Re: Rick Estrin & Magic Dick

[Gatorharp@xxxxxxx]

wbradley@xxxxxxxxxx writes:
<< Actually, it was keyboard player Seth Justman, not Peter Wolf, who was 
 responsible for pop schlock like "Centerfold".  Peter Wolf was into 
 doo-wop and R&B and actually left the band due to friction with Justman. >>

to which markwilson53@xxxxxxx replies
<< Now I'm really confused.  Who was the guy in the hokey mid 80's MTV videos
 doing vocals in songs like Centerfold, Love Stinks, etc..  Wasn't that Peter
 Wolf? >>
what he's trying to say isn't that wolf wasn't the front man, but that 
justman was providing the musical direction.  i was always under the impression that 
wolf split because he was writing stuff outside of the band and wanted the 
band to record some of it.  wolf's first solo album isn't that far removed from 
those last j geils albums.  later albums have had a more traditional rock&roll 
sound.


jandkday@xxxxxxxxxxx writes:
<<  J. Geils sounds better as a pop band IMHO. >>
i've always liked both.  i think "centerfold" is neither the worst or best 
thing they ever recorded.  nor is "whammer jammer".  during those years that 
they made a transition from their initial blues-rock-r&b style to the more pop 
oriented stuff (although the pop was there from the beginning and the 
blues-rock-r&b never left), they actually suffered commercially.  i think it's natural 
for people who are musically curious (as everyone in the band claimed to be) to 
want to try other things.  that it became popular says more about marketing 
and luck than anything.  the music world is littered with music that attempted 
to reach a mass audience, but failed to catch on.  

steven j gatorman