frampton foursome

The world's biggest rock star of 1976 was Peter Frampton. His album FRAMPTON COMES ALIVE stands as the greatest-selling concert album ever. And justifiably so, Frampton was an amazing guitarist playing fine songs, capturing a rare kind of audience-performer chemistry.
Fame is an interesting beast, though. There is a not-entirely pointless part of the human spirit that seeks to destroy our idols. If you dance with fame, do so at your own peril. In our culture of celebrity, it's easy to find examples of insubstantial products that strike "spicemonkee" gold, whose subsequent fall from grace is often as abrupt as their rise. A little more unfairly, there are also talented flashes-in-the-pan consumed by too-quick fame, punished by the beast of public perception. Hanson today enjoys a well-deserved cult following, and i wish them nothing but the best.
There's no set formula for all this rising and falling. Certain acts, through talent or luck or both, maintain their spot on the mountaintop longer than others. There are also toweringly brilliant acts that we'll never hear of.
Somewhere in all that, Peter Frampton lost the rest of his career. We rewarded his too-great success, with our indifference. Perhaps some of it was earned - i don't know whether the follow-ups to FRAMPTON COMES ALIVE were worthy. I do know this, though. In the often revoltingly bleak popular music landscape, Frampton has gone on to make some shamefully ignored work. 1995's FRAMPTON COMES ALIVE II is note-for-note as great as its predecessor. When he "rocks out", it's a good thing (oft times when a band "rocks out", they just turn up the amp and abandon any pretense of musicality). And 2003's studio album NOW is simply everything a rock album should be. He shreds the occasional solo, and mixes in tender songs with thoughtful lyrics. His mid-tempo numbers might be the best of the bunch. The standout track is a cover of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps". With its rambling pre-song solo, it takes its place as one of the most towering treatments of Harrison's work.
Along with these three i add this fourth disc, to assemble perhaps the very best of Peter, for those with limited funds or space. ANTHOLOGY: THE HISTORY OF PETER FRAMPTON, a collection from 2001, includes music from The Herd and Humble Pie. The collection makes you realize that, unlike most, his concerts aren't just a cranking out of hits. So many of these songs will get inside you to stay, given a few listenings. The most wonderful treasure is hearing "Baby I Love Your Way" as a studio recording for the first time. Most of us know the live version like we know our hands, but hearing this quiet, airtight version is so moving, i can't tell you. It has an intimacy and innocence which the big concert couldn't capture.
So enough yakking. Is Peter still touring?
That'd be nice.