tight
The artist enjoys physical intimacy with his lover.
Ooh, girl, I can't wait 'til tonight
The artist is eagerly anticipating spending time with his lover tonight.
I just can't wait, no, no, my baby
The singer is so excited to be with his lover that he cannot contain himself.
I just can't wait, no, no, no
The artist is impatient for time to pass until he can be with his lover.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PETER WOLF, SETH JUSTMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind