On September 16, 1972, a relatively unknown guitarist played his first concert as a solo artist when he opened for the J. Geils Band. He had been the lead singer and guitarist in a pop band called The Herd and then for three years in a hard rock band, but none of either band’s studio songs with him on guitar even hit the Top 200 in America (although one live song did after he had already left). Next came his concert opening for Geils and four solo albums. Again, not a single single charted in the U.S. from any of his solo albums.
So, what were the odds he would release a number one live album that outsold every rock, pop, blues, or jazz album ever released before? Million-to one, maybe? Well, he did. You know who I’m referencing: Peter Frampton. As Bill Murray said in Caddyshack, “Cinderella story.” Frampton’s career came alive with Comes Alive and he has ridden that wave ever since. Damn fine guitarist, too.
