I would put Peter Wolf up with the best live front men in rock.
The J Geils Band sounded a bit different in the seventies. They had their biggest hits in the ’80s with “Freeze-Frame” and “Centerfold,” but that was the culmination of a long career that included lots of blues-based boogie music like this track.
This song peaked at #30 in the Billboard 100 and #39 in Canada in 1973. The song was on the album Bloodshot and peaked at #10 in the Billboard Album Charts and #17 in Canada.
Peter Wolf wrote the song with the group’s keyboard player Seth Justman.
While the band was experiencing the greatest commercial success of its career and preparing a follow-up to Freeze Frame…the two main songwriters Wolf and Justman were not getting along. The band refused to record material Wolf had written with other writing partners…so Wolf left in 1983.
The band wanted to go in a more pop direction while Wolf wanted to continue the more blues/rock path they were going .
From Songfacts
One of the most popular J. Geils Band songs from the group’s early years, this one is unusually carnal, with Peter Wolf making it very clear in his vocal delivery what he’s asking for in “Give It To Me.”
“Give It To Me” was cut down to 3:07 for radio play, but the full version runs a healthy 6:32, with showcase spots for many of the band members. Seth Justman gets a long solo on organ, which is followed by a guitar spot by J. Geils (the group’s guitarist was the band’s namesake) and an extended harmonica solo by Magic Dick. The song became a concert favorite, and one that established the J. Geils Band as a great live act. The live version from their album Blow Your Face Out is the one many radio stations play, as it captures the energy of their shows.
Heineken beer used this in commercials in 2002.
Bill Szymczyk produced the Bloodshot album, which was recorded at the Hit Factory in New York City. Szymczyk would later produce the Eagles, including their albums On the Border and Hotel California.
Give It To Me
You’ve got to give it to me
You’ve got to give it to me
You’ve got to give it to me
You’ve got to give it to me
You’re so slick now, know every trick now
You know I want it, I want it so bad
You know I need it, I can’t believe it
So come on baby, Please relieve it
Now you’ve been bugging me, Every night now
You say you want it, You want it right now
I can’t get to it, I can’t get through it
So come on baby, Please
You’ve got to get it up (give it up)
You’ve got to get it up (give it up)
You’ve got to get it up (give it up)
You’ve got to get it up (give it up)
Why keep me cold
When it’s so warm inside
Come on baby
Your love is too good to hide
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Wolf leaves and the band loses all of its momentum!
Shame as when I hear that Freeze Frame album it still sounds good
I know…what a time to disagree…it looks like they could have had a compromise… half and half or something to that affect.
Or taken some time off. When stuff like this happens some bands lose all kinds of momentum.
I know…hard to beieve they worked an entire decade getting to this point…just to implode.
They should have called the next album “All For Nothing” lol
LOL thats it!
I like their 80s records better, but I would guess they might have been a more entertaining band to see live in the ’70s. Listen to, or watch videos of, them back in that era and you can start to see why some called them ‘America’s Rolling Stones.’
I do see Wolf’s point but they could have compromised…maybe half and half…
I always liked this song, but I haven’t listened to it in years.
He’s good at jumping! Always get surprised by the raw bluesy stuff when my main frame of reference is Centerfold.
It’s a shame that they hit their peak with Centerfold and then he left… I do like their pre-1980s music…like Must Of Got Lost
Thanks for sharing this one – it has a bit of a reggae vibe. They’re a band I need to listen to more of
I think you would like their 70s output a lot….like Must of Got Lost
Really dig the J. Geils Band. I got to see them once 5 years ago or so (sans J. Geils but with Peter Wolf). They were a fantastic live band. I love their 1972 live album Live Full House.
I also saw Peter Wolf solo at a Lynyrd Skynyrd farewell show in 2018. He still is a great showman!
I would love to see them with Wolf… I like that live album as well.
Yea he is up there with the top frontmen to me. He keeps you entertained.
He sorta looks like and definitely dances like Mick Jagger. Good entertainer and has a good voice. That song is a real blast to the past.
He does “move like Jagger.” LOL! Little Maroon 5 humor… I just vaguely remember this.
I liked their 80s sound. Must of Got Lost wasn’t bad.
These guys were great. Talk about a hard working band. This guys busted their ass to get where they were. The radio stuff was great, but their earlier work was even better I think. Good stuff.
My ex wife turned me on to them in the 90’s still love the music! Classic!
You’re hitting on my best stuff.
After I saw your post on Wolf I had to do an earlier one.
The early stuff is where i live. Still. Yeah, Live they were one of the best I’d seen. I think old Seth probably should have thought that one out a bit. These guys were a bar band that could have kept merging the two and kept them happy.
Yea just a little compromise…but yea I prefer the early also…Centerfold I couldn’t help but like…the way Wolf sings it.
They had a sense of humor. I dont know the story but I’ll side with Peter. The album(s) without him didnt cut it for me.
Yea I with ya. I’m glad they hit that gold…they had a long road for major success…only to fall off right after they made it. Like you said…just mix the two up and go on.
I never resented them making some money with Centerfold. I liked the album. I enjoyed their popularity.
I was glad they got recognized big time…just sad that it ended quickly because of that decision they made.
Ive said this before but Wolf has some excellent solo albums.
The guy is just cool. I need to check them out more.
Ive been listening to Sleepless and a couple others.