One of Peter Frampton's Best Albums
James Choma | 05/12/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It's unfortunate that this great album was released after the critical failure of the film "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." Peter Frampton's involvement in the film put a dark cloud over his head, rendering him a pariah in the entertainment industry almost overnight. As a result, his popularity dropped like a lead balloon. Too bad, because fans missed out of one of Peter's best albums ever.As if the bad press wasn't enough, Peter was involved in an auto accident, breaking his right arm and damaging his hand. Not good news for a guitar player. This was his first album after the accident. It was also an album Peter set his hopes on to revitalize his damaged career. Sadly, this album didn't help Peter's career, and he began a downward spiral from which he never quite recovered. This is such a shame, since he is such a talented musician. I'm glad to see that this album is seeing the light of day again with this re-release. I hope the albums that followed: "Breaking all the Rules" and the highly underrated "Art of Control" get released as well.This is one of those albums I can listen to beginning to end without ever having to skip a song. If there's a problem with the album, it's that it's too short! I find the album to be a great piece of work, full of catchy songs: "I Can't Stand It No More," "Got My Feet Back on the Ground," "Where I Should Be," and "Everything I Need" come to mind right off the bat. It's an album every Frampton fan should have. Very highly recommended!"
Frampton Revisited!
Carlo Matthews | Been Moving Around | 06/23/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"After the critical carnage of "I'm In You" -- a collection of inspired pieces topping Frampton's past efforts in terms of quality, delicacy, and color, but one that became fashionable to bash -- it is nothing less than astonishing that Frampton should've put out a brilliant set of mostly self-penned R&B-based songs that speaks volumes of his talent as a songwriter, arranger, and performer. "Where I Should Be" ranks among Pete's most revealing, exuberant, and engaging records. Hats off to Frampton!Although the seeds of Pete's crippling future identity crisis may be said to begin here -- after all, he switches style dramatically to focus on current R&B tastes -- the album nonetheless displays a master in his element; after all, let's not forget that his origins were heavily tainted by soul and the blues. To begin, the first four tracks are un-skippable: jaunty, overflowing with great hooks and seamless, show-stopping choruses, with sharp and intense yet mellifluous guitar solos, and with terrifically punchy horn sections, one wonders what fault the prevailing criticism of the times found in such fabulous material. What today would be hailed as an improbable come-back, back then "Where I Should Be" was used as yet another opportunity for opportunist critics to be seen as avant garde and put the knife in. Sure, Frampton was not pandering to New Wave or Punk (although he was aiming for America's new white FM R&B, which Phil Collins exploited without a hint of adversity); nevertheless, if the music is to speak for itself, these first four tracks are an essential addition to Pete's overall oeuvre. No musician could ask for a better start to his album. The relentless rhythm section of these tracks, coupled with passionate vocals and enough guitar virtuosity to leave one floored, is followed by the album's two cover songs, the soul pieces "May I Baby" and "You Don't Know Like I Know" which prove to be among the record's weakest. Still, the proceedings pick up with one of Pete's catchiest ditties, "She Don't Reply" -- a composition the Stones would've killed for.The last three entries focus on balladeering, with "It's A Sad Affair" coming close to one of Frampton's most famous compositions, "Baby, I Love Your Way". With the industry turning his back on him, it isn't surprising that Frampton went on to try to reinvent himself continuously, to the detriment of the quality of his later albums. Whatever the case, in an ideal world "Where I Should Be" should've turned people's heads around. Given such a productive and inspired period in Frampton's career, it's criminal that such material has never found a live release."
Still amazing...............
David Eminizer | Westminster, MD | 08/03/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I bought this compilation on vinyl when it came out in 1979.....I loved it then, and couldn't understand why it didn't get more airplay, and why it seemed like no one cared. If you like Peter Frampton -- or just how you felt back then about how music was -- you NEED this CD. There is talent on this album -- unlike what is out there today.....this is real musical talent. I am a musician, and really appreciate these songs. The last two songs (9 and 10) aren't as exciting as the previous 8, but overall, everytime I listen to this CD, I get excited and exhilarated, and it makes me feel good, and wishing I was on stage playing with this band........this is feel good music."
Track Listings (8) - Disc #1
