Album: Freeze Frame (1981)

Charted: 3 1

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• (Come on)
  
  Does she walk? Does she talk?
  Does she come complete?
  My homeroom, homeroom angel
  Always pulled me from my seat
  
  She was pure like snowflakes
  No one could ever stain
  The memory of my angel
  Could never cause me pain
  
  Years go by I'm lookin' through a girly magazine
  And there's my homeroom angel on the pages in-between
  
  My blood runs cold
  My memory has just been sold
  My angel is the centerfold
  Angel is the centerfold
  
  My blood runs cold
  My memory has just been sold
  Angel is the centerfold
  
  Slipped me notes under the desk
  While I was thinkin' about her dress
  I was shy I turned away
  Before she caught my eye
  
  I was shakin' in my shoes
  Whenever she flashed those baby-blues
  Something had a hold on me
  When angel passed close by
  
  Those soft and fuzzy sweaters
  Too magical to touch
  To see her in that negligee
  Is really just too much
  
  My blood runs cold
  Yeah, my memory has just been sold
  My angel is the centerfold
  Angel is the centerfold
  
  My blood runs cold
  My memory has just been sold
  (Oh yeah)
  Angel is the centerfold
  
  Na-na, na-na-na-na
  Na-na-na, na-na-na-na
  Na-na, na-na-na-na
  Na-na-na, na-na-na-na
  Na-na, na-na-na-na
  Na-na-na, na-na-na-na
  Na-na, na-na-na-na
  Na-na-na, na-na-na-na
  
  (Now listen)
  It's okay I understand
  This ain't no never-neverland
  I hope that when this issue's gone
  I'll see you when your clothes are on
  
  Take you car, yes we will
  We'll take your car and drive it
  We'll take it to a motel room
  And take 'em off in private
  
  A part of me has just been ripped
  The pages from my mind are stripped
  Oh no, I can't deny it
  Oh yeah, I guess I gotta buy it
  
  My blood runs cold
  My memory has just been sold
  My angel is the centerfold
  Angel is the centerfold
  
  My blood runs cold
  My memory has just been sold
  My Angel in the centerfold
  
  Na-na, na-na-na-na
  Na-na-na, na-na-na-na
  (Alright, alright)
  (One, two, three, four)
  
  Na-na, na-na-na-na
  Na-na-na, na-na-na-na
  Na-na, na-na-na-na
  Na-na-na, na-na-na-na
  Na-na, na-na-na-na
  Na-na-na, na-na-na-na
  Na-na, na-na-na-na
  Na-na-na, na-na-na-na
  
  My blood runs cold
  My memory has just been sold
  My angel is the centerfold
  Angel is the centerfold
  
  My blood runs cold (oh yeah)
  My memory has just been sold
  Angel is the centerfold
  Angel is the centerfold
  
  Na-na, na-na-na-na
  Na-na-na, na-na-na-na
  Na-na, na-na-na-na Writer/s: Seth Justman
  Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 37

• George Pope from BcI'm sure family just says, "she's a model"
• George Pope from BcYup, I remember when this song came out; around same time as "Freeze Frame" by I forget, which had a similar catchy beat that had us teens rocking in the early '80s.
• J.t. from Timbuk2Can't articulate what's so hot about that "Catholic schoolgirl" look... it just is.
• Rnmorton from West Chester PaFor us guys, at least, maybe the most enjoyable music video ever made. Great girls and absolutely great choreography. Although she looks a lot like her, that is not Martha Quinn as a homeroom angel. I watched this four times last time I caught it, just incredible.
• Danny Boy from Springfield I was in a similar scenario at high school with a beautiful lady who wouldn’t give me the time of the day. It was so easy to melt when she was around. A few years later I was looking through a girly magazine and there she was on the pages in between. I was shocked but proud to know that I knew her.
• Michael from TulsaThere was an old wrestler who used Centerfold as a walkout song. Would have been in the 80s
• Seventhmist from 7th HeavenThanks for the story, Kelly. With all the porn that exists in magazines and on video, I sometimes wonder how the family of those involved deals with it. I'm sure many aren't ashamed at all, but what do those who are say when asked "What does your son/daughter do for a living?" Maybe they just reply, "He/she is in the entertainment field." And what do all those young people do, when they want to leave it all behind and start a normal life (with family, kids and such) knowing that those pix and footage are still out there?
• Bruce from San Jose, Calif.I was in Okinawa Japan sitting in the back of a passenger bus when I first heard the song....Singing "Nah-Nah-na-na-na-na..." out loud repeatedly with friends and upsetting the other passengers....LOL
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyPer: http://www.oldiesmusic.com/news.htm
  John Geils, guitarist and leader of the J. Geils Band, was found dead Tuesday (April 11th, 2017) at his Groton, Massachusetts home, he was 71, death was believed to be from natural causes...
  Formed in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1967 by John, vocalist Peter Wolf, "Magic" Dick Salwitz on harmonica, Seth Justman on keyboards, bassist Danny (Dr. Funk) Klein and drummer Stephen Jo Bladd, their original sound was rhythm-and blues that won them success with songs like "Looking For A Love" (#39-1972), "Give It To Me" (#30-1973) and "Must Of Got Lost" (#12-1975). Meanwhile, their energetic live shows opening for bands like the Byrds and the Allman Brothers Band won them a strong following. But with a more new-wave sound in the '80s they achieved their greatest success. "Centerfold" took them to #1 in 1982, followed by "Freeze-Frame" (#4-1982) and a return to R&B with "I Do" (#24-1983). However, Wolf left for a solo career that year and within two years the group disbanded. They reunited several times in the 2000's, although John sued them at one point for touring under his name without him. John spent much of his time restoring old cars, but did record two albums with Magic Dick under the name Bluestime. The group had been nominated twice for the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame, but has yet to be selected...
  May he R.I.P.
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn November 1st 1981, "Centerfold" by the J. Geils Band entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #70; and thirteen weeks later on January 31st, 1982 it peaked at #1 {for 6 weeks} and almost a half-year on the Top 100 {25 weeks}...
  It also reached #1 {for 4 weeks} on January 24th, 1982 on the Canadian RPM 100 Singles chart...
  And on January 10th, 1982 it peaked at #1 {for 3 weeks} on another Billboard chart; this one was the Mainstream Rock chart...
  Then on March 15th, 1982 it reached #1 {for 1 week} on the Australian Kent Music Report chart...
  And to top of the year, it was #5 on 'Billboard's Year-End Hot 100 Singles of 1982' chart...
  Between 1971 and 1985 the Worcester, MA band had eighteen Top 100 records; with two making the Top 10, their other Top 10 record was "Freeze-Frame", it peaked at #4 {for 4 weeks} on April 4th, 1982.
• Kelly Caroon from Wilmington NcOk... I know this Is gonna sound silly, but I'm really too young to remember so I don't really care. But it was a hige controversy in our family when this song was written about my cousin Lori Ross Dobbs. She was in fact a centerfold after high school, which in fact pissed my grandparents off as well as my grandmother's brother, Bill Ross... Lori's father. It was a huge Issue in the family and everything possible was done to cover up who the song was about. But this day and age, many of you have mentioned "spoonfull" and a ton of other bands my mom and dad traveled with and were friends with. So today it's funny. Back then, not so much. But my cousin Lori has always been a knockout, and still is to this very day. Just throwin' all that out there. Many spins on the truth to deflect it, but the families know. ;-)
• Darren from Hampton, Ga, GaNo, that's not Martha Quinn you guys in the video.
• Will from Richmond, VaAnybody know the name of the blond girl, who is the second girl in the row when the girls come marching in carrying their books, also she shows up in the still shot of the video at the top of this page? She reminds me of someone I once knew.
• Rose from Boston, MaI know one of the girls in the video- she is the 3rd one in line as they first come out and you get a good shot of her smile near the end of the video when you see the girls stroll in the white outfits-( 3rd in line again) she has shoulder length brown hair - I knew her sister well - we were good friends back in the late 70's & early 80's . The girl's name was Jill Priest . a sweetheart...
• Robert from Detroit, MiI've searched everywhere for a Peter Wolf interview/explanation for the inspiration behind the lyrics to this song. I have found nothing. I have heard many stories over the years, but no way to verify anything unless it comes from the author himself. Who was the main character female "centerfold" who inspired this song?
  
  One rumor had it being the 80's pornstar "Angel", however after much internet research they had her growing up in Michigan as a young girl named Laurie. Wolf grew up in Boston, so no way he could have known her in high school. Still, she sure fits the description of a sweet innocent "homeroom angel" who you would never think would ever get into porn.
• Charlie from Las Vegas, Nvif there was a Songfacts category titled "Songs That would've Gone Great on The Soundtracks For Movies Whose Overall Plot Matches the Story Behind The Song" i DEFINITELY would've put this song in that category, because the whole thing about "my blood runs cold/my memory has just been sold/my angel is a centerfold" makes me think of the scene out of the movie "Miss March" where the guy flips through the copy of Playboy he'd just gotten in the mail to find that the girl whom his best friend dated back in high school is the Playmate of the Month or whatever they call them, and goes and tells his best friend about it.
• Danny from Your Town, IaPeter Wolfe claimed to have slept with most of the women in the video. J. Geils is actually the name of the guitarist. Although the J. Geils band were a blues band before this song, they were mostly discovered when they supported the Stones on their "Still Life" tour. Others who got their big break on that tour included George Thorogood and Prince.
• Valerie from Eureka, CaHey I have some interesting info regarding the J. Geils Band. I am from Massachusetts a state very close to Rhode Island. I used to go to a club Friday and Saturday nights years ago...and I mean YEARS ago! I went particularly to see both or either of 2 great bands. One was called the Hallucinations. They were a predominately white band...that played great blues songs. If I can remember the lineup...Peter Wolf, Doug Slade, Shante(?), Stephen Bladd, Paul Shapiro and a cute blonde drummer whose name escapes me now...maybe it was Steven Clark but don't quote me on the first name. It got to the point that my sister and myself would show up early and wait for the band(s) and help them carry their equipment in. We kind of helped set up a couple of times and always stayed to help tear down after the shows. We spent most of the breaks with the band or bands depending on which one played that night. Peter invited us to a party in Boston once. We got lost as we were not familiar with Boston. These were really nice people..I enjoyed them anyway. We used to take pictures in the parking lot after the shows and develop them on the the headlights of whichever band member drove to the venue. I would still have these photos if not for the traveling back and forth from Mass. to Ca. We treated this guys like they were the Beatles...lol. I have to mention the other band just because. But before I do, I have to say that these guys introduced me to music from the Mothers of Invention, songs like Spoonful, The Hunter and others I can no longer recall.Anyway, the other band was the Cloud. Another predominantly white band that played blues. Doug Grossman, Walter Bjorkman (the love of my life), Rick Metzinger, Jim Thompson and Victor McGill on drums. I don't recall the last time I saw the Hallucinations but I remember exactly the last time I saw the Cloud. It was a bitter sweet good-bye. Most of these guys were music and/or art students in Boston. As for J. Geils? I paid 50cents to see them in an upstairs coffee house in Providence RI. I think the name of it was the Rubicon. The venue was too small for the amps. It was LOUD!
• Jasmine from Omaha, NeTheres another dancer in the video in the classroom behind the desks shes in the first row to the right of the martha quinn lookalike, I've tried to find out who she is because I've seen her in a few other movies dancing like The B
  est Little Whorehouse in Texas, she the short one with the short straight brown hair.
• John from Brisbane, United StatesThis song is typical of the period.They tried hard in the early 80s to get away from disco and homosexuality.They succeeded!A good song that you cannot dance with.I like it.Yes AIDS was discovered a year or two later.
• Chuck from Clinton Twp, MiThe girls were from a local dance studio. They are all attractive, but in a natural way, without that 'trampy' look. I love them dancing around in babydolls!
• Thomas from Somerville, AlI have one thing to say about J. Geils. Magic Dick. The best blues harp player in the buisiness.
• Jane from Austin, Txi remember the big controversy over whether or not Martha Quinn was in the video.
• Ticketred from Walpole, MaThe J Geils Band had a great blues band and career before they hit it in the pop cicuit with this song and Freeze Frame, etc. I'm pretty sure this song was one of the first used as a video vehicle specifically for MTV as this network was new at the time of the song's release. The blues/rock played by the band before all this was awesome. J.Geils was a great blues guitarist, Danny Klein on bass, Peter Wolf vocals, Seth Justman organist, Stephen Jo Bladd drummer and Magic Dick on Harmonica. A great concert band nicknamed the "Jewish Stones". Once in concert at the old Boston Garden they had a full marching band march onto the stage to start the show.
• Sue from Philadelphia, PaMartha Quinn was NOT in the video. The girl that sort of looks like Martha is named Kristen Riter. She played the character of Toby in the movie student bodies. Oddly enough, she seems to have disappeared from acting after this video.
• Jennifer Harris from Grand Blanc, MiI remember the frontman on the teacher's desk and the girls in catholic uniforms even cheerleader uniforms.
• Jennifer Harris from Grand Blanc, MiI loved this music video as a child! I wish I could've put it on vhs. If I can get VH-1 classic.I can put it on dvr. I didn't know Martha Quinn had a twin sister.someone from I Love the 80s said it was Martha Quinn in the video,but Adam? Hunter said that it wasn't.
• Scott from Boston, MaAwesome song. My favorite J. Geils song is "Musta Got Lost" w/ the intro. Songfacts should put up more of their songs.
• Bertrand from Paris, FranceEven though I sometimes get the "na-na-na-na-na-na" part mixed up with the Smurfs theme, this song is a highlight for me personally and for the entire decade's musical catalogue. The band's frontman, Peter Wolf, was tailor-made for the 1980s with his Mick Jagger swagger and exuberance, even though he had paid his dues before the band went pop. That's why the group reached its highest level of success during the 1980s, and this tune's memorable playfulness is a big reason why.
• Scott from Palm Desert, CaIn the early 80's J. Geils catchy new-wave pop finally caught up to the times and they got several big hits.
• Silverado from Green Bay, WiI think one of the dancers in the schoolroom scene may have been MTV VJ Martha Quinn, if it wasn't her it was her twin!
• Britt Jake from Newport, NhPeter Wolf said the girls are dancers from the Boston Area. Info on 'I Love You 80s'
• Stacey from Someplace, Australiathe girls in the clip are from playboy or something like that
• Dave from Cardiff, WalesAlthough this was their only song that did well in the UK, The J. Geils' Band had several big hits in the US besides "Centerfold". Their other Stateside hits included "Love Stinks", "Freeze Frame", "Flame Thrower", "Land Of 1,000 Dances", and "Rage In The Cage".
• Jac from Boulder, Coi think this song is basicaly he sees his highschool crush in a magazine and hes suprised because he rembers her. he realizez she 'sold' her body to magazines. old memories about her come back to him. then he sais 'its ok, i understand, this aint no never never land' meaning he knows thigs cahnge. he sais he hopes to see her when her clothes are on. then he thinks about hooking up with her all these years later......its not a bad song....
• Dave from Cardiff, WalesThis was used in the UK as a kind of "End of Term" anthem in the early 80s... This was their biggest hit in their native America although they had a number of major US singles chart successes between their formation in 1967 and 1985, when they split up, but in early 1982, it became their only big hit in Britain. Model and actor Adam Austin released an unsuccessful cover version in 1999
• Mark from Lakewood, Oh"My memory has just been sold" I imagine refers to the girl selling her body to the magazine for money.

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