Writers: Peter Wolf and Seth Justman
Producer: Seth Justman
Recorded: Fall 1979 at Long View Farm, Massachusetts
Released: January 1980
| Players: | Peter Wolf — vocals Seth Justman — keyboards, vocals J. Geils — guitar Danny Klein — bass Magic Dick — harmonica, vocals Stephen Jo Bladd — drums, vocals |
| Album: | Love Stinks (EMI, 1980) |
The title track of the J. Geils Band's second album for EMI America–after a long tenure with Atlantic Records–“Love Stinks” reached Number 38 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the spring of 1980.
The song's unromantic sentiments were inspired by frontman Peter Wolf's relationship with actress Faye Dunaway, who he married in 1974 and divorced in 1979, while the songs for Love Stinks were being written.
In concert, Wolf would introduce the song with a long and humorous essay about love and relationships that can be heard on the 1983 live album Showtime!
The Love Stinks album also introduced an increased use in synthesizer not only on the title track, but also on other hits from the album such as “Come Back” and “Just Can't Wait.”
Love Stinks broke the J. Geils Band from a commercial malaise and reached Number 18 on the Billboard 200, earning a gold record in the process.
