J Geils Band – Come Back

Peter Wolf was a great frontman for J Geils. Peter and keyboard Seth Justman wrote most of the songs for them. They hit big in 1982 with their more pop-oriented album Freeze Frame. Up until that time they were more R&B.

Come Back was included on the Love Stinks. With that album, the band began to update their sound for the new decade. This record setup Freeze Frame to be a huge hit. 

Peter Wolf and Seth Justman wrote this song.

The song peaked at #32 in the Billboard 100 and #19 in Canada in 1980.

Come Back

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

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

Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player.

35 thoughts on “J Geils Band – Come Back”

      1. Yep… he was awesome and I guess still is… He didn’t like the pop direction. All those years and they finally break big and he leaves. That is a man with principles.

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      3. Oh yea that probably wasn’t the only thing. They had been together since 1967…that is something. In Boston they were bigger than Areosmith in the 70s.

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  2. Great tune! Haven’t heard that one for a long time, but it was the very first J.Geils song I heard…it was pretty big in Toronto (as Cdn. charts show, I think in the toronto market itself it was top 10 on most stations) but it never seemed to live on , on oldies or classic rock radio for some reason.

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    1. With the exception of the Freeze Frame songs…many don’t like on…like Must of Got Lost and others. I’m not sure why

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      1. Yep, “Freeze Frame” was really their pinnacle, at least for popularity, and the two big singles still stay big on radio, and rightfully enough. But it’s weird, I still hear ‘Love Stinks’ at times on radio but never this one. Heard “Do, I Do” not that long ago on classic rock station and that surprised me… hadn’t heard it since probably ’83 on air!

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      2. It’s a shame they couldn’t compromise on a direction. Without Peter Wolf it’s not the same.
        He wanted more R&B I believe

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      5. I heard the old songs before but didn’t know who they were…so pretty much like you

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    1. I remember it off the radio at the time…I didn’t hear it as much as Love Stinks.
      I wish I could have seen them…they looks like they would have been a lot of fun.

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    1. I liked Must of Got Lost and their R&B stuff also. I couldn’t blame them for making it but they wanted to keep on doing that…I think that is why Wolf left.

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  6. A lot of people seem to compare Peter Wolf to Mick Jagger, and the J Geils Band, early on at least , to the Stones. Both tried to commercialize their sound some in the ’80s too.

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    1. I see the comparisons…I see why. Both are good at what they do…Wolf seems like a really cool guy also. He doesn’t seem to be showy just to be showy.

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  8. J. Geils Band were a cool group and a terrific live act. “Live Full House” from ’72 remains one of my favorite live albums. That one-two opening punch with “First I Look at the Purse” and “Homework” is just epic rock & roll!

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    1. I ran across that album while researching this…I’ve heard great things about their older sets.
      Wolf is a terrific front man

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      1. Agree Wolf is great. I’ve seen him twice – once with J. Geils Band (sans J. Geils), and another time solo.

        Are you going to tune in for Ringo’s birthday show later this evening? 🙂

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  10. Growing up in Boston, the JGB was as big as any other rock band in the 70s. We had no idea that they weren’t very big in other markets. They remain one of my favorite bands ever. When Love Stinks came out, we started getting nervous about where they were headed style-wise although there’s a couple cool tunes on that album. But when Freeze Frame came out, and the singles, and the videos, we all threw in the towel. What happened to our beloved heroes?! Anyway, we still worship their legacy and don’t get us started on why they’re not in the RnR HOF… So, if you like Come Back, you should really check out some of their classic albums like Sanctuary, Bloodshot, Full House, and basically anything. As a side note, Peter has continued to release solo albums every 5 years or so and they’re outstanding. Definitely check out Peter live if he comes through town – still one of the greatest showmen you’ll ever see.

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    1. Some of the older ones I’ve heard are Must of Got Lost, I Do, and Give it to Me… I love the few songs I’ve heard….it’s some great R&B music…it has that feel.

      It’s pretty clear why Wolf left. At the time I didn’t know about their past but even the pop songs had Wolf’s touch and they were different from the others… but I know where you are coming from…

      I would love to see him live…even on film he has charisma unlike most. I’ll check some out.

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    1. Hey man sorry it took me so long to get back. The funny thing is I grew up in the 80s but my tastes are at least 10-20 years older than I am. But saying that I wouldn’t mind trying some 80s harder stuff.

      One of my friends blogs about 80s metal and rock that you might like. His name is Deke…he is a cool guy… here is his site

      https://superdekes.wordpress.com/

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  12. Forgot all about this one. Sounds good. I’m a huge Geils (Wolf) guy. It was good to see them make some dough. CB might even have another Geils take coming. You never know. Magic Dick was working hard in the video but someone unplugged him.

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    1. Wolf was/is a hell of a front man…and authentic…no fake or fluff…you get what you get. I like revisiting this earlier stuff before they broke out huge…and then broke up.

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