Freeze Frame Songs Ranked
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. Keyboardist Seth Justman wrote or co-wrote all of the album as well as receiving credit as arranger and producer of the material. 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. Here are all of Freeze Frame songs ranked.
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9. Angel in Blue
“This one’s got a great melody and it does rock although it’s much slower and sadder than the other songs. It isn’t really my cup of tea, but sometimes I’m in the mood for it.”
8. Flamethrower
“Maybe I’m biased, but I think this one still sounds sexy. It may be the best on the album. 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.”
7. Do You Remember When
“Do You Remember When” serves as a mid tempo tune that is reminiscent of a middle of the road Rolling Stones recording! It has this wistful, romantic quality that (some) chicks will dig.”
See more: The J. Geils Band Albums Ranked
6. Rage in the Cage
“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”
5. Piss on the Wall
“I recall playing this one in secret because I knew it definitely WOULD piss off my parents if they heard it (and I normally never felt a need to do that). It’s a great rockabilly-style groover, really funny too.”
4. River Blindness
“Strangely enough, this is my absolute favorite track on FREEZE FRAME, and I tend to listen to it much more than the others these days. This one ventures quite a bit further into left field than any of the other tracks do. There’s something so evocative about this song – my brain has created an entire visual scenario to accompany it which I can totally get lost in when I’m lying in the dark, completely tripping out on it (the scenario is based on “Dungeons & Dragons” – another relic of my past I wouldn’t mind revisiting). A trippy, intense, unusual track. Reaches a great climax.”
See more: The J Geils Band Songs Ranked
3. Insane, Insane Again
“This one’s a trip, a hyper kinetic romp with vocalist Peter Wolf sounding like a real maniac. The band’s excellent pop musicianship is in full effect as the song morphs into bizarre Walt Disney moves and a raging piano solo.”
2. Centerfold
“The biggest hit and a classic expression of male sexual fantasy life. This one’s still a riot. I remember some tight-wads at the time thought that it was too dirty for radio, but they played the hell out of it anyway because it’s actually pretty innocent (and of course it’s a great song).”
1. Freeze-Frame
“An instantly recognizable series of camera clicks sets this addictive tune in motion. Great keys, horns, and that swaggering doo-wop dip is so infectious. Still way cool in my book.”