Peter Wolf Finds Country Music Among His ‘Souvenirs’

When he was growing up, Peter Wolf, best known as lead singer of the J. Geils Band, was influenced by all kinds of music, including country. He's mined those influences for his seventh solo album, 'Midnight Souvenirs,' set for release on April 6. The album features guest vocals from Shelby Lynne ('Tragedy'), Merle Haggard ('It's Too Late For Me') and alt-country rocker Neko Case ('The Green Fields of Summer').

"I took a long time making this record," Wolf tells Billboard of the album, which is also inspired by his love for Philly soul and classic rock. "It just didn't seem like there was a need to rush. It's not a record that has a particular theme, other than there's something nocturnal about it, and I tried to keep it to the adventures that go on beyond the midnight hours. I think the songs pretty much capture them, so that's what it's sort of about."

As for his current band, whose string of hits included the '80s smashes, 'Centerfold' and 'Freeze Frame,' Wolf says an upcoming Boston gig -- a benefit for Big Brothers/Big Sisters on Jan. 23 -- will be the "last" J. Geils show. "You never say never. But I can tell you in my heart of hearts that as far as I know -- and I'm a pretty good source -- there is nothing I can think of that's planned. So this is basically it right now."

Peter Wolf's last solo disc, 2002's 'Sleepless' featured 'Nothing But the Wheel,' a song previously recorded by Patty Loveless.