Great Rock Albums of 1981: J Geils Band- Freeze Frame

In the UK, The J. Geils Band are considered one hit wonders and "Freeze Frame" is the album which produced the one hit that they are known for. "Centerfold" was a humungous hit for them, not just in the US or UK, but throughout most of the world. I was in Israel in April of 1982 and it was in the top ten charts there. I think it was number five. The truth is that they are definitely not one hit wonders in the US. Not only was "Love Stinks" a big hit for them in 1980 but this very 1981 album produced some other hits as well.

As all of us know by now, it doesn't take a couple of top 40 hits to make a good album and "Freeze Frame" has plenty of good material on it. I love the organ intro in the title track, which is the very first song on the album and there is some catchy keyboard melodies with "Flamethrower." Both are really good songs and I like the Devo like sound with "Rage in the Cage." A similar new wave sound is heard quite pleasingly on "Insane, Insane Again." However, they don't totally abandon their blues rock sound from the 70s. "Angel in Blue" is very reminiscent of that sound and has another memory for me. It wasn't Twinkles at the Driftwood but another dancer at another similar type go-go bar. My memory is foggy, I will blame it on too much beer that night, but I think it was a bar called The Other Place. The dancer, who was dressed in blue, moved along to this song in a very hypnotic way. Even though this was the first time I heard this song in many years, that memory of the dancer's movements to this song is etched in my brain. Still, it's a fantastic song and the album ends with the very cool and amusing "Piss On the Wall."

Track Listing:

1. Freeze Frame

2. Rage in the Cage

3. Centerfold

4. Do You Remember When

5. Insane, Insane Again

6. Flamethrower

7. River Blindness

8. Angel in Blue

10. Piss On the Wall

[caption id="attachment_1726" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The J Geils Band[/caption]

Peter Wolf- vocals

J. Geils- guitar

Seth Justman- keyboards

Danny Klein- bass

Magic Dick- harmonica, trumpet, saxophone

Stephen Bladd- drums

It's a shame that the J. Geils Band only had the one hit in the UK when they had so many great records in the US. "Freeze Frame" itself has so many great songs on it alone. So, I hope my British readers will take my word for it and check this album out for themselves. In spite of all that I have said here, The J. Geils band aren't my choice for the best American act not to crack the UK. After all, they did have one hit. That one is still yet to come.

Next post: Foreigner 4

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Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London

Great Rock Albums of 1982: J. Geils Band- Love Stinks

The USA, Canada and the UK have always enjoyed a musical interaction with one another where acts from one country get the same notoriety in the other. However, this hasn't been the case with all acts. For example, when I get to 1981, I will reveal who I think is the best American artist not to have made it in the UK. (I'm sorry, you'll have to wait til then.) Something similar can be said about the J Geils band. While watching British MTV, they had a weekend viewing of one hit wonders and one of those was the J Geils band with the song "Centerfold." I was astounded! How could they be considered one hit wonders when they had been making great rock in America all throughout the seventies? I would have thought they would have at least heard of the title track of the album I'm visiting here today because "Love Stinks" is the song I will always remember them for.

"Love Stinks" is my favourite J Geils song  and it has been covered by great rock and metal artists such as Joan Jett and Bile as well as been used in commercials and films such as "The Wedding Singer." It is also the title of the eleventh album from them. As I mentioned earlier, they tore up the seventies with a number of great rock albums and I am slightly kicking myself for not featuring any of them in previous postings, my loss. This album is no different. I love the seventies hard sound with the keyboard in accompaniment that make songs like "Till the Walls Come Down" and "Just Can't Wait" great songs. I am also amused by the band's sense of  humour with "No Anchovies, Please." Yes, "Love Stinks" is a great rock album to be enjoyed by any officianado of the fine art of rock music.

Track Listing:

1. Just Can't Wait

2. Come Back

3. Taking You Down

4. Nighttime

5. No Anchovies, Please

6. Love Stinks

7. Trying Not to Think About It

8. Desire (Please  Don't Turn Away)

9. Till The Walls Come Tumbling Down

The J Geils Band

J Geils- guitar

Stephen Bladd- drums, vocals

Seth Justman- keyboards, vocals

Danny Klein- bass

Magic Dick - harmonica, saxophone, trumpet

Peter Wolf- vocals

The song "Love Stinks," along with "Centerfold," will forever be identified with the J Geils Band. However, the rest of the album the first song comes from is definitely worth a listen as well. I hope my British readers will definitely take me up on the offer if they haven't listened to any in the  past. I know you'll like it.

Next post: The Blues Brothers Soundtrack

To buy Rock And Roll Children, go to www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html

Also available on  Amazon, Barnes & Noble and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London