Somethin's Happening

Infobox Album
Name = Somethin's Happening
Type = Album
Artist = Peter Frampton


Released = October 20, 1974
Recorded = October 1973 - June 1974, Headley Grange, East Hampshire;
Olympic Studios, London;
Island Studios, London;
Caribou Ranch, Colorado;
Ultra Sonic Studios, New York
Genre = Rock
Length = 41:43
Label = A&M
Producer = Peter Frampton
Chris Kimsey
James William Guercio
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:0zfexqu5ldhe link]
*"Rolling Stone" (not rated)
First album = "Wind of Change"
(1972)
Last album = "Frampton's Camel"
(1973)
This album = "Somethin's Happening"
(1974)
Next album = "Frampton"
(1975)

"Somethin's Happening" is an album released by Peter Frampton in 1974. It reached #125 on the Billboard 200 album chart.

Background

Frampton had soon disbanded Frampton's Camel but Mick Gallagher had chose to leave the group, and Frampton was able to retained bassist Rick Wills, and drummer John Siomos for 1974's Somethin's Happening, record in East Hampshire, London, Colorado, and New York with Chris Kimsey engineering.

Frampton's third album in as many years is much weaker than its predecessors, beginning with the lyrics, which sound forced on most of the songs. The production also lacks the crispness of his earlier releases, or their clarity; where Wind of Change had an airy feel because of the prominence of acoustic guitars, and Frampton's Camel had a percussive electric piano drive, Somethin's Happening originally sounded more like mud, with a clutter of electric guitars attempting to make up for lack of originality.

This time with former members of The Herd, which are Andy Brown, and Frampton reuniting, now doubling on keyboards, the album featured concise relatively stripped-down musical settings that flattered such tunes as "Baby (Something's Happening)" and "Doobie Wah", does alleviate a multitude of the original's sonic sins, however: Neither "I Wanna Go to the Sun" nor "Magic Moon" are among Frampton's most inspired songs, but the soaring guitars that highlight both now sound like they're practically in your lap, and one can also appreciate the quieter, subtler, more lyrical sounds of "Waterfall" and "Sail Away" and the elegant piano contribution of Nicky Hopkins behind Frampton's acoustic and electric playing, respectively.

Frampton had finally finished up this album after being up all night, and went back to his house to go swimming, where there was a swimming pool, and the photos used on the cover were Frampton having buckets of water thrown in his face.

At this point Somethin's Happening sales, like those of its predecessors, Frampton continued touring constantly, but just as he had with Humble Pie, following manager Dee Anthony's belief that maintaining active touring schedule in an ongoing effort to expand his American audience, for his reputation for exciting live performances would lead to increased record sales were relatively unspectacular. This strategy ultimately proved successful two years later when Frampton Comes Alive! was released, but it also undoubtedly contributed to the decreasing quality of Frampton's original material.

Track listing

All songs are written by Peter Frampton except "Doobie Wah" which is co-written by John Siomos and Rick Wills

#"Doobie Wah" - 4:04 (Frampton, Siomos, Wills)
#"Golden Goose" - 5:30
#"Underhand" - 3:39
#"I Wanna Go to the Sun" - 7:29
#"Baby (Something's Happening)" - 4:46
#"Waterfall" - 6:00
#"Magic Moon (Da Da Da Da Da!)" - 3:49
#"Sail Away" - 7:32

Personnel

*Peter Frampton - double bass, bass guitar, guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, keyboards, drums, percussion, vocals
*Andy Bown - piano, electric piano, organ, hammond organ, hammond B-3, synthesizer, moog synthesizer, melodica, harp, fender rhodes, accordion, keyboards, guitar, vocals
*Rick Wills - double bass, bass guitar
*John Siomos - drums, percussion

Additional Personnel

*Nicky Hopkins - piano, electric piano, organ, hammond organ, hammond B-3, synthesizer, moog synthesizer, melodica, harp, fender rhodes, accordion, keyboards, guitar, vocals

Charts

Album

Single