June 08, 2020

1982 - January: The J. Geils Band ”Freeze Frame”

43 minutes

This tenth studio album by The J. Geils Band would be a departure from their blues rock and mainstream pieces for which they were known in the 70's, and would be their most commercially successful. Freeze Frame took The J. Geils Band from a regional band to international stardom.

The band consisted of John (J.) Geils on guitar, Seth Justman on keyboards, Stephen Bladd on drums, Danny Klein on bass, Peter Wolf on lead vocals, and Richard Salwitz (aka Magic Dick) on harmonica, trumpet, and saxophone. The album was arranged and produced by keyboardist Seth Justman, and all songs were either written or co-written by Justman.

Part funk, part new wave, Freeze Frame has the band teetering on the experimental edge. Unfortunately the band would not be able to hold up. Front man Peter Wolf left in 1983 because “they wanted to continue in a pop-techno way. It wasn't my thing.” (per Wikipedia). They would record one more album with Seth Justman on lead vocals, then disband in 1985.

There are a lot of hits off this album, and most of the songs will transport you back to a period in the early 80's where MTV was just beginning to “Take Off.”

Join us now before your blood runs cold, and your memory has just been sold!

Freeze Frame

Peter Wolf and Seth Justman wrote this one, and it is the lead song off the album. A freeze frame is a still image taken from a video, and the song uses a number of photography and film terms to tell the story of an obsession with a girl. “test trip, proof sheet love is hard to find.”

Rage in the Cage

This one was not released as a single, but it still got air play, and you may remember the driving harmonica jam. It tells the story of a guy who gets laid off, feels trapped in his town, and only finds relief in his transistor radio. “It don't take a PhD to know I'm goin' nowhere fast. I've got to move - I'm on the move. It don't take much to see this town is livin' in the past. They all just seem to wanna tie me down. Let me hear that radio!”

Flamethrower

This song was the B-side to “Freeze Frame.” It didn't hit the top 40, but it made it to #25 on the R&B charts. The song is about a woman who punches the clock in a blue collar job and cuts loose at night.

Centerfold

This is the big hit off the album, and the track that changed The J. Geils band seemingly overnight. The bad had been a pretty big thing in Boston and Detroit, but they landed on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine, and on an opening slot touring with The Rolling Stones after this song came out.

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

“Arthurs Theme” by Christopher Cross

Dudley Moore's comedy film “Arthur” was in the cinemas at this time.

STAFF PICKS:

“My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone)” by Chilliwack

Rob brings us the first top 40 US hit by a Canadian rock band named after the sixth largest city in British Columbia! Front man and lead guitarist Bill Henderson said they took the name even though none of the band members were from that city. They liked the way the name sounded like a First Nation word, which fit with the sound that the band was striving to achieve.

“Trouble” by Lindsey Buckingham

Brian's staff pick comes from the Fleetwood Mac guitarist and singer's debut solo album, "Law and Order." Mick Fleetwood contributes to this album on the drums, though Buckingham decided to loop a handful of measures of the drums throughout the song. Though it was a departure from Fleetwood Mac, you still have the feel of that group.

“I'll Fall In Love Again” by Sammy Hagar

Wayne's staff pick features the Red Rocker after his Montrose days, and prior to his time in Van Halen. This song chronicles a man moving on from a broken relationship. "It's alright with me now, I'll get back up somehow. And with a little luck, I'm bound to win - I'll fall in love again."

“Tora, Tora, Tora (Out with the Boys)” by Rod Stewart

Bruce finishes off our staff picks with this 6th single from Rod Stewart's eleventh studio album,“Tonight I'm Yours.” Stewart makes a return to rock after his departure to disco in the late 70's. "I wanna talk about motorbikes, cars and things. No sophistication or designer jeans. I'm no angel, but I know what I like - a little rough and tumble on a Friday night."

COMEDY TRACK:

“Take Off” by Bob and Doug McKinsey

Geddy Lee lends his vocal talents to this track from SCTV's sketch comedians from the Great White North, played by Dave Thomas and Rick Moranis.

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**NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.

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By Rob Marbury, Wayne Rowan, Bruce Fricks, John Lynch

4.9

4747 ratings