Peter Frampton GOLD (2 CDS)

Personnel: Peter Frampton (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, Wurlitzer piano, organ, keyboards, ARP synthesizer, talk box, bass instrument, drums, percussion, sequencer); Bob Mayo (vocals, guitar, Fender Rhodes piano, Wurlitzer piano, organ, keyboards); Frank Carillo (guitar, acoustic 12-string guitar); Mick Jones (guitar); Don Fields (acoustic guitar); Mick Gallagher (Clavinet, organ); Andrew Bown (Mellotron, bass guitar, percussion, background vocals); John "Poli" Palmer (vibraphone); John Regan (bass instrument); Rick Wills, Stanley Sheldon (bass guitar, background vocals); John "4 Daddman" Robinson, John Siomos, Mike Kellie, Chad Cromwell (drums).
Liner Note Author: Scott Schinder.
Although British guitarist/singer/songwriter Peter Frampton is best known for his blockbuster 1976 live double-album FRAMPTON COMES ALIVE!, GOLD reminds us that he was churning out polished, radio-ready rock from the early '70s well into the early 2000s. GOLD is divided into two discs: the first picks up with 1972's WIND OF CHANGE and continues through COMES ALIVE!, giving a thorough overview of the years that rocketed the artist to stardom.
While the compilation is varied and inclusive enough to cover all phases of Frampton's career, it is weighted toward his best material. For instance, 1975's FRAMPTON is represented by seven songs (including the medley of "Nassau/Baby I Love Your Way," the latter being one of Frampton's signature tunes), with three from COMES ALIVE!, including the 13-plus minute "Do You Feel Like We Do." Disc Two starts with "I'm in You," a swirling ballad (and another staple), before continuing with a smattering of tracks from the rest of the '70s, '80s, and '90s. Frampton sometimes experimented with a lighter, keyboard-dominated sound on these cuts, but his catchy, hook-filled choruses and sinuous guitar leads are always central. GOLD is a comprehensive introduction, and also provides a valuable service to Frampton fans by collecting the best from his many latter-day albums.

• Format: CD
• Genre: Rock and Pop