Search - J Geils :: Freeze Frame

It's About Time

Mr. Richard D. Coreno | Berea, Ohio USA | 08/05/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In the era this album was released - Fall 1981 - the J. Geils Band had put in nearly a dozen years of delivering raucous Rock/R&B on tour and in the grooves of nine studio albums, a pair of live albums and a greatest hits package. It was about time for a breakout into the massive mainstream of the monster FM radio format.



The band achieved the elusive commercial success as the album made a steady climb to the top spot on the 1982 Billboard album chart from February 6-27 - one of only 10 albums to achieve the top slot that year - based on the massive appeal of the single, Centerfold (reached #1 on one of two charts) and the clubland boogie of Centerfold/Flamethrower (peaked at #12 as club play singles). Flamethrower and Freeze-Frame each charted on two lists, but the beautiful ballad, Angel In Blue, stalled at #40 on the Hot 200 single's chart.



There is the steady and funky fun of the band - bolstered by such special guests as Luther Vandross, Cissy Houston, Randy Brecker, Lou Marini and Tom Malone - and the oftentimes quirky vocals of Peter Wolf drives the nine numbers that clock in at nearly 41 minutes.



This was a considerably long road for the band to become major players on radio and on stage in the arena/outdoor summer venue tours. Sometimes the good guys do win in pop culture.....the J. Geils Band proved it in 1982.

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