MY MUSIC FIXATIONS number 3, J. Geils Band - COME BACK
Written: Jun 05 '03 (Updated Jul 15 '03)
Product Rating:
Pros: Good old fashioned Rock and Roll but with a twist.
Cons: Don't remember
The Bottom Line: This is a fun song and album and while "Come Back" is my favorite, all the songs are good and I'm sure people would like the others like "Love Stinks".
daumco's Full Review: Love Stinks by J. Geils Band
For those of you who have read my first two installments of "My Musical Fixations" I apologize, but, for those who haven't a brief explanation is in order.
I am writing a series of reviews, not on certain full albums but upon those songs within, that I obsessed on for a period of time, songs that no matter how many times I played them I never got tired of them. I'm sure you've had similar circumstances where certain songs got under your skin, well this review is my third installment about one of those songs.
The band is J. Geils Band of "Centerfold" fame but that is not the song I obsessed over. That honor belongs to the somewhat obscure title "Come Back". It was not totally obscure for it got some airplay and thats how I heard it. Maybe it even got more airtime than the equally obscure title track, "Love Stinks". Oddly enough "Come Back" was the only J. Geils Band song I ever really liked.
As it was on my installment two song "Killer Cut" I remember well the time of my "Come Back" musical captivity. If you've read my "Killer Cut" review, this is going to sound somewhat familiar but I was again on a trip in the spring of 1981 in my relatively new Nissan 280 ZX. This time it was a combined business/sightseeing trip to Tucson Arizona. At the time I lived in Las Vegas and of course we passed through Phoenix on the way. That was the first time I had seen Phoenix since 1965 and I got a preview of the city I would call home nine years later. Enough of my personal historical observations, let's get back to the subject at hand!
The J. Geils Band recorded 15 albums (not counting compilations) over 28 years. I think we should have some historical observation on them. Here is a bio on J. Geils Band
The J. Geils band started as an acoustic blues trio in the mid sixties by charter members Jay Geils, guitarist, bassist, Danny Klein and harpist, Magic Dick. In 1967 drummer, Steven Jo Bladd and vocalist, Peter Wolf joined and the band went electric. Soon, the band had earned a sizable local following, including Seth Justman, an organist who was studying at Boston University. Justman (who would eventually write "Come Back")joined the band in 1968, and the band continued to tour for the next few years, landing a record contract with Atlantic in 1970.
Their first studio release The J. Geils Band was a mild hit on the east coast. The groups second album The Morning After contained a top 40 hit but most of their following still came from the bands grass roots touring. 1972's Full House, was a live set. It was followed by Bloodshot, a record that climbed into the Top 10 on the strength of the Top 40 hit, "Give It To Me." The unsuccessful Ladies Invited was released in 1973 followed by Nightmares, which had a top twelve song. Three commercially disappointing albums followed and the band left Atlantic for EMI Records.
After the initial release Sanctuary, a mildly successful endeavor in 1978, came the release of our album/song, Love Stinks/"Come Back", Which went gold. Their followup release Freeze-Frame went platinum on the basis of mega no 1 hit "Centerfold" but therein were sown the seeds of the bands eventual demise.
LOVE STINKS
Released some two years after the band's EMI debut, Sanctuary, the Love Stinks project would see the J. Geils Band going in an even more commercial oriented direction than its predecessor. Keyboard player/main songwriter, Seth Justman now assumed the main production duties. Justman set out to better the band's gold-plus-selling Sanctuary. And to some degree, he succeeded. Although not as consistent or diverse as Sanctuary, Love Stinks would feature two of the band's most recognizable FM songs ever — the album's infectious title track "Love Stinks" and the catchy up tempo "Come Back".
SONG / TRACK LISTS
1. Just Can't Wait (Justman) - 3:24
2. Come Back (Justman) - 5:11
3. Talkin' You Down performed by J. Giels Band - 4:05
4. Night Time (Feldman/Goldstein/Gottehrer) - 4:31
5. No Anchovies, Please - 2:41
6. Love Stinks (Justman) - 3:44
7. Trying Not to Think About It - 6:22
8. Desire (Please Don't Turn Away) - 3:35
9. Till the Walls Come Tumblin'
Let's get back to our subject album/song - Love Stinks/"Come Back". Although I still own the album, unfortunately it's on vinyl and I do not currently have the ability to play it. So I will try to describe "Come Back" from memory. "Come Back" is basically a good old fashioned, medium/fast tempo, rock and roll song with some different nuances. While obviously rock and roll the tempo varies and stops several times and the music is augmented with a techno sound, provided by what I believe is a synthesizer. 1980 might have been a little early for synths, I don't know. The song is of medium length, a little over 5 minutes, which may be the reason it had such a short shelf life, regarding air time, despite it's catchy highly commercial sound. The singing by Peter Wolf is excellent and the music is wonderful. If I had to equate this music to something more current I would probably pick The Dave Matthews Band.
Come Back
J. Geils Band
When you left me all alone
You left me cryin' on my own
Tell me, tell me, what you gonna do
Tell me pretty baby
Cause I'm still in love with you
Come back (baby)
Come back-won't you come back to me
Come back (baby)
Come back-won't you come back to me
Here I'm standin' such a fool
It's not like you babe
Oh, don't be cruel
Help me, help me
Cause you know I'm not that strong
Help me, help me darlin'
I've been lonely for too long
Come back (baby)
Come back-won't you come back to me
Come back (baby)
Come back
(Instrumental break)
Tell me, tell me, what you gonna do
Tell me pretty baby
Cause I'm still in love with you
Come back (baby)
Come back-won't you come back to me
Come back (baby)
Come back-won't you come back to me
Come back (baby)
Come back-please come back to me darlin'-aah
Come back (baby)
Come back-won't you come back to me
Not exactly Profound lyrics but I love the song for its originality and flow, not its lyrics.
If You've enjoyed this review here are the links to my other FIXATIONS:
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