Freeze Frame

J. Geils Band | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B000006L9G
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #38,912 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Digitally remastered edition of the album that took this group to the top of the charts on the strength of the single "Centerfold". After years of touring and honing their sound, J. Geils Band were suddenly the toast of the town, also due in part to their exposure on the fledgling MTV network with the videos of the aforementioned "Centerfold" along with "Freeze-Frame" and "Rage In A Cage", as well as "Flamethrower". --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "This Freeze Frame Moment Can't Be Wrong", January 27, 2001

By 

Dan Pine (Pompano Beach, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Freeze Frame (Audio CD)

This is a fun, highly infectious party record that dominated the airwaves in 1981. It rocks. One of the most essential hard rock albums of the 1980's. A consistent and coherent selection of nine songs that catapulated the J. Geils Band into superstardom after approximately 10 years in the business.

The birth of MTV/music televison would play the J. Geils within their first year of existence at least once an hour! Initially, the band received exposure for the hit title track to their 1980 album "Love Stinks." What was to follow was an album that spawned one of the greatest singles of the 1980's-"Centerfold," which spent an incredible six weeks at the summit of the billboard pop charts. The energetic follow-up,the title track for the album peaked at #4. The album also contained the beautiful hit ballad "Angel In Blue(#40)."

There is a remarkable continuity to this album that flows from the beginning of the album: the initial energetic yell of the lyric "Freeze Frame" thru the crude parody on the state of world affairs, "Piss On The Wall" that loudly terminates the CD.

This is 35 minutes of hard rock bliss that doesn't let up. Songs like "Rage In The Cage" has that power metal infused sound that was so reminiscent of the head banging 80's, while "Insane, Insane Again" has more of a free flowing bluesy feel to it. One standout adrennaline moment is the track "Flamethrower," which graced the R&B charts peaking at #25, but never gained the national exposure it truly deserved. It would have been the perfect radio friendly follow-up to "Centerfold." Nonetheless, listening to this hard rocking track (as with the entire album as a whole) twenty years later, still holds up.

"Do You Remember When" serves as a mid tempo tune that is reminiscent of a middle of the road Rolling Stones recording! It is very melodic as is "River Blindness," which has a choral feeling to it

This album is the pinnacle of their career. It was followed up with a live album "Showtime," which served as their all too abrupt swan song with the original line-up. Front man and lyricist, Peter Wolf continued recording in the early 1980's up until the new millenium quietly releasing 5 solo albums. There are rumours the original line-up will be reuniting sometime soon.

This album should appeal to the novice who enjoys hard rock with an heir of blues. Any fan of 1980's music will clearly embrace it as several million did in its heyday about 2 decades ago!

"This Freeze Frame Moment Can't Be (A) Wrong" Purchase! Essential rock hard listening.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For 40 minutes, this album doesn't FREEZE once!, September 18, 2000

By 

30-year old wallflower "Eric N Andrews" (West Lafayette, IN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Freeze Frame (Audio CD)

If you ask my friends, I'm not exactly well-known as a partier. But whenever I'm alone or in the mood, I can get a little wild and crazy like I am at a party. And if ever there's one that seems to be dying down from too much boredom, J. Geils Band's FREEZE-FRAME is the perfect way to bring it up again...and then some. LOVE STINKS (1980) had slightly introduced J. Geils Band to the mainstream after a decade as critical darlings. But it's safe to say FREEZE-FRAME is the one that broke them on the charts. Of course, this is the destination for "Centerfold", which topped the charts for 6 weeks in 1982. One of the most infectious singles of the 1980s, even non-fans will start chanting the "na na na na na na" refrain. And that's just 3 1/2 minutes of what is basically a 35-minute long party record. The only time it really lets up is for the gorgeous ballad "Angel In Blue", which Peter Wolf croons with suitable romantic feeling. Other than that, it's all adrenaline-pumped rock & roll on songs like the title track, "Rage In The Cage", "Insane, Insane Again" and the gloriously crude "Piss On The Wall". But my favorite is the R&B-soaked "Flamethrower", which never fails to get me out of my chair and dancing like there's no tomorrow. Why on earth this song did not become a hit on the level of "Centerfold", I have no idea. While Peter Wolf's departure would bring an end to J. Geils shortly after, FREEZE-FRAME was still the perfect culmination of what was hardly 10 years of freeloading, but intense hard work. Rumor has it, that the J. Geils Band is reuniting in the studio with Peter Wolf in the vocalist role. If so, it's a reunion that is long overdue.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic..., February 27, 2003

By 

A. Ort "aorto" (Youngstown, Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Freeze Frame (Audio CD)

Yes, this was J. Geils entry into the world of the mainstream and yes 'Freeze Frame' and 'Centerfold' got overplayed (they are still good songs) but this album stands the test of time.

As happens many times with albums that hit the mainstream, people are often first introduced to a band in this way. It's the paradox of the music biz. I didn't know much of J. Geils prior to this album (though, in retrospect, I became aware of older songs I did know that they performed), but this album is just really, really good.

It was fun back in the day (come on now: 'Piss on the Wall'? what a great way to shock your parents) but I just recently got out the LP again and it sounds just as good today. Upon listening to it, however, I've realized that the lyrics are pretty striking. Hidden underneath the festive sounds of 'Centerfold' is talk of a high school girl in a men's magazine (though this is not as shocking today). 'Angel in Blue' talks of a stripper, 'Flamethrower' about a party girl, and 'River Blindness' about, well, I'm not quite sure but it is a really different song with elements of funk, blues and pop that jams. The songs actually tackle some pretty tough material.

The album doesn't miss a beat. It's experimental, touching on sides of life usually hidden from the mainstream and it really jams in a way that sounds good even today.

If you wish for some reminiscing or wish to give something fresh a try in the midst of today's amalgamation of a dizzying blend of music styles, this is well worth the trip.