AVIDIGI

The J. Geils Band labored in obscurity for many years before they broke through to the big time in the early 80s with the album "Freeze Frame" and the massive hit "Centerfold." For about a year or so they were unaviodable on the radio. They followed up their success with a moderately successful live album. Then lead singer Peter Wolf left the "fold" and the band faded quickly back into obscurity. "Flashback" collects the highlights from just before the band's breakthrough to the top until Wolf's departure. The highlights include the three songs from "Freeze Frame" including both the title track and "Flamethrower." Also excellent is the 1980 classic "Love Stinks" the sound of which anticipates "Centerfold." "I Do" and the lame cover of "Land of a Thousand Dances" are from the live album.Overall, this is a middling collection of material with a few highlights that sounds as dated today as anything from the early 1960s.