Wednesday, May 28, 2008

J. Geils Band "You're Gettin' Even While I'm Gettin' Odd" last album 1984!


Hi all I know I said I'd be around more, but this time I mean it! I've been slammed with work and that will level out a bit, but the main point is that I am digitizing some rare material to share & post for you right now!
To kick it off I have a special album for you: J. Geils Band's last album from 1984 "You're Gettin' Even While I'm Gettin' Odd"! This album has never been released on CD except for a RARE, ultra-expensive Japanese version, so I digitized it from a brand new audio cassette.

I love the J. Geils Band, they were in some ways kinda considered the American version of the Rolling Stones, yet still way different. They have many albums from the '70s which I still need to get. Yet, they hit their global success in 1980 which was my generation as a little kid! Of course you all know the classics: "Love Stinks", "Freeze Frame", "Centerfold", etc. I think the J. Geils Band really found the perfect mix of power, pop. hip, riffs, humor, hooks, synthesizer, effects, and overall ripping & fun rock n' roll with the 1980 album "Love Stinks". Of course it just got even better with the next 1981 album "Freeze Frame", when keyboard/synthesizer wizard Seth Justman supplied the hits & nearly all of the material at that point. Each member of the band is a classic character & they all shred hard and contribute their own special flair. They still always have that unique blend of an OLDIES sound in the tunes no matter how the style is - what band gives you that?!
Unfortunately in 1983, the band's beloved frontman Peter Wolf left the group over artistic disagreements. Even though Peter Wolf rules and it sucks that he left, the genius of Seth Justman (way ahead of his time) kept the band alive for their final 1984 release "You're Gettin' Even While I'm Gettin' Odd". Seth took over the lead vocals, and he and the rest of the band had always produced really awesome background vocals & melodies on every album anyway. I knew that Justman must have filled in admirably because he is the lead singer on their epic 1985 soundtrack theme from one of my top favorite movies of all time "FRIGHT NIGHT"!

So also, I had read some reviews that said their last album would have been a smash hit if Peter Wolf was still the frontman, and they were right! It builds on the sound that Justman had delved into on "Freeze Frame" - more elaborate synths, time signatures, creativity, and overall heightened sound & production. They broke up in 1985, and I guess that being without your main frontman can take some great bands down even if they still rule and have all of the other original members (they have reunited for some shows in the last few years so that's cool!). But "You're Gettin' Even While I'm Gettin' Odd" was a kickass swan song and is just as good as anything else! Check out the song title "Californicatin' ", sound familiar? I just digitzed this album this weekend so I'm excited to share it with all of you being it's still so new to me! Search for the hidden download link and enjoy my friends! PLAY IT LOUD!
Track listing:
1. Concealed Weapons
2. Heavy Petting
3. Wasted Youth
4. Eenie, Meenie, Minie, Moe
5. Tell 'Em, Jonesy
6. You're Gettin' Even While I'm Gettin' Odd
7. The Bite from Inside
8. Californicatin'
9. I Will Carry You Home

15 comments:

Alex said...

Thanks Jason!
I've got a huge collection of music from the 80's and this is a fabulous edition!
I guess I'm getting old and a little sentimental :)

Talk at ya soon!
Alex

Kevie Metal said...

Wow, thanks a lot for putting this up. I was wanting to hear this again, and dismayed to find out it's been expunged from the band's CD library. You saved me a long and fruitless search for my old cassette copy!

Anonymous said...

I like this album Concealed Weapons, Heavy Petting,Wasted Youth





your favorite

Unknown said...

freakin AWESOME. I've been looking for a long time. I even have a friend in Japan looking for the CD for me....
How can I repay the favor? PayPal? share some of my J.Geils collection?

Marshall Dunn's Satire Emporium said...

I have all their albums but haven't digitalized them all yet. Thanks. I'll be happy to return the favor.

Spencer said...

I'd love to check this out, but I can't figure out where to download. Any help would be appreciated.

Unknown said...

This movie is amazing. I feel like Salieri a lot.
Mission Hills Real Estate

dubaiexperies said...

this I'm Gettin' Odd" last album 1984!by Tuesday Knight in I'm Gettin' Odd" last album 1984!
But this song is not in Ost of this movie, But i Arranged this song from the movie for you.
i have to lengthen the music, and i withdrew a maximum of sound effects in the music.
Sorry for my English.
Leucadia Real Estate

Unknown said...

just digitzed this album this weekend so I'm excited to share it with all of you being it's still so new to me!
Lakeside Home Search

Unknown said...

This movie is amazing. I feel like Salieri a lot.wholesale home decor

Unknown said...

Jason, is it possible to re-up the link for "Tuesday Knight" solo album? The link is down :(

Thanks!

checking said...

thanks for sharing such a nice post
bobbi boss

checking said...

you can not only be informed, but also entertained! I'm sure you had fun writing this article. Excellent entry! I'm been looking for topics as interesting as this. Looking forward to your next postsaga hair

design for communication said...

I had a cassette version of this album which I literally broke. It is one of THE greatest pop records ever made, IMHO. You can say what you want about Michael Jackson's Thriller album, but I consider that album to be one of the ten best pop albums ever made, if not THE best pop album ever made. This is a close second, and in many, many places even better. Just simply unbelievable. I have looked for years for this CD (way no longer in production), on and offline, but could only find it on LP and cassette tape, neither of which I can play. So, anyway, I was ecstatic (understatement) to find this link. Will be listening to over and over and over and over, and over again. :-) Yeah, I love my wasted youth, too; and the concealed weapons
;-) Just floored by this

Ian Benjamin said...

I am a hardcore defender of "Even / Odd" - I will forever protect the album (which is the same vintage as myself) from the haters on the J. Geils Band Facebook pages! Ha! Just a quick question: Is there a way to get ahold of Seth Justman's interviews & articles regarding this album? I see some vintage magazines on eBay, but I live in a faraway land and shipping ain't cheap. Also, I actually found the SHEET MUSIC book for this album at a library (they had to dig it out of the archives via inter-library loan). That was a long time ago - the book has some additional pictures of the band, etc. Yes, Justman is #1 in terms of mixing old-school R&B sounds with screaming synths, and he's my #3 piano influence after Billy Joel and Roy Bittan (yup, he's THAT GOOD).