You want to party like it's 1976? Peter Frampton's new album, Thank You Mr. Churchill, has enough guitar riffs and musical hooks to rival the pleasures of his celebrated Frampton Comes Alive album, still the fourth biggest selling live album in America. While Churchill offers a more rocking Comes Alive vibe, it doesn't sound like yesterday's clunky 8-track and there's not a talking box to be heard. It's a breezy bit of serious rock and roll in the classic rock vein that fits nicely among the sons of grunge and teeny-bopper kiddie cocktail music that fills today's radio.
Not that you can expect to hear any of it on the radio even as "Invisible Man" from the album is currently the number six single on the classic rock best sellers list, (it takes a satellite radio connection to realize such a list even exists). It's a catchy Motown inspired rocker, think The Four Tops not so much The Temptations, that may lay evidence to what I've always suspected: Frampton is an unaccredited session player on scores of hit records - "I'm pulling the strings in the shadows behind the scenes. I'm keeping the beat, before you know it you'll be on your feet dancing in the street.", he sings invoking the pleasant beat of Smoky Robinson's "Tears Of A Clown".
It's a tight rocker but not as efficient a hit single as the cutesy titled "I'm Due A You", with a 'do-what-you-do-wah-do' lyrical atmosphere underscored by a foreboding darkness with happily infectious guitar riffs. Steely Dan at their most paranoid contemplative moments come to mind - "emotionally overdrawn, the check's in the mail, something is creeping across the lawn, my stalker's out of jail.".
While the title track seems an impersonal and clumsy sentiment, (Frampton claims he is thanking Churchill for ending WWII so his father can return and impregnate his mother, so he may be born, he may as well be thanking the milk man), "Vaudeville Nanna and the Banjole" is a soft spoken reminiscence of his first affair with a crude stringed instrument, a memory that serves as a nuclei to his life, longing for "guitars behind glass that I wanted to play". The seven minutes plus instrumental, "Suite Liberte" combines surf rock lullaby with blues guitar licks in a simple elegant invitation to every fledgling guitarist to pick up your instrument and play along.
Article comments
1 - Mary Richards-Kallman
While I agree wholeheartedly that Mr. Frampton's new album is a rocker that can more than stand up to current pop tunes, you might do well to revise your remarks concerning the track "Thank You Mr Churchill" (para 4). I find it refreshing that gratitude is voiced concerning a leader whose goal was not only to defeat the dark forces that threatened the world leading up to and during WWII, but to bring those brave enough to serve their country home safe and sound. When Frampton says "Thank You" he not only speaks for himself but for all mankind, that goes light-years beyond "impregnation".
Having said that, I couldn't agree with you more that now is the time to induct Peter Frampton into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and give him an honor well-deserved as a true Rock and Roll musician and classic rock performer.
Thank you for the opportunity to voice my opinion.
2 - guy de federicis
Thank you Mary for your comment. I'll have to stand by my assessment of the title track. For me the sentiment doesn't resonate. But it's a tiny quibble in an album I'm very fond of.
3 - Mary Richards-Kallman
Thank you for responding, Mr. De Federicis. I am likewise very fond of the track. Especially these lyrics "Will there be peace on earth one day? If so I hope I will be near. Till we're born with wisdom war will still be here." All the best, Mary