When Peter Kenneth Frampton first released his single Show Me the Way in June 1975 it fell flat on its arse. Lifted off his fourth solo album Frampton (which also included Baby, I Love Your Way) it gained zero traction. Only when he toured the album and released his Frampton Comes Alive double album the following February did it get under the skin of every FM radio station within a five thousand mile radius. Show Me the Way was the album's lead single and, basically, cemented Frampton's career. Listening to the original version from '75 without the crowd whooping and hollering is quite strange - you're almost hearing it with a sense of loss. Watching him play it acoustically many years later without a crowd going ballistic, his flowing locks or his famous talkbox is another experience altogether; kind of endearing, but at the same time, a tad deflating.
Peter Frampton (with Gordon Kennedy) - Show Me the Way
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Ever wondered how the (now patented) Framptone works?
The first concert I went to was Rainbow at the Ingliston Exhibition Centre in 1981. Before the show, they played the studio version of Whole Lotta Rosie over the speakers. Naturally, the crowd added the "Angus!" in between each riff. I believe this is now legally enforceable.
ReplyDeleteA great example, H. Being something of a metaler, you got any more?
DeleteNo dissing my fellow Son of Bromley please
ReplyDeleteAu contraire, Ernesto! I love the Framp.
DeleteAnd, like your good self, one of the Contingent😀
God that song and album were ubiquitous at that time
ReplyDeleteCertainly was. It was in every record shop window and every grubby 5th former’s record collection.
DeleteYep, his live album was in our flat courtesy of one of my living companions. I like that pared down version though - strange not hearing the talk-box but lovely to see him performing and looking well.
ReplyDelete'Living companions' sounds v formal1 They don't sound like the sort of flat mates who you'd go down the pub with, drinking shots & dancing on tables etc.
DeleteYou're right but I just didn't want to have the word flat (as in mate) twice in the same sentence. There was definitely drinking and dancing on tables!
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