Give It To Me by J. Geils Band

Album: Bloodshot (1973)

Charted: 30

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Songfacts®:

One of the most popular J. Geils Band songs from the group's early years, this one is unusually carnal, with Peter Wolf making it very clear in his vocal delivery what he's asking for in "Give It To Me."

Wolf wrote the song with the group's keyboard player Seth Justman.
J. Geils Band had their biggest hits in the '80s with "Freeze-Frame" and "Centerfold," but that was the culmination of a long career that included lots of blues-based boogie music like this track.

"Give It To Me" was cut down to 3:07 for radio play, but the full version runs a healthy 6:32, with showcase spots for many of the band members. Seth Justman gets a long solo on organ, which is followed by a guitar spot by J. Geils (the group's guitarist was the band's namesake) and an extended harmonica solo by Magic Dick. The song became a concert favorite, and one that established the J. Geils Band as a great live act. The live version from their album Blow Your Face Out is the one many radio stations play, as it captures the energy of their shows.
Heineken beer used this in commercials in 2002.
Bill Szymczyk produced the Bloodshot album, which was recorded at the Hit Factory in New York City. Szymczyk would later produce the Eagles, including their albums On the Border and Hotel California.

Comments: 7

John from Comstock Park, Mi, UsaWith the recent passing of J. Geils, it has been good the last week or so to take in the whole tune, and his searing guitar solo. To pay tribute to the man, and play the song, the short version, was the sacrilege of the NPR Oldies station in my area. Thank God for YouTube and your site.
Jack from Brookline, MaSteven from Oxnard CA - Peter Wolf is saying in the beginning: "Now don't touch the knobs 'cause I think we're gonna have some fun with this one here. Oh yeah!" I love it! What a great opening to a song! I love doing this song for karaoke, but even the karaoke versions are the STUPID "edited" versions without the amazing breakdown at the end. That edited version has to be the WORST edited version of a song ever!
Steven from Oxnard, CaI love this song but what is Peter Wolf saying during the intro? It sounds like "Don't touch the knobs cause I feel grass is coming this way." Is this right? Someone anyone, your assistance please.
Vince from Salisbury, MdThis song has a heavy reggae/ska influence, which is noteworthy because borrowing those styles was not a common practice in 1973, especially from American acts. The skins in England who popularized reggae in the late sixties had all moved to heavier music by then, and the Two-Tone revival was still a few years away. It would be interesting to find out why the band chose to take the song in that direction...
Scott from Boston, MaCenterfold is now. My favorite J. Geils song, though, is "Musta Got Lost" w/ the intro.
Dave from Cardiff, WalesThis was an early US hit for the J. Geils Band in 1973. The band originally formed in 1967, and went on to have a string of bigger US hits over the years until they split up in 1985, including "Love Stinks", "Freeze Frame" (a surpise hit over most of Europe), "Flame Thrower", "Land Of 1,000 Dances", "Rage In The Cage", and of course US chart-topper "Centerfold", which also went on to become the band's only major hit in Britain. The band's brash, lively songs and humourous videos portrayed everything that was exciting about the US rock scene in the 70s and 80s, and they gained a long-standing reputation as a fun and passionate live act
Ross from Brainard, NeJ. Geils were a great band. Too bad more songs weren't posted on this site, particularly Centerfold.

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