This album had it all. A live performance, a wild crowd, superb guitar play, and 90 minutes of music that could be played at ear bleeding volumes. Frampton Comes Alive debuted at the heart of the so called Disco Era but quickly found a strong following of fans screaming for more.
Frampton Comes Alive was released in 1976 and his signature song from the album, Do You Feel Like We Do is the song most identified with Frampton. It was the song that during his guitar riffs, he would make his guitar talk by using a device known as a talkbox. When the guitar started talking, the crowd was whipped into a frenzy cheering and screaming wildly. If you only listen to one Peter Frampton song, it is highly recommended that it be Do You Feel Like We Do as that one. You will come back for more.
Sidenote: The talkbox was a hidden device consisting of a clear tube that Frampton spoke into. The tube was connected to the guitar and in turn the guitar was connected to the talkbox on the stage. Whatever Frampton spoke into the tube, it would reverberate through the amplifier and sounded just like the guitar was talking. The rock band Aerosmith used this technique the previous year on it's hit single, Sweet Emotion but Frampton is most known for the wide use of the talkbox.
Second Sidenote: Frampton Comes Alive was recorded at Winterland, San Francisco and has sold over 16 million copies making it the best selling "Live" album to date. Show Me The way and Baby I Love Your Way were the album's hit singles that made it to the top 6 along with the 14 minute plus version of Do You Feel Like We Do earning Frampton more than 70 million dollars in 1976.
Peter Frampton honed his guitar skills playing lead in the band Humble Pie and The Herd. After several years, he recorded his own album, and two more before Comes Alive hit the mainstream of rock and roll. A rock and roll legend was born in San Francisco the night the album was recorded live on stage and 31 years later, only the lines on Frampton's face has changed. The music remains as strong and powerful as ever.
The back cover has Frampton with his signature guitar rocking on stage. The album didn't open as usual album jackets. This one opened from the top and when folded out completely, showed a full picture of Frampton jamming on stage with his guitar.
The album title tracks are printed on the right side.
Side One:
Introduction
Something's Happening
Doobie Wah
Show Me The Way
It's A Plain Shame
Side Two:
All I Want To Be (Is By Your Side)
Wind Of change
Baby I Love Your Way
I Wanna Go To The Sun
Side Three:
Penny For Your Thoughts
(I'll Give You) Money
Shine On
Jumping Jack Flash
Side Four:
Lines On My Face
Do You Feel Like We Do
The left inside jacket pictured Stanley Sheldon, back up guitar, and Bob Mayo, guitar and keyboards. Framptons previous albums were listed on the bottom right side.
The right inside jacket pictured drummer John Siomos and a larger picture of Frampton on stage. Bob Mayo played keyboards and is the only band member mentioned in the performance other than Frampton.
Both album inner jackets picture 25 popular albums which included The Captain And Tennille, The Carpenters, Joe Cocker, Styx, The Tubes, Pablo Cruise, Supertramp, Cat Stevens, Herb Albert, Head East, Joan Baez, and Spooky Tooth.
The album itself with the hit song from the album, Do You Feel Like We Do showing.
Here are the lyrics to Do You Feel Like We Do
LURKING AND ROCKING ON THE GRASSY KNOLL
Introduction
Something's Happening
Doobie Wah
Show Me The Way
It's A Plain Shame
Side Two:
All I Want To Be (Is By Your Side)
Wind Of change
Baby I Love Your Way
I Wanna Go To The Sun
Side Three:
Penny For Your Thoughts
(I'll Give You) Money
Shine On
Jumping Jack Flash
Side Four:
Lines On My Face
Do You Feel Like We Do
The left inside jacket pictured Stanley Sheldon, back up guitar, and Bob Mayo, guitar and keyboards. Framptons previous albums were listed on the bottom right side.
The right inside jacket pictured drummer John Siomos and a larger picture of Frampton on stage. Bob Mayo played keyboards and is the only band member mentioned in the performance other than Frampton.
Both album inner jackets picture 25 popular albums which included The Captain And Tennille, The Carpenters, Joe Cocker, Styx, The Tubes, Pablo Cruise, Supertramp, Cat Stevens, Herb Albert, Head East, Joan Baez, and Spooky Tooth.
The album itself with the hit song from the album, Do You Feel Like We Do showing.
Here are the lyrics to Do You Feel Like We Do
Well, Woke up this morning with a wine glass in my hand
Whose wine, what wine, where the hell did I dine
Must have been a dream, I don’t believe where I've been
Come on... lets do it again
Whose wine, what wine, where the hell did I dine
Must have been a dream, I don’t believe where I've been
Come on... lets do it again
Do you, you, feel like I do
How's it feel
Do you, you, feel like I do
How's it feel
Do you, you, feel like I do
My friend got busted just the other day
They said don't walk, don't walk, don't walk away
Drove him to a taxi bent the boot hit the back
Had to play some music otherwise he'd crack
They said don't walk, don't walk, don't walk away
Drove him to a taxi bent the boot hit the back
Had to play some music otherwise he'd crack
Do you, you, feel like I do
How's it feel
Do you, you, feel like I
How's it feel
Do you, you, feel like I
Do you, you, feel like I do
Yes I do
Do you, you, feel like I do
Yes I do
Do you, you, feel like I do
Champagne for breakfast and a sherman in my hand
Peached up, peach ale, never fails
Must have been a dream, I don't believe where I've been
Come on... lets do it again
Peached up, peach ale, never fails
Must have been a dream, I don't believe where I've been
Come on... lets do it again
Do you, you, feel like I do
How you'd feel
Do you, you, feel like I
How you'd feel
Do you, you, feel like I
Bob Mayo on the keyboards, Bob Mayo
Do you feel like we do
Do you feel like we do
Ohhh that's true
Do you feel like we do, get back
Do you feel, do you feel like we do
Do you feel like we do
Ohhh that's true
Do you feel like we do, get back
Do you feel, do you feel like we do
Talkbox Lyrics
Do you feel
Do you feel
Like I feel
I want to thank you
Do you feel
Do you feel
Like I feel
I want to thank you
Do you feel like we do
That's alright, that's alright to feel you'd like
Feel you'd like, a good time
We'll goto bed and good night
Good time, good time, good time, good time, tonight
Well...........
That's alright, that's alright to feel you'd like
Feel you'd like, a good time
We'll goto bed and good night
Good time, good time, good time, good time, tonight
Well...........
LURKING AND ROCKING ON THE GRASSY KNOLL
Agree, this was a great album, listened to it on CD, never knew he made the guitar talk with a talkbox, thought he did it only with the guitar. Still a great sound and album.
ReplyDeleteHave you seen/heard Frampton on the new GEICO car commercials? Talkbox and all
ReplyDeleteWell done I like frampton and Humle pie, very interesting music.Rgds
ReplyDeleteYes Jimmy, very funny commercial. Geico ads are entertaining. Just as long as they don't make sitcoms out of them.
ReplyDeleteGreat review of Frampton Comes Alive but your description of the talkbox is innacurate (it's backwards actually). The sound comes from the guitar into the talkbox which is a really speaker driver connected to a metal cone at the top of the box which has the tube attatched to an opening. When you play an note, it sends your entire guitar signal up through the tube into your mouth. You then shape the guitar sounds into words (or whatever) sounds you wish to make. Those sounds in turn go into the mike and out through the PA. The guitar amp is completely bypassed and Frampton doesn't actually use his vocal chords at all. As a guitarist I can tell you that it's harder than it looks...that's why not many other players do it.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how much the original, first release album from 1976 LP edition is worth? I heard it is a very rare album.
ReplyDeleteGood question Andy....
ReplyDeleteMy album as you can see is not in the best condition, so I would think at best the worth is 10-15 dollars. Perhaps a perfect condition album would be worth considerably more.
My band does a cover of "Do You Feel Like We Do" and my bass player, not the guitarist, is actually the one using the talk box. It sounds a lot different on a bass, but I think I like it better. Of course I would shoot him if he used it on every other song we play because it does get annoying after maybe 5 minutes. And from one drummer to another, hats off to John Siomos, the often overlooked beatman behind Frampton. He keeps the drum part interesting by not resorting to 16th note fills on the toms every time and the tasteful hi-hat part during the talk box solo.
ReplyDeleteAnother kick ass classic. Peter Frampton was a super nova with theis live double album and then, then he came out with I'm In You as his follow up. Rocky's Hot Box, WTF!!!
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have any idea how much this album is worth unopened? I have one that I bought back in 76 or 77...Thanks!
ReplyDeleteIf it's original, not a reprint, it could bring perhaps $200 dollars. Check EBAY and other online auctions.
ReplyDeleteThank you! It is absolutely original. I personally bought this when I was about 18 years old. Never opened it...... I'll check out ebay also. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteBetween a Memory And a Dream a track fae the latest Scott Kempner record hits the spot mind you t Frampton record aint bad guess am gettin to old fer this
ReplyDeleteBe interesting to find out since I own one!!
ReplyDeleteWonder how much the album from Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band with Frampton would be worth?
ReplyDeleteHave you checked E-Bay?
ReplyDeleteIts worth much more than 200 buks. Wait 10 more yrs and see
ReplyDeletePerfect condition, perhaps, but doubtful, but you have to wait 10 years and the value of the dollar will be what then?
ReplyDelete