Peter Frampton has always been a bit of an enigma. On the one hand, he’s acclaimed as one of the most proficient rock guitarists, playing for the Herd and Humble Pie in the late 1960s, before embarking on a solo career. His 1976 album Frampton Comes Alive, featuring the radio hits ‘Baby I Love Your Way’, ‘Show Me The Way’ and ‘Do You Feel Like We Do’, was the highest-selling live album for many years.
Time marches on
Despite the innovative use of the talk box, Frampton’s solo albums didn’t fare well, the only exception being Premonition in 1986. A near-fatal car accident in 1978 slowed him down, and his 1995 live sequel was a commercial disaster. The UK-born, now American citizen, Frampton is in the news for three reasons. A few months ago, he was diagnosed with inclusion body myositis, a progressive muscle disorder slowly affecting his playing; his new album All Blues , a tribute to the blues giants and finally, his Farewell Tour which began in Tulsa, US, on June 18. Frampton joins a list of rock and pop musicians who have recently been affected by health issues. Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones and Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac have had heart problems. Guitar hero Eric Clapton has been suffering from tinnitus and a nerve disorder. Super-singer Neil Diamond has Parkinson’s disease and Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine is being treated for throat cancer. An unrecognisable Phil Collins has had recurring bouts of illness, and Black Sabbath’s Ozzy Osbourne and Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks cancelled tours because of hospitalisation. While some have decided to call it a day, others are moving on slowly. For his part, Frampton has gracefully announced his last tour, while also completing his dream project. The 10 songs on All Blues have been intelligently chosen, and with the exception of the B.B. King hit ‘The Thrill Is Gone’ featuring guest Sonny Landreth, there are no predictable favourites.
All about the blues
The album begins with Willie Dixon’s ‘I Just Want To Make Love To You’, first recorded by Muddy Waters and popularised by Etta James. One attraction is the harmonica-playing of guest Kim Wilson of Fabulous Thunderbirds. The Taj Mahal masterpiece ‘She Caught The Katy’ is filled with phenomenal guitar riffs, and the popular Ray Charles song ‘Georgia On My Mind’ has been given a moody, bluesy instrumental treatment.
Other highlights are the title track, a bluesy version of jazz great Miles Davis’s iconic number. Featuring master guitarist Larry Carlton, it’s a tune one can play on loop. ‘Can’t Judge A Book By Its Cover’ effectively brings out the humour of Bo Diddley’s original.
Blues great Freddie King is remembered through ‘Me And My Guitar’ and ‘Same Old Blues’, and Howlin’ Wolf’s ‘Going Down Slow’ features Deep Purple’s Steve Morse. The Muddy Waters piece ‘I’m A King Bee’ has a clap-along beat. If anything, some vocals lack depth – ‘The Thrill Is Gone’ and ‘Going Down Slow’, in particular, needed a gruffier voice, but the guitar work and production compensate. Frampton’s effort is a praiseworthy one.
