J Geils Band – Love Stinks

When I’m reading a music bio, everyone knows what I’m reading by reading my blog. I just finished the Peter Wolf book, and I cannot recommend it enough. I have never posted this song before, and I’m shocked that I haven’t. I’ve always liked this song and was reminded of it when I watched the movie The Wedding Singer. I remember in the 70s listening to J Geils with Must Have Got Lost and Give It To Me on AM radio, and they sounded great.

Of all the songs that I did vocals onstage with…this one has to be the most fun I had with a song. The crowd always roared back in the chorus…you could count on it. I was going to post this on Valentine’s Day, but forgot about it. 

The J Geils Band started in 1967. They were originally called The J Geils Blues Band, and Peter Wolf saw them perform and joined with his band’s (The Hallucinations) drummer, Stephen Jo Bladd. A fan named Seth Justman soon joined on keyboards. Wolf and Justman soon became the two prominent songwriters of the band. The members were John Geils guitarist, Peter Wolf lead singer, Seth Justman keyboards, Danny Klein bass player, Richard Salwitz harp, trumpet, and saxophone. 

They signed a contract with Atlantic Records that was VERY friendly to Atlantic Records. They started to open up for The Allman Brothers, BB King, The Who, The Stones, The Byrds, and just about everyone on the music scene at the time. They built their live reputation up and had a loyal fanbase. They were constantly touring and were known for high-energy shows and music. Peter Wolf was one of the best, if not the best, frontmen in rock. You also had Richard Salwitz (Magic Dick) playing blues harp, trumpet, and saxophone and gave the band a sound.

By their third album, Bloodshot, released in 1973, scored a hit with Give It To Me and the album peaked at #10 on the Billboard 100 and #17 in Canada. The album that set that album up was Live Full House. That album is one of the best live albums I’ve ever listened to. It was released in 1972 and established their live reputation for the rest of their career. As the decade went on, they did have some hits like my favorite Must Of Got Lost. Their Atlantic record contract was up in 1977.

They signed with EMI, and their commercial fortunes turned around with the new label. Their first album with EMI was Sanctuary, and it had a hit called One Last Kiss. Then came the Love Stinks album, and although there were no top 10 hits, this album had two songs that hit and are still played today: Love Stinks and Come Back hit the top 40, and their audience started to grow.

It was their 10th studio album, Freeze Frame, that blew the lid off. Some songs were the #1 Centerfold, #4 Freeze Frame, top 40 Angel in Blue, and a popular dance track called Flamethrower. Their popularity was at an all-time high. They opened for the Stones’ massive tour that year. They had been headlining since Love Stinks…but then…it was all over.

Peter Wolf didn’t like the way they were going into synth pop and wanted to get back to their roots. They pretty much told him to go his way, and they would go their way. They kept rejecting songs he brought, and many of the songs they rejected ended up on his album Lights Out.  Listening to Freeze Frame now…you can hear the R&B in the song Freeze Frame and some of the others.

They decided to make an album called Even While I’m Gettin’ Odd, without Peter, and when I listen to it, I can see why Wolf didn’t want to go that way. They wanted to go much further into the 80s pop production than Freeze-Frame. The punch and live feeling of Freeze-Frame and Love Stinks was gone. The album failed and it would be their last. They have regrouped off and on through the years for live shows but never made another album.

The Love Stinks album was released in 1980 and peaked at #18 on the Billboard Album Charts and #4 in Canada. The title track peaked at #15 in Canada and #38 on the Billboard 100.

Peter Wolf on the breakup: Frank Barsalona, our agent, took me out for dinner after his final meeting with the other band members. In disbelief, he said, “After all these years, the band finally made it. It’s really quite unbelievable. I’ve dealt with the craziest of the crazies; the drugs, the girlfriends, the managers—nothing even comes close to this. Nothing as stupid, as senseless, and as wasteful in what these guys are insisting on doing. So, Peter, let’s start thinking about your solo career.”

Here is a version that I love…a bluegrass rendition of the song by Peter Wolf, and I like it. 

Here they are in the Netherlands in 1980, live. Peter Wolf has a black eye and broken ribs after being ambushed in a pub. They headlined the Pinkpop Festival. 

Love Stinks

You love herBut she loves himAnd he loves somebody elseYou just can’t winAnd so it goes‘Til the day you dieThis thing they call loveIt’s gonna make you cry

I’ve had the bluesThe reds and the pinksOne thing for sure(Love stinks)

Love stinks, yeah, yeah(Love stinks)Love stinks, yeah, yeah(Love stinks)Love stinks, yeah, yeah(Love stinks)Love stinks, yeah, yeah

Two by two, and side by sideLove’s gonna find you, yes, it isYou just can’t hideYou’ll hear it callYour heart will fallThen love will flyIt’s gonna soar

I don’t care for any casanova thingAll I can say is(Love stinks)

Love stinks, yeah, yeah(Love stinks)Love stinks, yeah, yeah(Love stinks)Love stinks, yeah, yeah(Love stinks)Love stinks, yeah, yeah

I’ve been through diamondsI’ve been through minksI’ve been through it all(Love stinks)

Love stinks, yeah, yeah(Love stinks)Love stinks, yeah, yeah

Love stinksLove stinks, yeah, yeah(Love stinks)Love stinks (love stinks), yeah, yeah(Love stinks)

Love stinks, yeah, yeah(Love stinks)Love stinks, yeah, yeah(Love stinks)Love stinks (love stinks), yeah, yeah(Love stinks)Love stinks (love stinks), yeah, yeah(Love stinks)Love stinks (love stinks)

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, 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. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

44 thoughts on “J Geils Band – Love Stinks”

      2. Beth if you don’t mind me asking…how was Peter Wolf? From what I’ve seen of him…he really commands a stage like Jagger does.

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  2. Pingback: J Geils Band – Love Stinks – MobsterTiger

    1. You probably also remember “Come Back” around the time of Love Stinks…it was really popular. Thanks for reading as always Sheila!

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  6. This is a great tune. I never got seriously into them myself but my old roommate was a big fan and the Canadian charts seem to prove that point. I recall the original video but the other two were good to see. That line up would have been an amazing show!

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    1. I liked the Bluegrass version as well….CB sent me that and it worked very well with that music.
      I would have loved to have seen them live.

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    1. Yes it is…if you ever are bored…listen on spotify or youtube….”Full House”….it’s one of the best live albums I’ve heard. The energy is amazing. I’ve had many commenters that have loved that album.

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      1. I just put it on. Sounds good. I’ll probably comment on your posts from yesterday today. I was so busy at work yesterday, I read them quickly, but wouldn’t have had time to comment until really late last night.

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      2. Oh don’t feel obligated to…I appreciate it but I get being busy at work so I know how you feel! That is why I had to cut back.

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  8. odd, the Bobby Fuller song came up in my Reader, but this didn’t and I thought ‘hmm, Max usually posts more than 1 blog on a Saturday ‘ so I checked your site.

    Anyway, as a usually single& spurned teen when it was out, I loved this song! Actually had the LP, I think via Columbia house. It was when they appeared in my radar, as your numbers show both this & ‘Come Back’ were hits in Canada & the album did better there than in the US. The bluegrass version is fun, don’t think I woulda wanted to hear it several times a day on radio but it’s a novel listen

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    1. I was thinking that but my reader and my test account had it. Thats odd.
      You know I found out much more about them after reading that book. Freeze-Frame…Wolf didn’t seem to have a problem with that album…but they wanted to go further than that…that is when it happened.
      Oh I love this song and The Wedding Singer made it popular all over again. They were more successful than I thought. A #10 album in 1973? I never realized that.

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  9. While I gravitate toward the J. Geils Band’s earlier music (my favorite being their 1972 live album “Live Full House”), “Love Stinks” is a fun song. Every time I hear it, I have to think of 1998’s hilarious “The Wedding Singer.” I’m also glad that after they had been at it for more than 10 years, the J. Geils Band finally enjoyed some chart success and think “Centerfold” and “Freeze-Freeze” are fun as well. Of course, it was a typical rock & roll story where once they became “popular”, their frontman decided to leave, which kind of stinks, though I get why Peter Wolf didn’t like the band’s new musical direction.

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    1. Thats me as well…and I still listen to Full House…what a live recording!
      Oh…. I would have left as well. Chrisitian they lost their identity…not just with Wolf gone but with the music. They turned into another band that used the huge production…it wasn’t the same. Nothing screamed “J Geils” from that last album.

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  10. Excellent write-up, Max. My favorites from the band were Centerfold and Freeze Frame. Part of what makes creatives creative is their sensitivity, which can equate to moodiness and ego at times. Where some artists like painters and poets are solo acts, musical groups by their nature need more than one to make it happen. That’s why bands break up so much! They had a good run, didn’t they. Now I’m off to my protest. See ya later!

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  14. that songs is bringing back some blasts from the past, and not great things…..Jet Boy Jet Girl, and some band called Flying LIzards singing Money that’s what I wants..OMG!

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  15. I sing this all the time. The bluegrass take works. Back in the day Wold always wore shades so never would have seen the shiner. Good stuff Max. Who would want to punch out a nice guy like Peter Wolf. Have I mentioned that I love this band even after the dropped the “Blues Band” part of their name.

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    1. Those guys were some cockney asses. He foolishly mentioned he had a driver… that’s all it took.
      It was so much fun to do live. I’m really taking a liking to that bluegrass version CB. That’s what made me do the post.

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  16. Their music reminds me a bit of The Cars. The Centerfold tune and video were pretty cool, although by that time, I was deep into the country music mine shaft and was sweating Cash and Haggard out or all pores.

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  17. I got to see Peter Wolf play some classics with an all star backing band at the Boston Garden a couple of years ago. He was 76 at the time, his voice is as good as ever and he was moving around the stage like he was 25. His story would make a great Hollywood biopic.

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    1. His book…I cannot reccomend enough! He met so many people and seems so down to earth. I’m jealous…if I get a chance I will see him.

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  18. I like Blow Your Face Out as much as Full House. (Both are live recordings, with Blow Your Face Out spanning two discs.) They were great. I loved the EMI singles.

    A group of Nashville players put out an album as a lark, bluegrass versions of rock hits. I played it once, it was cute and funny. Also, the Austin Lounge Lizards did a bluegrass version of a Pink Floyd song. I am so NOT into Pink Floyd that I can’t tell you the name of the song, but I love the bluegrass version. (The lyric includes “Meet me on the dark side of the moon.”)

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    1. Blow Your Face Out includes the band doing “Where Did Our Love Go,” the old Supremes hit. Peter Wolf doing Diana Ross is hilarious, and absolutely rocks.

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    2. Yea I’ve heard bluegrass bands do AC/DC and others. I do enjoy some bluegrass…
      I love the J Geils band…especailly in the 70s and I think Wolf was just as good or better than Jagger in being a frontman.

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