Peter Frampton - Comes Alive (1976)

 (U.K 1966 - Present)

Peter Frampton's live double epitomizes post-Vietnam escapist sunshine rock. With an estimated l6 million sales, it is second only to Bruce Springsteen's 1985 blockbuster as history's most successful live set. Recorded between March and November 1975 - principally at Frampton's first headlining gig, at Winterland in San Francisco - the album was summed up by Cameron Crowe in Rolling Stone as "much more than a souvenir. It is a testimony to Peter Frampton in his natural habitat." See full review below

Following a template established by Kiss with their Alive! double LP, Frampton's album transformed a leaguer into a major player. The former member of British rockers The Herd and Humble Pie had made three, moderately successful albums: now he enjoyed ten weeks at the top of the Billboard chart.

This ad ran soon before Peter Frampton briefly
                       ruled the world

The 14-song selection provides a fine cross-section of his albums and Humble Pie days. Jaunty "Somethin's Happening" and insistent "Show Me The Way" lay out his stall of echo-rich vocals, jazzy electric and sweet acoustic guitars, melodious harmonies and - "Ooh Baby" - lyrics. The band rock out on the likes of "I Wanna Go To The Sun," but it is the hysteria elicited by the hit anthem "Baby, I Love Your Way" and the talkbox laden "Do You Feel Like We Do" that proves the life-affirming nature of the Frampton sound. The album prompted an invitation to the White House President Gerald Ford. We are not worthy! was Frampton's response.
[extract from 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, Cassell Illustrated, 2005. p372

Rolling Stone Review, Dec 1975
by Cameron Crowe (Contributing Editor)

It's the classic tale of most inspired performers. Be they actor or musician or both, anyone whose art often burns with the passion of a man possessed is more often than not a soft spoken personality way from their craft.

Twenty-five-year-old Peter Frampton is no miraculous exception. He is a quietly good-natured man who, in his own words, lives for the stage.

Which is not to say that Frampton, in the four years since he left Humble Pie and began a solo career, hasn't made the studio his stage. 'Wind Of Change', his first solo effort, was as strong a debut as an artist could hope for. After lacing five Humble Pie and two Herd albums with his especially versatile acoustic and electric guitar playing, singing and song writing prowess, Frampton had immediately established himself as his own best interpreter.

It was about that same time that Peter took to the road - surely his first home - with his own band. "Performing is the best thing for a musician", he said at the time. "It keeps my music alive and breathing. That's too important to give up. I really don't think I'll stay off the road for very long".

The effect of the stage can be strongly felt on his second album 'Frampton's Camel', which introduced such live staples as "Lines On My Face" and the tour de force "Do You Feel Like We Do"

'Somethin's Happening' and 'Frampton', finely-crafted albums that spanned both breezy and gritty peaks, were next. The latter may well be his best studio work yet. Recorded at Clearwell Castle near Wales with his solid backing unit of Andy Brown and drummer John Siomos, it shows an ever-evolving Frampton playing all guitar and keyboards and more confident and relaxed than ever before.

Which brings us to 'Frampton Comes Alive', the trump he has been holding all along. Two records culled from a series of Peter Frampton concerts, its release finally completes the portrait of a strong young artist. The full range of his live material, both acoustic and electric, is presented here. Even the audience enjoys a major role throughout and, as always, Frampton & Band perform with the earnestness and competence that we've come to respect. Frampton Comes Alive is much more than a souvenir. It is a testimony to Peter Frampton in his natural habitat.

This post consists of FLACs ripped from both CD and Vinyl, and includes artwork for both media. For some reason, A&M chose to release this double LP album on CD with 4 tracks missing. At first I thought it was due to time restrictions for the CD media, however further investigation shows that the full 78min concert would have fitted.  WTF !

So, to rectify this shortcoming, I have included the 4 missing tracks - "All I Want To Be (Is By Your Side)","Doobie Wah","It's A Plain Shame","Penny For Your Thoughts", ripped from my vinyl. 

This live album was the biggest selling album in Australia in 1976, and remains one of my favourite live albums. Frampton really did take the world by storm with this one and his popularity literally 'Came Alive' when it landed.

Track Listing:

01 Something's Happening 5:54

02 Doobie Wah 5:28

03 Show Me The Way 4:42

04 It's A Plain Shame 4:21

05 All I Want To Be (Is By Your Side) 3:27

06 Wind Of Change 2:47

07 Baby, I Love Your Way 4:43

08 I Wanna Go To The Sun 7:02

09 Penny For Your Thoughts 1:23

10 (I'll Give You) Money 5:39

11 Shine On 3:35

12 Jumping Jack Flash 7:45

13 Lines On My Face 7:06

14 Do You Feel Like We Do 14:15

Frampton Comes Alive! Link (494Mb)