Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 36, Number 6. 4th April 1973

Full House — J. Geils Band. Atlantic

Full House — J. Geils Band. Atlantic

The J. Geils Band are one of the most popular 'live' American bands. This album was recorded before the legendary Detroit audience and it features songs from their last two studio albums. J. Geils play South Side Chicago Blues — the standard 12-bar Otis Rush and John Lee Hooker stuff. But unlike the limp imitations of the usual white Blues' bands, they play a more frenzied rock and roll blues that must be admired for its sustained energy level if for nothing else. The trouble with this music is that it has all been played before. Practically every song on this record could have been played by Mitch Ryder or MC5 (before the same audience), or Ten Years After, literally (en year ago. The record is saved by Hard Drivin' Man where they make some use of Seth Justman who used to play piano on Jerry Lee Lewis 45's! His piano on this track is excellent and they really seem to play some exciting rock and roll. However apart from this number and a few good harmonica solos from Maine Dick(!) the album is largely disappointing. Peter Wolf the singer must take some kind of prize for his bawled inanity: "Take out your false-teeth, I wanna suck on your gums!" Perhaps it would have been different if I'd been there that night.