"Freeze-Frame" by J. Geils Band

Top 10 Alert!

Gold Record Alert!

Song#:  0928
Date:  02/20/1982
Debut:  67
Peak:  4
Weeks:  16
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  The J. Geils Band successfully followed up their big #1 hit "Centerfold" with this title track from their LP. It would also be their second gold record in a row. This would be the peak era of the group and this single would be their last to reach the Top 10.

ReduxReview:  This was a great follow-up to a classic #1 hit. I don't think they could do a 1-2 punch any better than this. And obviously they couldn't even come close to trying to replicate this feat. It seemed that after the fame hit, the group kind of imploded in a way. But these two songs plus "Love Stinks" pretty much cemented their place in rock.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  Although the band's blues-rock sound was influenced by R&B, they were mainly considered a rock band and were kept to the pop and rock charts. However, the b-side to "Freeze-Frame," the album track "Flamethrower," somehow got the attention of Black radio and it ended up making an appearance on the R&B chart. It ended up reaching #25 becoming their lone R&B hit.

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"Edge of Seventeen" by Stevie Nicks

Rated 10 Alert!

Song#:  0927
Date:  02/20/1982
Debut:  73
Peak:  11
Weeks:  14
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  Nicks' first two singles from her debut solo LP "Bella Donna" were Top 10 hits that featured two other artists - Tom Petty and Don Henley. For her third single, she steps out completely on her own with a song that has become one of her most recognizable solo outings. Sadly, it peaked at the dreaded #11 spot. This may have been partially due to the fact that the song had already been playing for months on rock radio and peaked at #4 on the Mainstream Rock chart the previous year. But it didn't really matter as it has far outlasted many of her other higher-ranking hits.

ReduxReview:  Oh man I rocked out to this song so much back in the day! That opening guitar riff hooked me right away and as the song unfolded I completely fell under the spell of the shawl-dancing goddess. This song battles back and forth with "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" as my favorite Nicks solo piece. Classic and brilliant.

ReduxRating:  10/10

Trivia:  Double Shot!  1) Nicks' initial inspiration for the song title came from Tom Petty's wife at the time, Jane. She had a very Southern drawl and when talking to Nicks about meeting Tom, Jane said she met him "at the age of seventeen." However, Nicks heard "at the edge of seventeen." The mistake prompted the title and Nicks told Jane she would always credit her as the inspiration.  2) Destiny's Child sampled the song's famous guitar riff for their 2001 #1 hit "Bootylicious."

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"Never Give Up on a Good Thing" by George Benson

Song#:  0926
Date:  02/20/1982
Debut:  83
Peak:  52
Weeks:  9
Genre:  R&B



Pop Bits:  After scoring his fourth Top 10 pop hit with "Turn Your Love Around," Benson issued this second single from his compilation "The George Benson Collection." It peaked far lower than his previous hit but did make it to #16 on the R&B chart.

ReduxReview:  It's hard to follow-up a song as good as "Turn Your Love Around," but Benson does well with this tune. I'm not really sure why this one didn't catch on. It has a great groove, cool horn lines, nice backing vocals, and a solid chorus. There's really nothing here to dislike. It's not as killer as "Turn," but the song is a worthy follow-up.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  Although Benson's career didn't really kick in until the late 60s, he had been performing and working in music since he was a kid. By age 10, Benson recorded his first single for RCA. Under the moniker Little Georgie, Benson sang "She Makes Me Mad." It was a local hit in his hometown of Pittsburgh in 1954, but nothing developed from it. He would finally begin his jazz solo career a decade later.

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"Shine On" by George Duke

Song#:  0925
Date:  02/20/1982
Debut:  85
Peak:  41
Weeks:  9
Genre:  R&B



Pop Bits:  With his musical partner Stanley Clarke, Duke made it into the pop Top 20 with the song "Sweet Baby" (#19) from their "Clarke/Duke Project" LP. For a follow-up, Duke returned to solo form and issued the album "Dream On." Handling vocal duties himself this time, Duke release this first single that just missed the Top 40 to become his final pop chart entry. It peaked at #15 at R&B.

ReduxReview:  Although not outstanding, this is a good R&B tune from Duke. It kind of resembles an Earth, Wind & Fire jam. I had not heard this before and I was pleasantly surprised. I got my jam on.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  Duke played keyboards and sang background for Frank Zappa and appeared on several of Zappa's albums throughout the 70s.

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"Memory" by Barbra Streisand

Song#:  0924
Date:  02/20/1982
Debut:  86
Peak:  52
Weeks:  7
Genre:  Pop, Adult Contemporary



Pop Bits:  Streisand's previous single "Comin' In and Out of Your Life" just missed the Top 10 peaking at #11. It was one of three new recordings put on her compilation LP "Memories." This second single was one of those new recordings and it returned Streisand to her Broadway roots. Featured in the 1981 Andrew Lloyd Webber West End (London) musical "Cats," Streisand recorded and released the song long before the show made its Stateside Broadway debut in October, 1982. Even though she scooped the song before other performers in the US, it may have been a bit early to release the song. It was well-known in the UK due to the show and cast member Elaine Paige's #6 hit version, but the song was still unfamiliar to most US audiences. This could be part of the reason the big showstopper fizzled for Streisand, not even reaching the top half of the chart. However, AC listeners reacted well and it reached #9 on that chart.

ReduxReview:  I think I knew about "Cats" before this single was released but had not heard any of the music yet. So I'm sure this was my first exposure to the show. I remember liking it and Streisand taking to the nth degree, however I wasn't blown away by it. When the Broadway show hit I got the cast album. The songs didn't make much sense to me and I shrugged the LP off. Later, the show turned into a great memory (pun intended) when my best friend visited me in Boston while I was at college and I got us tickets to see the show there. We totally loved it. Looking back on it now, if I saw the show today I probably would not like it. I mean, the show is fun - they all act like cats! But when it comes down to it, there is no major plot. You just get introduced to different cats and one gets picked to get "reborn." There's your plot. I still look back on it with fondness, but I'm not a fan of the show anymore.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  It wouldn't be the last time Streisand got the scoop on a Lloyd Webber song. A few weeks before the London opening of Lloyd Webber's musical "Sunset Boulevard," Streisand released her LP "Back to Broadway." Included on the album was one of the show's songs, "As If We Never Said Goodbye." Produced by Lloyd Webber himself, Streisand introduced the song to the world before the show even officially debuted.

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