Search - Peter Frampton :: Somethin's Happening

Experimental Frampton album featuring a memorable classic

Hindburn | Church Stretton, Shropshire, England | 07/18/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"After two solo albums which established Peter Frampton's brand of R&B flavoured soft rock, this third album was something of a departure, and a move into a less commercial and more individual style. The four-piece band of the 'Camel' album was now down to three, with Frampton taking over keyboard duties after the departure of Mick Gallagher - although session pianist Nicky Hopkins contributes to two songs. The general feel is rhythmic, rocky and raw, and the album is quite experimental in character, with vocals and instruments awash with studio sound effects, including a very early guitar synthesizer. It gives the impression of being deliberately unconventional, and certainly the contrast with the more 'poppy' and commercially successful subsequent album 'Frampton' is marked. However, this is not to devalue 'Something's happening', which features the original versions of some songs which later became high points of Frampton's hit 1976 live album, namely 'Doobie wah', 'I wanna go to the sun' and the title track. The lead guitar work is interesting throughout, and made a considerable impression on me when I first heard the record soon after its release, but far and away the highlight is the classic 'Waterfall', in which Peter plays some of his most lyrical guitar solos, and which I feel is one of the best tracks he has ever recorded."