After their initial commercial successes the group seemed destined to be nothing more than a party band, until the release of Monkey Island (1977), followed by Sanctuary (1978). Both bands later played the last show at the Fillmore East.
On August 17, 1971, at a show in the Boston Common, The Allman Brothers Band named The J. Magic Dick is still regarded as one of the best lead harmonica players in rock and roll. The band attracted special attention for its innovative use of the harmonica as a lead instrument. Geils Band was a finalist nominee for selection to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Class Of 2011, but were not selected for induction that year. In September 2010 it was announced that The J. Later in the 1970s, the band signedwith EMI America Records.
They then began to get AM radio airplay as well with a series of several hit singles in the 1970s, the most successful of which were “Looking for a Love” (1971), “Give it to Me” (1973), a cover version of The Showstoppers’ “Ain’t Nothin’ But a Houseparty” (1973) and “Must of Got Lost” (1974). Geils Band first received FM radio airplay with the live single “First I Look at the Purse”. The third live album was recorded in Detroit and Boston. Two of their three live albums were recorded in Detroit at various venues.
The group signed to Atlantic Records in 1970.Īlthough living in Boston, the band had always considered Detroit their second home because of their enormous popularity there. The following year, former fan Seth Justman joined as an organist. Geils Blues Band, later dropping the word “Blues” from the band name. In 1967, the band switched focus, starting to play electric guitar and bass and recruiting drummer Stephen Jo Bladd and fast-talking ex-disc jockey singer Peter Wolf, born Peter Blankenfeld, both from Boston. The band formed under the name ‘Snoopy and the Sopwith Camels’, while Geils was attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute for a couple of semesters. Funk) and harmonica player Richard “Magic Dick” Salwitz. Geils Band started as an acoustic blues trio in the mid 1960s with singer and guitarist John Geils, bassist Danny Klein (Dr.