Love Stinks (song)

"Love Stinks" is a song written by Peter Wolf and Seth Justman that was the title track of the J. Geils Band's 1980 album Love Stinks. The song was released as a single and peaked in the US at #38, spending three weeks in the Top 40.[1][2][3] In Canada, the song reached number 15,[4] as it did on WLS-AM in Chicago.[5] Joan Jett covered the song for the soundtrack of the 1996 movie Mr. Wrong.[6] The song was also featured in the film Opie Gets Laid.[7] It was also covered by Adam Sandler in the movie The Wedding Singer and by Himalayaz with Ms. Toi for the movie Love Stinks.[8][9][10]

"Love Stinks"
Single by The J. Geils Band
from the album Love Stinks
B-side"Till the Walls Come Tumblin' Down"
ReleasedApril 1980
Recorded1979 at Long View Farm,
North Brookfield, Massachusetts
GenreRock, power pop, new wave
Length3:44
LabelEMI Records
Songwriter(s)Peter Wolf, Seth Justman
Producer(s)Seth Justman
The J. Geils Band singles chronology
"Come Back"
(1980)		 "Love Stinks"
(1980)		 "Just Can't Wait"
(1980)

The lyrics describe a love triangle in which two participants experience unrequited love, before segueing into a description of love gone sour in general. The lyrics may have been inspired by J. Geils Band lead singer Peter Wolf's marriage to actress Faye Dunaway, which ended in a 1979 divorce.[2] Author Maury Dean describes the opening of the song as "ponderous Power Metal."[2] Dean describes the bands playing in the refrain as generating "wild waves of flame," the guitars as "fire-breathing" and Wolf's vocals in the "yeah yeah" portion of the chorus as snarling with "heavy metal glee."[2] Justman provides extensive keyboards, which Associated Press critic James Simon feels gives the song "a little extra zing."[11] Viglione describes the riff as "Lou Reed's 'Vicious' as performed by his Rock & Roll Animal band on Lou Reed Live at half-speed," also noting that it is a hard rock version of the riff from "Louie Louie."[6] Rolling Stone critic Rob Sheffield notes that the riff was later used by Nirvana in the song "Smells Like Teen Spirit."[12]

Viglione finds such a "simple riff rocker" a departure for the J. Geils Band who were then known for blues and R&B, but admits the results are fun to listen to and acknowledges that this and some other songs from the Love Stinks album pointed the way towards their pop-oriented 1981 platinum hit album Freeze Frame.[6] AllMusic critic John Franck describes the song as "infectious," noting that it was "one of the band's most recognizable FM songs ever."[13] Music critic Robert Christgau describes the song "broad" and "uproarious."[14] Rolling Stone critic Dave Marsh considers it one of the J. Geils Band's greatest songs, considering its lyrics to be "a hilarious spoof on new-wave nihilism as well as soul cliche."[15] Rolling Stone critic Rob Sheffield calls it "one of the great trash-rock singles of the '80's."[12]

"Till the Walls Come Tumblin' Down"

The B-side of the "Love Stinks" single was "Till the Walls Come Tumblin' Down", also a track from the Love Stinks album. Rolling Stone critic Rob Sheffield praised the song, describing it as "rollicking".[12]

References
  1. "Love Stinks Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-09-01.
  2. Dean, M. (2003). Rock N Roll Gold Rush: A Singles Un-Cyclopedia. Algora. p. 330. ISBN 9780875862071.
  3. Whitburn, J. (2010). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (9th ed.). Random House. p. 263. ISBN 9780823085545.
  4. http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.0194a&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.0194a.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.0194a
  5. WLS Musicradio Survey, July 5, 1980
  6. Viglione, J. "Love Stinks". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-09-01.
  7. "Opie Gets Laid soundtrack". IMDb. Retrieved 2012-09-01.
  8. "The Wedding Singer soundtrack". IMDb. Retrieved 2012-09-01.
  9. "Love Stinks soundtrack". IMDb. Retrieved 2012-09-01.
  10. Phares, H. "Love Stinks". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-09-01.
  11. Simon, J. (April 1, 1980). "Geils has hit with 'Love Stinks'". The Daily News. p. 14-B. Retrieved 2012-09-02.
  12. Sheffield, R. (2004). Brackett, N.; Hoard, C. (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Fireside. p. 327. ISBN 0743201698.
  13. Franck, J. "Love Stinks". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-09-01.
  14. Christgau, R. "The J. Geils Band: Love Stinks". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 2012-09-01.
  15. Marsh, D. (1983). Marsh, D.; Swenson, J. (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (2nd ed.). Rolling Stone Press. p. 196. ISBN 0394721071.
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