Frampton's Camel

Infobox Album
Name = Frampton's Camel
Type = Album
Artist = Peter Frampton


Released = October 20, 1973
Recorded = December 1972 - June 1973, Electric Lady Studios, New York
Genre = Hard rock Pop Rock
Length = 37:18
Label = A&M
Producer = Peter Frampton Chris Kimsey
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:aifoxqy5ldse link]
*"Rolling Stone" (not rated)
First album =
Last album = "Wind of Change" (1972)
This album = "Frampton's Camel" (1973)
Next album = "Somethin's Happening" (1974)

"Frampton's Camel" is Peter Frampton's second album, recorded and released in 1973. It was the first album that Frampton recorded in the United States. Most of the album was written in New York. It reached #110 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart.

Background

Frampton pursued a somewhat grittier sound on his on his second solo outing, 1973's Frampton's Camel, was recorded in New York at Jimi Hendrix's old Electric Lady Studios, four years later Frampton would record there again for his #2 hit album I'm in You.

Frampton's original drummer Mike Kellie had decided to leave band, because of the differences with Frampton. The album had shared its name with the band Frampton had assembled for the occasion, which was actually more of a group project, including bassist Rick Wills, new drummer John Siomos, and keyboardist Mick Gallagher.

The sound on this recording lays out the formula that Frampton would take to mega-success three years later with the release of Frampton Comes Alive!.

The songs are all first-rate or close to it — included here is the original studio version of the group composition "Do You Feel Like We Do," a quicker-tempo, extended (albeit less majestic) version of which appeared on the latter album and became a staple of classic-rock radio. This album also includes a nice cover of Stevie Wonder's "I Believe (When I Fall in Love With You It Will Be Forever).

Gallagher's driving percussive organ and piano were prominent position in the arrangements, and Frampton getting a harder sound from his electric guitars, though his acoustic guitar playing is so lush and lyrical that it dominates the album here, and there in its quiet way of such standout tracks as the slinky, soulful, but the Frampton-composed "I Got My Eyes On You", and "Don't Fade Away", the tempo shifting Gallagher and Frampton collaboration "All Night Long", and the power introspective ballad "Lines On My Face", the rollicking "White Sugar", are compelling examples of '70s hard rock at its commercial best, and Frampton's gorgeously lyrical, all acoustic "Just the Time of the Year", which allowed Frampton space to explore the subtler guitar textures that he would continue to eploy on the future recordings.

As on Wind of Change, Frampton's use of dynamics and mix of acoustic and electric guitars keeps the music from becoming one-dimensional, state-of-the-art sound, adds an even more expansive feel to this album and enhances its melodic richness.

Track listing

All tracks composed by Peter Frampton; except where indicated

#"I Got My Eyes On You" - 4:29
#"All Night Long" - 3:19 (Frampton, Gallagher)
#"Lines On My Face" - 4:50
#"Which Way the Wind Blows" - 3:32
#"I Believe (When I Fall In Love With You It Will Be Forever)" - 4:10 (Stevie Wonder, Syreeta Wright)
#"White Sugar" - 3:37
#"Don't Fade Away" - 4:39
#"Just The Time Of Year" - 3:58
#"Do You Feel Like We Do" (edit) - 6:44 (Frampton, Gallagher, Wills, Siomos)

Personnel

*Peter Frampton - double bass, bass guitar, guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, keyboards, vocals
*Mick Gallagher - piano, electric piano, hammond organ, organ, hammond B-3, synthesizer, moog synthesizer, fender rhodes, harpsichord, accordion, keyboards, harmonica, vocals
*Rick Wills - double bass, bass guitar
*John Siomos - drums, percussion

Additional Personnel

*Frank Carillo - double bass, bass guitar, guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, keyboards, harmonica, vocals, talk box
*Mike Kellie - drums, percussion

Charts

Album

Single