Monkey Island is the seventh studio album by American rock band the J. Geils Band, though it is credited with the shortened band name of "Geils", the only album in their catalog for which this was done. The album was released on June 9, 1977, by Atlantic Records.
| Monkey Island | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | June 9, 1977 | |||
| Recorded | 1977 | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 41:44 | |||
| Label | Atlantic | |||
| Producer | The J. Geils Band | |||
| Geils chronology | ||||
| ||||
The album did not perform well in the marketplace, and would be the J. Geils Band's last original album for Atlantic Records after almost eight years with the label. It was, however, the band's first album on which they did not use an outside producer, as well as their first project with recording engineer David Thoener, with whom they later collaborated on their best-selling albums Love Stinks and Freeze Frame.
The album contains the studio version of "I Do," a live recording of which (from the album Showtime!) would be the J. Geils Band's last hit single in 1982.
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Christgau's Record Guide | B+[2] |
| Rolling Stone | (favorable)[3] |
The Los Angeles Times opined that "Geils is in dire need of a well-focused musical approach if the band wishes to revive its early power and promise."[4]
Track listing
editAll songs written by Peter Wolf and Seth Justman except as noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Surrender" | 3:49 | |
| 2. | "You're the Only One" | 3:05 | |
| 3. | "I Do" | Melvin Mason, Johnny Paden, Frank Paden, Jesse Smith, Willie Stephenson | 3:09 |
| 4. | "Somebody" | 5:13 | |
| 5. | "I'm Falling" | 5:41 | |
| 6. | "Monkey Island" | 9:02 | |
| 7. | "I'm Not Rough" | Louis Armstrong | 3:03 |
| 8. | "So Good" | 3:19 | |
| 9. | "Wreckage" | 5:23 |
Personnel
edit- Peter Wolf – lead vocals
- J. Geils – guitar
- Magic Dick – harmonica
- Seth Justman – keyboards, vocals
- Danny Klein – bass
- Stephen Jo Bladd – drums, vocals
Additional personnel
- Evette Benton – background vocals
- Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone
- Randy Brecker – trumpet
- Michelle Cobbs – background vocals
- Ronnie Cuber – saxophone
- Lew Del Gatto – saxophone
- Cissy Houston – background vocals
- Barbara Ingram – background vocals
- Arif Mardin – strings conductor
- Theresa Reed – background vocals
- Alan Rubin – trumpet
- Lew Soloff – trumpet
- G. Diane Sumler – background vocals
- Harriet Tharpe – background vocals
- Luther Vandross – background vocals
- Frank Vicari – saxophone
Production
edit- Producers: J. Geils Band
- Engineer: David Thoener
- Assistant engineers: Jay Krugman, Rod O'Brien, Corky Stasiak
- Mixing: David Thoener
- Remastering: George Marino
- Design: Peter Corriston
- Photography: Alen MacWeeney
Charts
editAlbum
| Chart (1977) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[5] | 51 |
| Australian (Kent Music Report)[6] | 97 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | "You're the Only One" | Pop Singles[7] | 83 |
References
edit- ^ Tim Sendra. "Monkey Island - J. Geils Band". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: G". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved February 24, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ^ Dave Marsh (1977-07-28). "J. Geils Band: Monkey Island". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2008-02-22. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
- ^ Snowden, Don (Jul 17, 1977). "'Monkey Island'". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 81.
- ^ "The J Geils Band Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 122. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "The J. Geils Band Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2020.