The J. Geils Band /ˌdʒeɪ ˈɡaɪlz/ is an American rock band formed in 1967 in Worcester, Massachusetts, under the leadership of guitarist J. Geils.
The band played R&B-influenced blues rock in the 1970s before moving towards a more new wave sound in the 1980s. Since its initial break-up in 1985, the band has reunited several times.
Their biggest hit was their 1981 single, "Centerfold," which charted No. 1 in the United States in early 1982.
The band started as an acoustic blues trio in the mid 1960s, with vocalist and guitarist John Geils, bassist Danny Klein (Dr. Funk) and harmonica player Richard Salwitz (stage name Magic Dick).
The band formed under the name 'Snoopy and the Sopwith Camels,' while Geils was attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute for a couple of semesters. 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, (originally from the Bronx). They became the J. Geils Blues Band, later dropping the word "Blues" from the band name. The following year, former fan Seth Justman joined as an organist. The group signed to Atlantic Records in 1970.
The J. Geils Band is the self-titled debut album by American rock band The J. Geils Band, released in 1970 (see 1970 in music).
"First I Look at the Purse" is one of the songs featured in Nick Hornby's book 31 Songs.
If you say you're the ring finger on my stone
Well I say I'm a kite with a key
If you say that you are unsure of things
Well I'm not accepting defeat
Are we strong enough
Is it good enough
Am I brave enough
For the both of us
I will sing you songs
Even though you can't put 'em on your finger
I'll never be a diamond mine, I'm just a singer
I will sing you songs
Wishing my words carried on as long as a stone
On a band of gold
You're sleepwalking through the daylight
How else am I supposed to follow a dream
And now you say I can't wait on you to connect these hands
But I'm still trying to reach
So are we strong enough
Is it good enough
You pray hard enough
For the both of us
I will sing you songs
Even though you can't put 'em on your finger
I'll never be a diamond mine, I'm just a singer
I will sing you songs
Wishing my words carried on as long as a stone
On a band of gold
'Cause I'm just a rolling stone in a band on the road
I know words don't mean
Much on their own
But what I sing to you
Is worth more than a stone
I will sing you songs
Even though you can't put 'em on your finger
I'll never be a diamond mine, I'm just a singer
I will sing you songs
Wishing my words carried on as long as a stone
On a band of gold
'Cause I'm just a rolling stone in a band on the road
You said you want a stone
On a band of gold
What you got is a rolling stone
In a band on the road
Yeah I'm just a rolling stone in a band on the road
I haven't seen the sun in days
Man, it's getting to me
Well that's our industry
I lost my happy thoughts
Caught up in a tree
Flying's harder for me now
And kiss my ass you dream
I hope you're hearing me
No one's bet on you quite like I did
It's taken everything I've got
To keep myself on the road
I don't wanna drive no more
I am a stubborn bull
I am a caveman
A cheap tattoo
Gone from black to blue
So I don't wanna hear it from you
Never gonna be a spaceman
Sitting on my tin can
Never come back
I spend my afternoons
Making masterpieces
People would later understand
Well damn you wishing well
You should've told me
I bought dreams you wouldn't sell
It's taken everything I've god
To keep my hands from my face
I don't wanna cry no more
I found dangers in
Acting out
Dreams never meant
To be carried out
Oh, but I am the stubborn bull
Yeah, I am a caveman
A cheap tattoo
Fading from black to blue
So I don't wanna hear it from you