FRAMPTON COMES ALIVE: 38 YEARS AND STILL ROCKIN’

It’s almost hard for me to believe that today—January 6^th marks the 38^th year since the release of “Frampton Comes Alive”  I remember hearing “Show Me The Way” for the first time and thinking to myself, how is he getting that talking sound from his guitar?

I saw him here in Binghamton around the time the first single came out, he was the opening act (I can’t remember who he opened for) but man he was really good and as a beginner guitar player I had to find out  what that tube he was talking through was all about,. It was called a “Talk Box”

I had to find one of these “Talk Boxes” that would send the sound of your guitar up a hollow plastic tube that you would place into your mouth and then the sound would amplify through your microphone.

I remember renting one from a local music store and realizing the tube was used from a previous renter and never replaced, so I cut off about 2 inches from the top. (It was fun for about an hour, and then I took it back the next day)

Over the next few months the album spawned two more singles, Baby I Love Your Way and the huge rock anthem Do You Feel Like We Do which was over 14 minutes long, most radio stations would play the much shortened edit of 7 and some change. I think 991 The Whale would play the entire version at night.

For most of that year you couldn’t go anywhere without hearing that album.

By April of 1976 the album went to the top spot and became “Rolling Stones Readers Poll” Album of the year, 97 weeks later it was still in the top 20 at number 14 on Billboards 1977 year end charts.

I still play the album today and it takes me back to one of the best summers of my life.

“Frampton Comes Alive” May You Rock for another 40 years!

Getty Images / Fin Costello

Side one

1. "Introduction / Something's Happening" – 5:54
2. "Doobie Wah" – 5:28
3. "Show Me the Way" – 4:42
4. "It's a Plain Shame" – 4:21

Side two

1. "All I Want to Be (Is by Your Side)" – 3:27
2. "Wind of Change" – 2:47
3. "Baby, I Love Your Way" – 4:43
4. "I Wanna Go to the Sun" – 7:02

Side three

1. "Penny for Your Thoughts" – 1:23
2. "(I'll Give You) Money" – 5:39
3. "Shine On" – 3:35
4. "Jumpin' Jack Flash"  – 7:45

Side four

1. "Lines on My Face" – 7:06
2. "Do You Feel Like We Do"  – 14:15