Peter Frampton – Show Me The Way

“Show Me the Way” – Single by Peter Frampton from the album Frampton and Frampton Comes Alive!
B-side “The Crying Clown” / “Shine On” (live)
Released June 1975 / February 1976 (live)
Recorded August 1975 (live)
Venue Long Island Arena, Commack, New York
Label A&M
Songwriter Peter Frampton
Producer Peter Frampton
Charted No.6 in US; No.10 in UK; No.1 in Belgium; No.2 in Canada; No.8 in France; No.1 in Netherlands.

The original studio version of this song was released on the 1975 album Frampton, Peter’s fourth. At the time, he had a modest following and was building a reputation as a stellar live performer. What he didn’t have was a hit.

Frampton’s label, A&M, had him compile a live album for his next release. He put one together with six songs – none of which were “Show Me The Way” – and played it for his label boss, Jerry Moss, who asked, “Where’s the rest of it?”

With the go-ahead to make it a double album, Frampton included “Show Me The Way.” Frampton Comes Alive was released in January 1976; by April, it sold a million copies in America.

“Show Me The Way” got the best listener response and the most airplay, so it was issued as the first single, climbing to #6 in May and giving Frampton his first hit. Frampton Comes Alive was the best-selling album of 1976 and eventually sold over 8 million copies.

The talkbox effect was a huge hit. Many musicians responded by buying one or trying to make their own. More than a few young people lost some cavities when they created faulty talkboxes and sent electric current into their mouths.