It was a monster hit. You couldn't turn on the radio without hearing a track from it.
Posted on 01/07/2026 2:41:25 AM PST by Rummyfan
“I felt like I had lost before I started the next part of my career,” Peter Frampton says of the blowout success of his 1976 album, Frampton Comes Alive! “Before there was nothing to compete with. Now, I felt, ‘I’m competing with Peter Frampton.’”
In a new interview with Billboard, the guitar icon reflects on his smash live album, which turns 50 this year. The two-album set was recorded during the 1975 tour for his fourth solo album, Frampton. At the time, he was still struggling for success following his time with English hard rockers Humble Pie.
Frampton Comes Alive! proved to be a breakthrough beyond his wildest dreams. It became an instant staple of FM radio, selling millions of copies, while the iconic cover photo of Frampton — caught live onstage playing his “Phenix” Gibson Les Paul Custom — graced the walls of many fans’ bedrooms, making the guitarist a teen icon some 10 years into his career.
(Excerpt) Read more at guitarplayer.com ...
It was a monster hit. You couldn't turn on the radio without hearing a track from it.
Show Me the Way is on my regular play list. Never get tired of it.
When he was married to a Cincinnati girl & living there, he called into a sports talk radio show on WKRP....sorry, it was WLW.
Not a fan of his music but he’s an interesting guy...
I heard that album so many times on Detroit FM radio that it lost its luster, and that was way before the year was over. On the other hand, I never get tired of Rockin’ The Filmore when he was with Humble Pie.
Saw his show soon after the stolen “Phenix” Gibson Les Paul Custom was recovered and given a once over by Gibson. Pretty cool show. Story on YouTube -
https://youtu.be/YsMOQvuIEqw?si=dNSL8PZ6D3hOsIzm
Saw him outdoors in Texas that year, great concert.
Now he knows how Mendelssohn felt after his Octet.
Frampton was my first concert on the first date with what would become my first girlfriend. Anaheim convention center April 1976.
From the Comes Alive LP, Lines on my Face never gets old.
His follow-up album was meh, and then he jumped the shark when he did Sgt. Pepper's.
Next time I heard about him was I think when someone tried to take an Obama sign off his front yard or something.
Saw Peter Frampton as the headliner with Lynyrd Skynyrd as the undercard (along with J Geils, and Dickey Betts bands) played in JFK Stadium Philadelphia (before it was demolished to make way for Eagles Lincoln field).
It was a very hot summer day and Skynyrd’s “Freebird” song stole the entire show. When Frampton finally came on, a third of the audience had left. The entire event was 5 hours long and there were more than a thousand Warlock biker gang members there.
“Before there was nothing to compete with. Now, I felt, ‘I’m competing with Peter Frampton.’”
As Pete just STFU and handle it already. Geez, these guys.
taking time from his music to star in the disasterous remake or ‘sgt peppers’ is what hurt him.
taking time from his music to star in the disasterous remake or ‘sgt peppers’ is what hurt him.
You two were at the same concert in Philly 50 years ago!
That was weird at the time. He never had any hits that I recall. Then all of the sudden, that $&@ing album was all anybody heard on the radio. He kinda popped outta nowhere. Maybe some payola was involved?
And then he went and did the Sergeant Pepper movie, which hardly anyone liked.
CC
As I recall after the success of this live album he was in a movie and lots of other TV and photo ‘hits’ — he became over exposed to the point I would recoil to his likeness.
Have the album and had a fraternity brother who was at the actual concert where the album was recorded, he said it was $2.00 for the ticket and a great show.
In 1976 I was attending HS in Panama City, Florida. Frampton had earlier booked to play at the tiny civic center. By the time of the concert, his album and fame had exploded nationwide. But he still showed up. To say the kids in my school were stoked is an understatement! I always that it was cool he kept that commitment. I don’t think that venue ever had another major artist play there.
I bought that album and played it night and day.
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