Freeze Frame (song)

"Freeze-Frame" is a song written by Seth Justman and Peter Wolf for the J. Geils Band. It was first released as the opening track on the chart-topping 1981 album of the same name.[1] The song was released on a 45 in early 1982 as the second single from the album, following the million-selling US #1/UK #3 hit "Centerfold". The single's flip side, "Flamethrower", received airplay on urban contemporary radio stations throughout the United States, and reached #20 on the Billboard Soul Chart.

"Freeze-Frame"
Single by The J. Geils Band
from the album Freeze Frame
B-side"Flamethrower"
ReleasedJanuary 14, 1982
Recorded1981
Genre
Length3:58
LabelEMI
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Seth Justman
The J. Geils Band singles chronology
"Centerfold"
(1981)		 "Freeze-Frame"
(1982)		 "Flamethrower"
(1982)

Reception

Billboard called it a "zesty, exuberant rocker" and praised the song's hooks.[2] Record World said that "Seth Justman's bouncy keyboard melodies and the slap-happy beat back Peter Wolf's lively lead vocal."[3]

Ultimate Classic Rock critic Michael Gallucci rated "Freeze-Frame" to be the band's 7th greatest song, saying that it has "a glossy pop sheen ready-made for Top 40 radio."[4]

Chart performance

"Centerfold" had landed the band at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for 6 weeks in early 1982 and would ultimately give them a UK top 3 hit almost a year later. "Freeze-Frame" was chosen as the second single and at the peak of the band's popularity, became the second consecutive million-selling gold-certified hit from the album, ultimately peaking at #4 on the Hot 100 on April 10, 1982 and remained in that position for 4 weeks, after entering the charts in mid-February. The single also reached #27 in the UK.[1]

"Centerfold" and "Freeze-Frame" are among a total of ten singles by the J. Geils Band to reach the Billboard Top 40.

Charts

Weekly charts
Weekly chart performance for "Freeze Frame"
Chart (1982-1983) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[5] 7
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[6] 5
Canada [7] 2
Ireland (IRMA)[8] 20
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[9] 5
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[10] 13
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[11] 6
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[12] 11
UK Singles (OCC)[13] 27
US Billboard Hot 100[14] 4
West Germany (Official German Charts)[15] 29

Year-end charts
Year-end chart performance for "Freeze Frame"
Chart (1982) Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[16][17] 91
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[18] 90
Canada[19] 22
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[20] 83
US Billboard Hot 100[21] 49

Certifications
Certifications for "Freeze Frame"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[22] Gold 50,000^
United States (RIAA)[23] Gold 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

B-side

Most versions of the single released domestically and internationally used "Flamethrower", the sixth track from Freeze-Frame, as the flip side to "Freeze-Frame".[24] However, 7" vinyl releases in the UK alternated between "Flamethrower" and another song from the same album, the second track "Rage in the Cage".[25] A limited edition Picture Disc of "Freeze-Frame" released in North America used "Centerfold" as the b-side.[26]

References
  1. "J. Geils Band - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  2. "Top Single Picks". Billboard. February 20, 1982. p. 71. Retrieved 2023-01-21.
  3. "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. February 20, 1982. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
  4. Gallucci, Michael (February 20, 2016). "Top 10 J. Geils Band Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  5. "Australia No. 1 hits -- 1980's". World Charts. Archived from the original on May 20, 2011. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  6. "The J. Geils Band – Freeze Frame" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  7. "RPM Top 50 Singles - April 17, 1982" (PDF).
  8. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Centerfold". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  9. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 27, 1985" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  10. "The J. Geils Band – Freeze Frame" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  11. "The J. Geils Band – Freeze Frame". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  12. "The J. Geils Band – Freeze Frame". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  13. "The J. Geils Band: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  14. "The J. Geils Band Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  15. "Offiziellecharts.de – The J. Geils Band – Freeze Frame" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  16. "National Top 100 Singles for 1982". Kent Music Report. January 3, 1983. Retrieved January 22, 2023 – via Imgur.
  17. Steffen Hung. "Forum - Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts - 1980s (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  18. "Jaaroverzichten 1982". Ultratop. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  19. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on August 11, 2016. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  20. "Bijzondere lijst: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1982".
  21. "Top 100 Hits of 1982/Top 100 Songs of 1982". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  22. "Canadian single certifications – J. Geils Band – Freeze Frame". Music Canada. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  23. "American single certifications – J. Geils Band – Freeze-Frame". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  24. "The J. Geils Band - Freeze Frame". Discogs.com. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  25. "The J. Geils Band - Freeze Frame (Vinyl)". Discogs.com. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  26. "The J. Geils Band - Freeze Frame (Vinyl)". Discogs.com. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
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