Live Full House
Thursday, 09 April 2009 08:04 | 
Author: The Grouch | 
Atlantic 1971 Live at the Grande Ballroom
If you have heard of J. Geils,it is most likely due to their 1980s radio friendly pop hits Centerfold and Freeze Frame. These songs weren't bad but they weren't indicative of the band either. Both of those songs are just so "pop" so it's a shame that many people don't know much about the other face of J. Geils- a gritty rocking R and B outfit out of Boston. Their sound was a high energy blast of intensity that packed an incredibly strong punch of soul.
J. Geils formed in the late 1960s and until Centerfold and Freeze Frame they were an obscure band that relatively few people knew about. Prior to the above mentioned tracks they did receive a decent amount of airplay for the title track of the LP Love Stinks.
Growing up in Detroit, it was a given that I'd hear about J. Geils- I read an interview with Peter Wolf (the singer) that for years the only place they could play outside of their home town, Boston, was Detroit. While they had difficulty even booking a small gig elsewhere, they would sell out shows in Detroit. According to Wolf both towns have a lot in common - each is a blue collar factory town. I think that whenever you have a large group of people who work long hours at a physically demanding job, with little chance of getting ahead, then you will also find the blues.
While the band did release a couple of other live albums, namely Blow Your Face Out which was recorded live in both Boston and Detroit in 1975 and Showtime which was recorded at the Pine Knob Music Theater in the 1980s, for my money Full House is the best Geils album the band put out. I always regret that I missed seeing them at Pine Knob. They came to Detroit every year; it was kind of like the official changing of the seasons festival - If J. Geils was rocking at Pine Knob it must be summer. Alas, I didn't go to what became the last chance to see the band. I remember thinking that I'd see them next time....snooze you lose.
The album opens with a Bo Diddley inspired song called First I Look at the purse. Bo Diddley was one of, if not the first really bad ass rocker; the kind of rocker that would make you want to lock your daughter in her room. First I Look at the purse is a continuation of that Do Diddley attitude. Peter Wolf makes clear that while
Some fellas look at the eyes - Some fellas look at the nose - Some fellas look at the size - Some fellas look at the clothes - all he wants is money so first he looks at the purse.
Track 2- Homework - a really good song with a cool drum line and organ jam. The title? It seems that Peter is so into a girl that he can't do his homework.
Track 3 - Pack Fair and Square A+ a gut wrenching bombardment.
Track 4 - Whammer Jammer - one of the best harmonica parts I've ever heard. The harmonica player Magic Dick must have never smoked anything in his life - the man has huge lungs.
Track 5 - Hard Driven Man -
Rollin' like a freight train
Thunderin' through a cold rain
Higher than a jet plane
Hotter than a blue flame
Complete with the mandatory audience participation - We got the Detroit Demolition here for you tonight,. And calls to Seth Justman to "get some piano in here now".
Track 6 - Serves You Right to Suffer - textbook blues. Killer guitar jam and a reference to "taking it to the south side of Chicago baby - on the lickin' stick Mr. Magic Dick." At almost 10 minutes long everyone in the band gets to shine.
Track 7 =Cruisin' For A Love - fast upbeat song . I like it a lot.
Track 8 - Looking for A Love (Check out the video below) - once again Magic Dick works his magic with those huge lungs. Peter Wolf introduces J. Geils who lays down a solo before heading for a bridge that leads into a fantastic riff exchange between Magic Dick, J. Geils and Stephen Jo Blad on drums.. Really nice organ part on the edges of the song. "Play your guitar Clarence" leads into a cool riff that in turn leads in to a harmonica solo which then leads to an funky organ solo.
If you want to hear Magic Dick explain Whammer Jammer check out this interview. It is interesting although somewhat technical (and the interviewer sounds like a total Jag)
All in all an A+ album. When I wasn't learning how to play the drums to Cheap Trick's Budokan LP, I was learning how to play by following along with Full House.
5 out of 5 scowls.
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Last Updated (Thursday, 09 April 2009 08:26)