Am proud of myself for thinking “So Sharp” on Side One sounded a lot like “Funky Broadway” before noticing the cover says it’s “in memory of ‘Dyke’ Arlester Christian,” who wrote it. Pretty sure “I Don’t Need You No More”, “Looking For A Love” (Bobby Womack/Valentinos soul cover and Geils’ first top 40 single, though just barely), and “Wammer Jammer” (which must be the most popular harmonica instrumental in rock’n’roll history, unless I’m forgetting something) used to get played on Detroit radio possibly one or both of the interchangeable ballads (one a Don Covay cover apparently), too. Had actually forgotten The Morning After from ’71 was on my shelf. Album truly gives you a better idea why the band was named after their guitar player in the first place, though I do love those funky tribal-glam Burundi drums in the closing Albert Collins instrumental, “Sno Cone.” Band looks badass on the LP cover, too - Peter Wolf’s picture actually makes me wonder whether Steve Tyler might have learned a pose or two from him up in Boston.Ģ.
(Also pretty sure it used to get played on rock stations in Detroit.) After that, I’d probably pick “Homework” (from Otis Rush) or the hilarious “First I Look At The Purse” (from Smokey Robinson). Six covers out of 11 tracks (assuming Jukejoint Jimmy, who wrote “Cruisin’ For a Love,” is not connected with the band), but I think my favorite cut might be an original - namely “Hard Drivin’ Man,” which is some truly hard drivin’ music actually. Just real solid, and never much winds up seeming stodgy or sluggish no matter how bar-band blues it gets. Geils Band’s self-titled debut during muted pre-Obama-interview Super Bowl pre-game festivities, and yeah, it pretty much kicks the butt of every other Geils album I’ve pulled out lately.