After touring the US and Europe for two years, he left Humble Pie as the group was gaining popularity because of disdain for Marriott's hard living lifestyle and screaming boogie rock direction. Aside from his work with Humble Pie, other recordings of this era that feature Frampton include albums by Harry Nilsson, Jerry Lee Lewis, and George Harrison. His solo debut was 1972's Wind of Change, which did not fare well on the charts though receiving critical praise. It also featured appearances by musicians such as Ringo Starr and Mick Jones.
Two more efforts by Frampton also struggled commercially, one released under the moniker Frampton's Camel. Constant touring began to create awareness of his talents, however, and 1974's Frampton LP went gold. It also peaked #32 on the Billboard 200 chart in the U.S., showing his growing international appeal.
He finally gained lasting international fame by 1976 when his much-loved live album, Frampton Comes Alive! was released. Having built up his reputation on the road, the LP debuted at No. 1 on the charts in January 1976. It was long considered the best-selling live album of all time, moving over 16 million copies worldwide.
In 1978, Peter suffered a near fatal car crash in the Bahamas, which left him with a concussion, muscle damage and broken bones. But in 1979, he released the album 'Where I Should Be', which went gold and produced the hit 'I Can't Stand It No More'.
His extensive use of the Talk Box effect was and still is an integral part of the Peter Frampton experience.
His albums never regained the high chart placements of the 70's era but he has continued his musical career none the less. Among the gimmicks he's employed to maintain interest have been releasing Frampton Comes Alive II, as well as joining Ringo Starr's touring revue, recording two CDs with ex-Stone Bill Wyman and unsucessfully attempting to reunite with Steve Marriott before his death in 1991. Other notable occasions include starring with the Bee Gees in a film version of The Beatles Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album and playing with David Bowie on his Never Let Me Down album and tour.
In 2006, Frampton released Fingerprints, a completely instrumental guitar showcase album.
In 2013, two of the ballet’s spring production segments were choreographed to Frampton and his band. A third section featured these new compositions. As Frampton says about the experience: “Writing for dance was a wonderfully freeing experience, There were no boundaries…Songwriters and musicians create music to move people. This was beautiful, graceful, and instantly gratifying!”
“The Promenade’s Retreat” features Frampton laying down some light picking. The verses are few, so we don’t get all that much singing, though Frampton’s voice is very distinctive. There is an easy backbeat provided by drummer Chad Cromwell and Frampton manages his trills, pulls-offs and clean intricate leading.
The title track is a poppy acoustic guitar number. Frampton sings at the high end of his range, we get very Beatlesque sing-able choruses, a tickle of Dobro guitar slide in the bridge, and harmony vocals from Gordon Kennedy. Erik Darken’s congas keep everything slipping along as Frampton leads on top of the concoction, showing his mastery on acoustic as much as he ever has on electric.
“The One in 901” is the first real rock mover and probably the heaviest. There is a chunky Chad Cromwell drumming and Frampton double octave riffing. Over the top, he delivers slightly distorted simple yet effective leads. We even hear some softly sung “ooh’s” before the break out at the end.
“Heart To My Chest” is a delicate tune. Frampton offers up his acoustic yet again for the main voicing and some poignant lyric, his voice breaking even slightly on top of it all. When Blair Master’s piano, Gordon Kennedy’s bass and Cromwell’s drums come in for the choruses, we are in latter-day John Lennon-sounding territory. This tune features guitar and piano descending lines at its end with Frampton offering up clean leads over it. This is the best tune here.
A shuffling mid-tempo beat pushes “Norman Wisdom.” Frampton leads all over the tune on acoustic, offering a fun lyric and Steely Dan-like backing vocals from Kennedy and Frampton. Hummingbird In A Box: Songs For A Ballet is clean, simple, not overly stylized playing from Peter Frampton. The songs are strong enough to stand on their own, ballet or not. We get another example of what Peter Frampton is capable of after five decades.
Peter now resides in Cincinnati, Ohio and can still be found playing concerts around the world.
Road To The Sun
Peter Frampton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Eye is sobbing so weak
Life's caught up with me
I am too tired to run
My motivation's yawning
The light is never dawning
And yet for this I'm longing
If things started too late
And what I'm demonstrating
Then I won't need to pull back
To a safety zone
I suppose I'm fighting
I suppose I'm blinding
I suppose I'm winding
Long way to the road to the sun
It's do or die, hi, goodbye
Dreams inside, wild ride
Road to the sun, it's a hard one
We're in nowhere to what I've done
Road to the sun, it's a hard one
Driving by I see my smoking gun
I see my smoking gun
Talkin' till I'm weary
Tryin' to change the story
The truth or reason
Never goes away
Take it easy, can I
Walk away from the lies?
Lose in desperate games that
I can't afford to play
It's do or die, hi, goodbye
Dreams inside, wild ride
Road to the sun, it's a hard one
We're in nowhere to what I've done
Road to the sun, it's a hard one
Driving by I see my smoking gun
It's do or die, hi, goodbye
Dreams inside, wild ride
Road to the sun, it's a hard one
We're in nowhere to what I've done
Road to the sun, it's a hard one
Driving by I see my smoking gun
Road to the sun, it's a hard one
We're in nowhere to what I've done
Road to the sun, it's a hard one
Driving by I see my smoking gun
Road to the sun, it's a hard one
We're in nowhere to what I've done
Road to the sun, it's a hard one
I see my smoking gun
I see my, I see my, I see my smokin' gun
I see my smokin' gun, I see my smokin' gun
You spoke too soon
I see my, I see my, I see my, I see my
It's a road to the sun, a road to the sun
I see my smokin' gun
The lyrics of Peter Frampton's "Road to the Sun" speak of exhaustion and a sense of hopelessness. The singer appears to be searching for a path to follow, but can't decide which way to go. He has been "lighting fire," perhaps searching for something to motivate him, but it isn't working. He feels weakened and unable to run. His "motivation's yawning," and he's longing for something -- maybe it's the darkness that has become part of him. It could be said that he's fighting himself, blinding himself to the truth, and winding his way through life with no end in sight. He's tried to change his story, but the truth keeps coming back. The singer's tone is melancholy, and it seems as though he's reflecting on his life's journey.
Despite his struggles, the singer acknowledges that it's time to act. He needs to do something to get out of the rut he's created. It's a hard road -- the road to the sun -- but if he's going to make it, he must go all out. He can't afford to play games of desperation anymore. The singer is ready to take control of his life, and he knows that the road ahead of him is a difficult one. But he's determined to keep driving forward.
Overall, "Road to the Sun" is a song that speaks of a person who is searching for a direction and the inner strength to move forward. It's about the struggle to find one's way in a world that can sometimes feel overwhelming.
Line by Line Meaning
And I've been lightin' fire
I've been pushing myself too hard.
Eye is sobbing so weak
I'm exhausted and emotional.
Life's caught up with me
My responsibilities have become overwhelming.
I am too tired to run
I can't keep running away from my problems.
My motivation's yawning
I'm lacking motivation.
The light is never dawning
I can't see a way forward.
And yet for this I'm longing
I still hope for success.
The black hole I've become
I feel stuck in a dark place.
If things started too late
If I had started earlier...
And what I'm demonstrating
And what I'm showing now...
Then I won't need to pull back
Then I won't need to retreat.
To a safety zone
To a place of comfort and security.
I suppose I'm fighting
I'm probably struggling to overcome my challenges.
I suppose I'm blinding
I'm probably not seeing things clearly.
I suppose I'm winding
I'm probably taking a difficult path.
Long way to the road to the sun
It's a long and difficult journey to success.
It's do or die, hi, goodbye
I have to succeed or fail completely.
Dreams inside, wild ride
My aspirations are pushing me forward.
Road to the sun, it's a hard one
The journey to success is difficult.
We're in nowhere to what I've done
I'm not yet where I want to be.
Driving by I see my smoking gun
I can see the evidence of my struggles.
Talkin' till I'm weary
I'm exhausted from trying to explain myself.
Tryin' to change the story
I'm trying to change my situation.
The truth or reason
My situation isn't based on truth or logic.
Never goes away
My situation persists.
Take it easy, can I
Can I slow down and relax?
Walk away from the lies?
Can I stop deceiving myself?
Lose in desperate games that
I can't afford to lose in my struggles.
I see my smoking gun
I can see the evidence of my struggles.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JULIAN FRAMPTON, JULIAN S. FRAMPTON, PETER KENNETH FRAMPTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
tropicwave1
Road To The Sun
Peter Frampton
Featuring Julian Frampton
Produced by Peter Frampton & Chris Kimsey
Album: Thank You Mr. Churchill
And I've been lightin' fire
Eye is sobbing so weak
Life's caught up with me
I am too tired to run
My motivation's yawning
The light is never dawning
And yet for this I'm longing
The black hole I've become
If things started too late
And what I'm demonstrating
Then I won't need to pull back
To a safety zone
I suppose I'm fighting
I suppose I'm blinding
I suppose I'm winding
Long way to the road to the sun
It's do or die, hi, goodbye
Dreams inside, wild ride
Road to the sun, it's a hard one
We're in nowhere to what I've done
Road to the sun, it's a hard one
Driving by I see my smoking gun
I see my smoking gun
Talkin' till I'm weary
Tryin' to change the story
The truth or reason
Never goes away
Take it easy, can I
Walk away from the lies?
Lose in desperate games that
I can't afford to play
It's do or die, hi, goodbye
Dreams inside, wild ride
Road to the sun, it's a hard one
We're in nowhere to what I've done
Road to the sun, it's a hard one
Driving by I see my smoking gun
It's do or die, hi, goodbye
Dreams inside, wild ride
Road to the sun, it's a hard one
We're in nowhere to what I've done
Road to the sun, it's a hard one
Driving by I see my smoking gun
Road to the sun, it's a hard one
We're in nowhere to what I've done
Road to the sun, it's a hard one
Driving by I see my smoking gun
Road to the sun, it's a hard one
We're in nowhere to what I've done
Road to the sun, it's a hard one
I see my smoking gun
I see my, I see my, I see my smokin' gun
I see my smokin' gun, I see my smokin' gun
You spoke too soon
I see my, I see my, I see my, I see my
It's a road to the sun, a road to the sun
I see my smokin' gun
Songwriters: Julian S. Frampton / Peter Kenneth Frampton
Road to the Sun lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Release Date: April 27, 2010
C Starz
~ This is SO cool! I saw Peter in concert about 30 years ago and thought he was the greatest. He has definitely passed on the talent to his son, and still sounds great as always! ~
Patty Hardtke
Saw him last year in Cincinnati Ohio still can rock the stage
LedHed65
This is badass...Great to see another Frampton in the making!!!
Chris Hutchinson
I always love seeing Mr. Frampton. He's having fun and it makes it all so much more fun. We've had the pleasure of seeing Julian up close and personal. Really talented and has that spark too. Can you find the proud dad in this video??
Yola Manzano
Wow...great voice!! Well done Julian. Peter still awesome as ever.
Melanie Coleman
Yolanda Manzano Bigtime!!!
Just Kat
This kid can sing!!!! LOVE you dad Julian.
Becky Oliver
The kid CAN sing and who doesn't love Peter? that's one proud papa
scott p
Way to Go Peter Frampton, your son, Julian will keep the family business of making music for years to come.
debb
Wow, Peter. You passed on that great gravelly voice. Really nice.