| Freeze-Frame | |
| Cover: | Freeze-Frame single cover.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | The J. Geils Band |
| Album: | Freeze Frame |
| B-Side: | Flamethrower |
| Released: | January 14, 1982 |
| Recorded: | 1981 |
| Length: | 3:58 |
| Label: | EMI |
| Producer: | Seth Justman |
| Prev Title: | Centerfold |
| Prev Year: | 1981 |
| Next Title: | Flamethrower |
| Next Year: | 1982 |
"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.
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]
"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.
| Peak position | |
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[5] | 7 |
| Canada [6] | 2 |
| Position | ||
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[7] [8] | 91 | |
| Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[9] | 90 | |
| Canada[10] | 22 | |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[11] | 83 | |
| US Billboard Hot 100[12] | 49 |
Most versions of the single released domestically and internationally used "Flamethrower", the sixth track from Freeze-Frame, as the flip side to "Freeze-Frame".[13] However, 7" vinyl releases in the UK alternated between "Flamethrower" and another song from the same album, the second track "Rage in the Cage".[14] A limited edition Picture Disc of "Freeze-Frame" released in North America used "Centerfold" as the b-side.[15]
