Freeze Frame

Performer: J. Geils Band
Engineer: David Thoener
Producer: Seth Justman
Distributor: EMI Music Distribution

Notes: J. Geils Band: J. Geils (guitar); Seth Justman (vocals, keyboards); Stephen Bladd (vocals, drums); Peter Wolf (vocals); Magic Dick (harmonica, saxophone); Daniel Klein (bass, flex-bass). With the '80s just underway, the J. Geils Band decided to retool their sound for the new decade. While there were elements of their rocking party-hearty direction left over from the previous decade, the group focused on more succinct and pop-based songwriting on 1980's LOVE STINKS. And while the album was a big hit for the band, the new approach was perfected even further with the massive hit follow-up FREEZE FRAME one year later. J. Geils stormed the charts in '82 when their infectious pop ditty "Centerfold" was issued as a single (it seemed to be blaring out of every radio and its video constantly appeared on MTV that summer). Other highlights include the new wave dance sounds of the title track, as well as the pretty ballad "Angel in Blue," such harder rockers as "Rage in the Cage" and "Insane, Insane Again," plus the R&B sounds of "Flamethrower." Runaway commercial success had finally come knocking on the door of the J. Geils Band, and though it wouldn't last long--singer Peter Wolf would soon split from the band, and they would be defunct within a few years--FREEZE FRAME remains one of the early-'80s most celebrated rock releases.

Boston's J. Geils Band appeared at the dawn of the '70s as a high-energy blues/R&B band offering an alternative to the singer/songwriters, soft pop, and prog-rock then in ascendance. Powered by Peter Wolf's Mick Jagger-like showmanship and Magic Dick's blues harmonica wail, they chugged along powerfully for years, but didn't acheive star status till they incorporated synthesizers and pop at the turn of the decade, only to break up soon after.

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