Complete List Of The J. Geils Band Albums And Songs

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This Complete List Of The J. Geils Band Albums And Songs presents the band’s full discography of eleven studio albums and three official live albums. Formed in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1967, the group built its reputation on a high-energy mixture of rock, blues, R&B, and soul. The classic lineup featured Peter Wolf, J. Geils, Seth Justman, Magic Dick, Danny Klein, and Stephen Jo Bladd.

The studio albums are presented chronologically from the 1970 self-titled debut through You’re Gettin’ Even While I’m Gettin’ Odd in 1984, followed by the three live albums. Each section includes the original release date and complete original track listing. The catalog shows how the band moved from hard-driving blues and R&B into the polished rock and new-wave-influenced sound that produced its biggest commercial success in the early 1980s.

J. GEILS BAND STUDIO ALBUMS

The J. Geils Band (1970)

Released: November 16, 1970

The J. Geils Band’s self-titled debut introduced the Boston-area sextet’s hard-driving mixture of blues, R&B, soul, and rock and roll. Recorded at A&R Studios in New York City in August 1970, the album was produced by Dave Crawford and Brad Shapiro. Peter Wolf, J. Geils, Seth Justman, Magic Dick, Danny Klein, and Stephen Jo Bladd already sounded like a band built for the stage, even in the studio. Originals such as “Wait” and “Hard Drivin’ Man” sit beside covers including John Lee Hooker’s “Serves You Right to Suffer” and “First I Look at the Purse.” The album reached No. 195 on the Billboard 200, but it established the musical personality that would define the band’s early career.

Track Listing:

1. “Wait” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 3:25
2. “Ice Breaker (For the Big ‘M’)” – J. Geils – 2:15
3. “Cruisin’ for a Love” – Juke Joint Jimmy – 2:32
4. “Hard Drivin’ Man” – Peter Wolf, J. Geils – 2:18
5. “Serves You Right to Suffer” – John Lee Hooker – 5:01
6. “Homework” – Otis Rush, Al Perkins, Dave Clark – 2:45
7. “First I Look at the Purse” – Robert Rogers, Smokey Robinson – 3:54
8. “What’s Your Hurry” – Peter Wolf, Seth Justman – 2:44
9. “On Borrowed Time” – Peter Wolf, Seth Justman – 3:03
10. “Pack Fair and Square” – Walter Price – 2:01
11. “Sno-Cone” – Albert Collins – 3:24

The Morning After (1971)

Released: October 2, 1971

The J. Geils Band returned with The Morning After less than a year after its debut and immediately sounded more confident. The album was recorded at Record Plant West in Los Angeles and produced by Bill Szymczyk with Seth Justman also receiving production credit. “Looking for a Love” became the band’s first Top 40 single, reaching No. 39 on the Billboard Hot 100. Magic Dick’s “Whammer Jammer” became one of the group’s signature live showcases, while “Cry One More Time” later attracted a notable cover by Gram Parsons. The album reached No. 64 on the Billboard 200 and helped turn the group from a regional favorite into a national touring force.

Track Listing:

1. “I Don’t Need You No More” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 2:36
2. “Whammer Jammer” – Juke Joint Jimmy – 2:37
3. “So Sharp” – Arlester “Dyke” Christian – 3:10
4. “The Usual Place” – Don Covay – 2:45
5. “Gotta Have Your Love” – James Shaw – 4:32
6. “Looking for a Love” – J.W. Alexander, Zelda Samuels – 3:47
7. “Gonna Find Me a New Love” – Juke Joint Jimmy – 3:24
8. “Cry One More Time” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 3:23
9. “Floyd’s Hotel” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 3:11
10. “It Ain’t What You Do (It’s How You Do It!)” – Billy Butler, Henry Butler, Rose Marie McCoy – 5:12

Bloodshot (1973)

Released: April 12, 1973

Bloodshot was the J. Geils Band’s commercial breakthrough and its first Top 10 album. Produced by Bill Szymczyk and recorded at the Hit Factory in New York City, the record sharpened the band’s combination of R&B covers and Wolf-Justman originals. “Give It to Me” reached No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100, while “Southside Shuffle” and “Back to Get Ya” became enduring favorites. Original U.S. copies were famously pressed on red vinyl, making the album visually distinctive as well as musically important. Bloodshot peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold.

Track Listing:

1. “(Ain’t Nothin’ But a) House Party” – Del Sharh, Joseph Thomas – 4:43
2. “Make Up Your Mind” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 3:30
3. “Back to Get Ya” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 5:19
4. “Struttin’ with My Baby” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 3:18
5. “Don’t Try to Hide It” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 2:34
6. “Southside Shuffle” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 3:43
7. “Hold Your Loving” – Bernice Snelson, Titus Turner – 2:32
8. “Start All Over Again” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 4:13
9. “Give It to Me” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 6:32

Ladies Invited (1973)

Released: November 9, 1973

Released only months after Bloodshot, Ladies Invited gave the J. Geils Band another full set produced by Bill Szymczyk. The record was made at the Hit Factory in New York City and leaned more heavily on original material written by Peter Wolf and Seth Justman. Songs such as “Did You No Wrong,” “The Lady Makes Demands,” and “Chimes” show the band stretching beyond the compact R&B attack of its earliest records. The album reached No. 51 on the Billboard 200, short of the breakthrough achieved by Bloodshot. Its reputation has grown among fans who value the band’s deeper 1970s catalog.

Track Listing:

1. “Did You No Wrong” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 4:08
2. “I Can’t Go On” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 5:04
3. “Lay Your Good Thing Down” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 4:32
4. “That’s Why I’m Thinking of You” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 3:13
5. “No Doubt About It” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 3:40
6. “The Lady Makes Demands” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 4:21
7. “My Baby Don’t Love Me” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 3:42
8. “Diddyboppin'” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 3:31
9. “Take a Chance (On Romance)” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 3:56
10. “Chimes” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 5:03

Nightmares…and Other Tales from the Vinyl Jungle (1974)

Released: September 25, 1974

Nightmares…and Other Tales from the Vinyl Jungle returned the J. Geils Band to the upper reaches of the album charts. Produced by Bill Szymczyk and recorded at the Record Plant and the Hit Factory in New York, the album reached No. 26 on the Billboard 200. “Must of Got Lost” became one of the band’s biggest 1970s singles, climbing to No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Detroit Breakdown” and “Stoop Down #39” reinforced the group’s reputation for songs that could explode onstage. The album stands as one of the strongest bridges between the band’s blues-R&B roots and the more polished direction that followed.

Track Listing:

1. “Detroit Breakdown” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 6:02
2. “Givin’ It All Up” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 3:44
3. “Must of Got Lost” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 5:06
4. “Look Me in the Eye” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 3:59
5. “Nightmares” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 1:15
6. “Stoop Down #39” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 6:53
7. “I’ll Be Coming Home” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 4:40
8. “Funky Judge” – Andre Williams, Leo Hutton – 3:19
9. “Gettin’ Out” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 5:49

Hotline (1975)

Released: September 9, 1975

Hotline was the J. Geils Band’s sixth studio album and another hard-driving mix of originals, blues, and soul material. Bill Szymczyk and Allan Blazek handled the principal production, with Seth Justman also receiving production credit. The record opens with the Harvey Scales song “Love-Itis” and moves through originals such as “Easy Way Out,” “Mean Love,” and “Fancy Footwork.” It reached No. 36 on the Billboard 200 and did not produce a major pop single, but several tracks became favorites among listeners who preferred the band’s tougher 1970s sound. The original telephone-themed package also became one of the more distinctive covers in the group’s catalog.

Track Listing:

1. “Love-Itis” – Harvey Scales, Albert Vance – 4:38
2. “Easy Way Out” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 4:04
3. “Think It Over” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 4:40
4. “Be Careful (What You Do)” – John Brim – 4:02
5. “Jealous Love” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 4:09
6. “Mean Love” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 5:04
7. “Orange Driver” – Eddie “Guitar” Burns – 4:29
8. “Believe in Me” – Curtis Mayfield – 4:42
9. “Fancy Footwork” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 5:25

Monkey Island (1977)

Released: June 9, 1977

Monkey Island found the band, temporarily billed simply as Geils, moving into more ambitious studio territory. Produced by the J. Geils Band and recorded at the Record Plant in New York, the album ranges from the funk of “Surrender” to the long, atmospheric title track. Cissy Houston sings lead on “Surrender,” while Luther Vandross and several other noted vocalists appear among the background singers. The record reached No. 51 on the Billboard 200 and did not produce the commercial comeback the band wanted. Even so, songs such as “I’m Falling,” “So Good,” and the closing “Wreckage” have helped the album earn a strong cult reputation.

Track Listing:

1. “Surrender” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 3:49
2. “You’re the Only One” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 3:05
3. “I Do” – Frank Paden, Johnny Paden, Alfred Smith, Willie Stephenson – 3:09
4. “Somebody” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 5:13
5. “I’m Falling” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 5:41
6. “Monkey Island” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 9:02
7. “I’m Not Rough” – Louis Armstrong – 3:03
8. “So Good” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 3:19
9. “Wreckage” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 5:23

Sanctuary (1978)

Released: November 13, 1978

Sanctuary opened a new chapter for the J. Geils Band as its first studio album for EMI. Produced by Joe Wissert and recorded at Longview Farm in Massachusetts and the Record Plant in New York, the album brought more polish to the group’s established rock and R&B attack. “One Last Kiss” reached No. 35 on the Billboard Hot 100, while the title track became an enduring part of the band’s live repertoire. The album reached No. 49 on the Billboard 200 and earned a gold certification in the United States. Its cleaner production pointed directly toward the larger commercial breakthrough of the next two studio records.

Track Listing:

1. “I Could Hurt You” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf
2. “One Last Kiss” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf
3. “Take It Back” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf
4. “Sanctuary” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf
5. “Teresa” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf
6. “Wild Man” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf
7. “I Can’t Believe You” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf
8. “I Don’t Hang Around Much Anymore” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf
9. “Jus’ Can’t Stop Me” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf

Love Stinks (1980)

Released: January 28, 1980

Love Stinks moved the J. Geils Band further toward the polished rock and new-wave-influenced sound that defined its early 1980s success. Keyboardist Seth Justman took over the main production duties, and the album was recorded at Long View Farm in Massachusetts. The title track became one of the band’s best-known songs, while “Come Back” and “Just Can’t Wait” also received substantial radio attention. The album peaked at No. 18 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold in the United States. Its sharper hooks and expanded use of keyboards set the stage for the massive success of Freeze-Frame the following year.

Track Listing:

1. “Just Can’t Wait” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 3:25
2. “Come Back” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 5:10
3. “Takin’ You Down” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 4:07
4. “Night Time” – Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein, Richard Gottehrer – 4:32
5. “No Anchovies, Please” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 2:43
6. “Love Stinks” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 3:45
7. “Tryin’ Not to Think About It” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 6:22
8. “Desire (Please Don’t Turn Away)” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 3:37
9. “Till the Walls Come Tumblin’ Down” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 4:07

Freeze-Frame (1981)

Released: October 26, 1981

Freeze-Frame became the J. Geils Band’s commercial high point and its only No. 1 album on the Billboard 200. Seth Justman produced the record and wrote or co-wrote every song, bringing synthesizers, horns, and a sleek pop-rock finish into the band’s sound. “Centerfold” spent six weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, while “Freeze-Frame” reached No. 4 and “Angel in Blue” reached the Top 40. The album remained at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for four weeks and was certified platinum. It was also the final J. Geils Band studio album to feature Peter Wolf on lead vocals.

Track Listing:

1. “Freeze-Frame” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 3:57
2. “Rage in the Cage” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 4:57
3. “Centerfold” – Seth Justman – 3:36
4. “Do You Remember When” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 4:46
5. “Insane, Insane Again” – Seth Justman – 4:44
6. “Flamethrower” – Seth Justman – 4:59
7. “River Blindness” – Seth Justman – 6:05
8. “Angel in Blue” – Seth Justman – 4:51
9. “Piss on the Wall” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 3:03

You’re Gettin’ Even While I’m Gettin’ Odd (1984)

Released: October 5, 1984

You’re Gettin’ Even While I’m Gettin’ Odd was the J. Geils Band’s eleventh and final studio album. It was the only studio record made without Peter Wolf, who had left the group in 1983, leaving Seth Justman to handle most of the lead vocals as well as production and arranging. Stephen Jo Bladd also sang lead on three tracks, giving the record a noticeably different vocal identity from the band’s earlier work. “Concealed Weapons” reached No. 63 on the Billboard Hot 100, but the album itself stalled at No. 80 on the Billboard 200. The band broke up the following year, closing its original recording career with a heavily produced and more synthesizer-centered sound.

Track Listing:

1. “Concealed Weapons” – Seth Justman, Paul Justman – 3:30
2. “Heavy Petting” – Seth Justman, Paul Justman – 4:16
3. “Wasted Youth” – Seth Justman, Paul Justman – 4:30
4. “Eenie, Meenie, Minie, Moe” – Seth Justman, Paul Justman – 3:54
5. “Tell ‘Em, Jonesy” – Seth Justman, Paul Justman – 4:46
6. “You’re Gettin’ Even While I’m Gettin’ Odd” – Seth Justman – 6:56
7. “The Bite from Inside” – Seth Justman, Paul Justman – 5:50
8. “Californicatin'” – Seth Justman, Paul Justman – 4:07
9. “I Will Carry You Home” – Seth Justman, Paul Justman – 6:09

J. GEILS BAND LIVE ALBUMS

Live Full House (1972)

Released: September 26, 1972

Live Full House captured the J. Geils Band at Detroit’s Cinderella Ballroom on April 21 and 22, 1972. Produced by Geoffrey Haslam and the band, the album distilled the intensity of the group’s live show into eight tightly sequenced performances. Magic Dick’s “Whammer Jammer,” the extended “Serves You Right to Suffer,” and “Looking for a Love” became defining moments in the band’s concert catalog. The album reached No. 54 on the Billboard 200 and was later certified gold. It remains the first of the band’s three official live albums and one of the recordings most closely associated with its reputation as a ferocious stage act.

Track Listing:

1. “First I Look at the Purse” – Robert Rogers, Smokey Robinson – 3:56
2. “Homework” – Dave Clark, Al Perkins, Otis Rush – 2:34
3. “Pack Fair and Square” – Walter Travis Price – 1:41
4. “Whammer Jammer” – Juke Joint Jimmy – 2:21
5. “Hard Drivin’ Man” – J. Geils, Peter Wolf – 4:23
6. “Serves You Right to Suffer” – John Lee Hooker – 9:32
7. “Cruisin’ for a Love” – Juke Joint Jimmy – 3:32
8. “Looking for a Love” – J.W. Alexander, Zelda Samuels – 4:55

Blow Your Face Out (1976)

Released: April 22, 1976

Blow Your Face Out was the J. Geils Band’s second live album and a much larger two-record document of the group’s mid-1970s stage show. The performances were recorded at Boston Garden on November 15, 1975 and Cobo Arena in Detroit on November 19, 1975. Bill Szymczyk, Allan Blazek, and Seth Justman received production credit for the album. The set reaches across the band’s Atlantic catalog, combining originals with R&B and soul covers and leaving room for Peter Wolf’s stage introductions and the band’s extended arrangements. The album reached No. 40 on the Billboard 200 and remains one of the most complete documents of the classic lineup at full live power.

Track Listing:

1. “Southside Shuffle” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 4:16
2. “Back to Get Ya” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 4:38
3. “Shoot Your Shot” – Junior Walker, James Graves, Lawrence Horn – 3:56
4. “Must of Got Lost” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 6:34
5. “Where Did Our Love Go” – Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Eddie Holland Jr. – 4:00
6. “Truck Drivin’ Man” – Terry Fell – 1:52
7. “Love-Itis” – Harvey Scales, Albert Vance – 4:05
8. “Lookin’ for a Love” – J.W. Alexander, Zelda Samuels – 2:06
9. “Ain’t Nothin’ but a Houseparty” – Del Sharh, Joe Thomas – 5:04
10. “So Sharp” – Arlester “Dyke” Christian – 2:38
11. “Detroit Breakdown” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 6:25
12. “Chimes” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 8:56
13. “Sno-Cone” – Albert Collins – 3:04
14. “Wait” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 3:44
15. “Raise Your Hand” – Steve Cropper, Eddie Floyd, Alvertis Isbell – 4:08
16. “Start All Over Again” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 2:21
17. “Give It to Me” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 6:52

Showtime! (1982)

Released: November 12, 1982

Showtime! was the J. Geils Band’s third and final live album during its original recording career. Recorded at Pine Knob Music Theatre in Clarkston, Michigan on September 4, 1982, it captures the band at the height of the Freeze-Frame era. Seth Justman produced and arranged the album, which combines newer hits such as “Centerfold” and “Love Stinks” with material from Sanctuary and Monkey Island. The record reached No. 23 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold. It was also the band’s final release before Peter Wolf’s departure in 1983.

Track Listing:

1. “Jus’ Can’t Stop Me” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 3:44
2. “Just Can’t Wait” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 3:27
3. “Till the Walls Come Tumblin’ Down” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 3:31
4. “Sanctuary” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 3:49
5. “I’m Falling” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 6:01
6. “Love Rap” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 5:14
7. “Love Stinks” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 3:28
8. “Stoop Down #39” – Seth Justman, Peter Wolf – 5:56
9. “I Do” – Melvin Mason, Johnny Paden, Frank Paden, Jesse Smith, Willie Stephenson – 3:04
10. “Centerfold” – Seth Justman – 4:03
11. “Land of a Thousand Dances” – Chris Kenner – 5:41

Check out more J. Geils Band articles on ClassicRockHistory.com.

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Read More: Top 10 J. Geils Band Albums

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Updated September 20, 2026.

Complete List Of The J. Geils Band Albums And Songs article published on ClassicRockHistory.com © 2026