Killed by the Blues Brothers?

The J. Geils Band was a bit the same adventure as his fellow ZZ Top after him obtain a series of planetary hits more or less expected, and this after 10 years of their career have not been better that a critical success (1) and an enviable reputation as a live band. ZZ Top, cf. the album 'Eliminator (Collector`s Edition)' (1983) and the J. Geils Band, view album 'Freeze Frame', particularly with the single 'Centerfold' US No. 1 for six weeks in 1981.

Here, at the beginning of 2014, following the low cost package 'The J. Geils Band: Original Album Series 1' published in 2010, and also the end of the complete discography for the legendary Atlantic Records company formed this group in 1967 by students of processed R & B and soul music.

'Nightmares & Other Tales From The Vinyl Jungle' (1974) is perhaps the best studio album of the group at the time. It opens with the hard-hitting 'Detroit Breakdown', which shows that the guitarist J. Geils is a "rhythmist" a soloist and Seth Justman on keyboards and especially, erm, Magic Dick harmonica (the best Non African American since Toots Thielemans?) save the motherland for solos. All compositions, R & B or funk rock under the law of the group, are excellent, and even when the experimental fly picnics for the short 'Nightmares', our ears are still cherished in the right direction of hair. **** 1/2

'Hotline' (1975) is less transcendent but remains effective. *** 1/2

'Live. Blow Your Face Out! ' (1976), originally a double vinyl album with 74+ minutes of listening, is still today a monument like "public record". The group brings together the best of its catalog, with times also came Motown or Stax house, the singer Peter Wolf is showing particularly efficient as qu'ambianceur, halfway Mick Jagger and legendary African-American of these two influences singers. The album, sometimes limits "punk" in terms of energy, offers no respite. **** 1/2

With 'Monkey Island' (1977), signed "Geils" (!?!), We approach a period of gender group "I got lost goats" (1). Yet it begins well, with 'Surrender', but 'You're The Only One' shows a band that has a chair between the buttocks "Eagles" and another on behalf of "Doobie Brothers" (or something). 'I Do' is a possible hit (it will not be until 1982 in "live" version), but the rest of skeud that the rating can not exceed ***.

'Best of' (1979) is 38+ minutes for Best Group at Atlantic. There are two selections from the legendary "Full House" Live "(1972), but also the 'Detroit City Breakdown' and 'I Do' already mentioned, among other titles already present in this case. ****

The overall package is cardboard low cost. Each disc is stored in a low cost cardboard sleeve reproducing the front and back covers of the original vinyl albums.

(1) See the signed board Manoeuvre / Clerc for the resumption of 'First I Look At The Purse' of J. Geils Band.
(2) in the unforgettable words of Pascal Pape, after the game against those of French rugby in Wales during the 2014 Six Nations Championship.