Freeze Frame (The J. Geils Band album)
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates {{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |{{#if: Template:Start date | Template:Short description}}}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Category handlerTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=Love Stinks1980Showtime!1982studioFreeze-FrameJ. Geils Band - Freeze Frame.jpgyesthe J. Geils BandTemplate:Start date1980–1981Long View Farm, North Brookfield, Massachusetts* Rock<ref name= "Breihan 2020">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- new wave<ref name= "Breihan 2020">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>40:55EMISeth Justmanx|2=</?t[drh][ >]|nomatch=}}|Template:Main other}}Template:Main other}} Freeze-Frame is the tenth studio album by American rock band the J. Geils Band, and the last one to feature original vocalist Peter Wolf. The album was released on October 26, 1981, by EMI Records. It reached number one on the United States Billboard 200 album chart in February 1982, and remained at the top for four weeks. The album featured the hit singles "Centerfold" (No. 1 US; No. 3 UK) and "Freeze-Frame" (No. 4 US). "Angel in Blue" also reached the US Top 40. The album was supported by a large marketing campaign and world tour.
Keyboardist Seth Justman wrote or co-wrote all of the album as well as receiving credit as arranger and producer of the material.
Release
Freeze Frame was released on October 26, 1981 by EMI Records.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The album debuted at No. 62,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 album chart.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on January 11, 1982.<ref name=":0" />
Three singles were released from the album. "Centerfold" was the lead single from the album.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> It peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.<ref name="Hot 100" /> "Freeze-Frame" was released in January 1982, with "Flamethrower" as the flip side.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> It peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100.<ref name="Hot 100" /> "Angel in Blue" was the third single from the album.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The single peaked at No. 40 on the Billboard Hot 100.<ref name="Hot 100" /> Music videos were made for all three singles.
Promotion
The J. Geils Band supported the album with the "Freeze Frame" tour, during which they played shows in the US, Europe, Japan, Australia and Canada.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> EMI Records also prepared a large marketing campaign for the album.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
The music video for "Centerfold" was directed by Paul Justman, the brother of the band's keyboardist Seth Justman, and recorded in Boston.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The music video for "Freeze-Frame" was also directed by Paul Justman,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> and makes use of many special effects.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The music video was shot at the Cintel Studio in Boston.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> A music video was also made for "Angel in Blue".<ref name=":1" />
Critical reception
Template:Music ratings A 2013 Spin article called "Flamethrower" the band's funkiest song and said: "With three avant-gardish anomalies that flirted with harmolodic punk-jazz funk ("Rage in the Cage," "Insane, Insane Again," and "River Blindness") balancing out three slick Top 10 pop hits, 1981's Freeze Frame holds the rare if not impossible distinction of being simultaneously both the J. Geils Band's most blatantly pop and mostly blatantly experimental album."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic wrote "Good-time rock & roll remains at the core of the group's music, but the sound of the record is glossier, shining with synthesizers and big pop hooks."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Billboard says that the album "trades their earlier guitar focus for producer Seth Justman's updated keyboard emphasis," and that the "new wave influence has been toned down slightly, yielding a welcome restoration of the partying humor that's never been entirely absent from this veteran group's work."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Track listing
All songs written by Seth Justman, except where noted. Template:Track listing Template:Track listing
Personnel
The J. Geils Band
- Peter Wolf – lead vocals
- Seth Justman – keyboards, vocals
- J. Geils – guitar
- Danny Klein – bass
- Magic Dick – harmonica, saxophone
- Stephen Jo Bladd – drums, vocals
Additional musicians
- Randy Brecker, Tom "Bones" Malone, Lou Marini, George Young, Ronnie Cuber, Alan Rubin – horns
- Tawatha Agee, Cissy Houston, Fonzi Thornton, Luther Vandross, Ken Williams – backing vocals
- Cengiz Yaltkaya – conductor
Production
- Seth Justman – producer, arrangements
- David Thoener – engineer, mixing at Record Plant, New York
- Jesse Henderson, Steve Marcantonio – assistant engineers
- Joe Brescio – mastering
Charts
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Weekly charts
| Chart (1982) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)<ref name=aus>Template:Cite book</ref> | 21 | |
| Canada (RPM)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> (5 weeks) |
1 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1982) | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| Canada Top 100 82<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
2 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
50 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
39 |
| US Billboard 200<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> | 5 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | "Angel in Blue" | Billboard Hot 100<ref name="Hot 100">Template:Cite magazine</ref> | check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} |
| 1982 | "Centerfold"/"Flamethrower" | Club Play Singles<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> | check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} |
| 1982 | "Centerfold" | Mainstream Rock Tracks<ref name="Mainstream Rock">Template:Cite magazine</ref> | check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} |
| 1982 | "Centerfold" | Billboard Hot 100<ref name="Hot 100" /> | check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} |
| 1982 | "Flamethrower"/"Freeze Frame" | Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles & Tracks<ref name="R&B/Hip-Hop">Template:Cite magazine</ref> | check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} |
| 1982 | "Flamethrower" | Mainstream Rock Tracks<ref name="Mainstream Rock" /> | check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} |
| 1982 | "Freeze-Frame" | Mainstream Rock Tracks<ref name="Mainstream Rock" /> | check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} |
| 1982 | "Freeze-Frame" | Billboard Hot 100<ref name="Hot 100" /> | check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} |
Certifications
| Organization | Level | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| RIAA – USA | Platinum<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
January 11, 1982 |