J. Geils Band - The Morning After
Atlantic
Bluesy Rock'n'Roll
10 songs (34:37)
Release year: 1971
Atlantic Records
Reviewed by Tony
Archive review

Well, this has been a different week. Not sure why but I have chosen to review music that is not Extreme Metal. My profile states that I love Big Band Jazz. While that has no correlation to Heavy Metal, and is therefore not applicable to MR, the J. Geils Band is.

BEHOLD: Vocals: Bruce Dickinson. Guitars: John Petrucci and Glen Tipton. Bass: Alex Webster. Drums: Inferno. Harmonica??? Magic freakin Dick.

Would obviously fall flat on its face. Just like the doubters said when the (real) big 3 came to my Miami Heat and subsequently gashed playoff teams throwing their starters at them in the preseason. With leading virtuoso Magic Dick at the helm, the J. Geils Band play a brand of Bluesy Rock’n’Roll with a hint of that Bayou charm. They are from Worcester, Massachusetts, which is puzzling. Nonetheless however, they play a Southern style and they do it well. The bulk of their production which included their most successful years spanned from their inception in 1967 through the early 1980s. Their most notable track was Centerfold, which peaked at #1 in 1982.

The album in focus is The Morning After. This 1971 record saw a significant jump in the popularity of the J. Geils Band and did well in showcasing the talents of all musicians. Guitarist and vocalist John Geils and harmonica player Magic Dick are truly the highlights of The Morning After. The opening track is I Don’t Need You No More. This song immediately declares the style behind The J. Geils Band. It is a fun track with a nice bluesy piano background which does well to add that blues dimension to the Rock’n’Roll of the band. I may be listening to a remaster, but the music has a nice vintage, yet very clear feel to it.

The second song off The Morning After is one of most iconic solo pieces of modern music. Whammer Jammer is an entire song that revolves around an unbelievable harmonica solo. Magic Dick plays the harmonica better than anyone. He gets sounds out of his handheld instrument that not many knew could be played before Whammer Jammer. This of course, is one of the coolest songs to hear live ever. Whammer Jammer would be a fantastic background song during a barroom brawl in a vintage. It captures the silliness of beat and the upbeat and happy tones he plays, all while leaving you in sheer awe at what he just did.

However, too many songs are just standard bluesy rock songs about love and women. That is far too standard a premise to warrant a top score. If more songs were like Whammer Jammer, this album would be phenomenal. But alas, The Morning After does what it does well, but maintains far too much of a consistent formula. Creativity on the guitars and drums needed to be at a higher grade here. This is however, a nice album for any Rock’n’Roll or Blues fan. Whammer Jammer is a classic song that any fan should hear.

Killing Songs :
I Don't Need You no More, Whammer Jammer, Gonna Find Me a New Love
Tony quoted 76 / 100
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There are 10 replies to this review. Last one on Thu Oct 21, 2010 7:15 am
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