Search - J. Band Geils :: Ladies Invited

This is the one you want to buy!

Mendicant Pigeon | pdx, or United States | 12/23/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The J. Geils Band is a musical enigma because it is the greatest 1970's American Rock & Roll Band to ever fly below the radar. It may be the sound this band made was just too darned intimate to be successfully ramped up to the 'stadium-rock' size that was obligatory for 1970's super bands, or it may be that the band's individuals had talent that ran so deep and so broad that it was impossible for the band to get an easily digestible signature sound to launch it into world -wide orbit (Their style ran the gamut from the proto-reggae "give it to me," through the rock anthemesqe 'Whammer Jammer,' to the neo-romantic 'Chimes' contained on this album). Whatever the underlying cause, the J. Geils Band must now be relegated to the role of 'best house band ever.' Never mind that the house just happens to be the entire Northeast United States. Even though they were at their peak a bit before my time (although ironically they didn't actually make it 'big' until 'Monkey Island' which was issued in my era and was way out of character which may explain why the band broke apart thereafter), I can't tell you how many times people have recounted anecdotes of their best live musical experience ever with the J. Geils Band as the principal actor in the story. Theirs was the ultimate honky tonk, R&B, industrial funk sound that was as much a definition of our culture at the time as platform shoes, flared pants, big hair and very large Detroit steel. When they lay their good thing down with rashers of raucous harp, copious amounts of Hammond Organ and prodigious amounts of Gibson guitar licks one is hearing blissed out 1970's bar band rock and roll at its very best!!!
The J. Geils band make a party-kind of move your feet and jack your body type of bobalicious hooby dooby wapalooba dooby doo music that will wash away any bad feelings you had when you put one of their albums on: Their sound is that great big feeling of great that we all want to have but find hard to get.
As to 'Ladies Invited,' the reason this one deserves a big fat five stars is that despite the raunchy honky tonk rock and roll rhythm and blues flavor they are renowned for, the band here exposes a contemplative, even romantic side, which in some songs stands up to any love song recorded anytime anywhere. For example, in 'Chimes' which is the most haunting ballad of longing you may ever hear, the band strips its sound down to the raw act of longing in a way so lonesome-feeling that one is deceived into believing he is listening to a single. It hurts.
Because the band expresses itself so well and so broadly in this album, I rate it not only as one of their best but also THE best entre to the sound of The J. Geils Band that one can purchase."

I see It Differently than the others..

Original Mixed Up-Kid | New York United States | 08/04/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This was an underated gem by the public who were used to Give It To Me and Looking For A Love but went noticed by the critics when it hit. Chimes and DiddyBoppin' had radio play I recall.

Not only was it their funkiest and most soulful release coming after the success of Bloodshot, whose catchy red vinyl and calypso Give It To Me made it a hit, but Ladies Invited was a defining moment with the group marking a continuing mix of beautiful soulful ballads,shuck and jive,blues(less prominent on this release than earlier ones)and bop wading into newer funkier waters as would be evident in their later releases and years to come.

Not to be missed by fans..maybe a bit hard to find and and wish it would it be rereleased by Atlantic remastered but my original cd sounds good."

One of the J. Geils Band's Best

Bryan Carey | Houston, TX | 10/16/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Ladies Invited" is one the best and one of the least- known among the J. Geils Band's musical offerings. Originally released late in 1973, it was the second album the band produced that year and it was one of the few that did not include any charted singles on the national charts. This album is much like the others in the J. Geils Band collection. The lyrics are mostly about love and frustration and the music contains a mixture of blues, R&B, funk, and rock and roll. But one thing that's a little different here is the emphasis on the keyboards, played by band member Seth Justman. You could always feel Seth's presence on previous albums, but never to the degree that you can on Ladies Invited. Particularly memorable is Seth's keyboard mastery on the track "Chimes", where he hits the keys in a way that sounds like the nighttime chime of a clock. There's also an emphasis here on romance, which is how the album got its name.The J. Geils Band was known for its love of R&B, and most album releases contain at least some music with a bluesy flavor. On Ladies Invited, you get to hear several great blues tunes with just the right balance of rock and roll to make this album one of the groups all time best. Ladies Invited, and the songs contained within, might not have the title recognition of the latter- day "Centerfold", "Love Stinks", and other songs that caused the band's popularity to reach new heights. But the music on Ladies Invited is excellent and its the type of album that sounds better and better the more you listen to it."