Alan Light

Do you Feel Like I Do? By Peter Frampton is a 2020 Hachette Books publication.

Be still my heart...

Just like millions of other people my age, I had the album… And the poster.
I played that album until the grooves wore out.

Many will say Peter was a victim of his own success. “Frampton Comes Alive’ stayed on the charts for 97 weeks and is still one of the best-selling live albums of all time.

That success is all good and fine until it comes time to follow that up with an equally show more mind-blowing album. Rarely can such a feat be accomplished and in my opinion, it is ridiculous to expect lightning to strike twice in a row.

Unfortunately, some image decisions may have kept Frampton from achieving the type of respect from hard rock guitar enthusiasts he deserved.

In fact, despite making it onto some top guitarists list, I still feel his skills are underrated. The guy is phenomenal!!

So, how did Peter rise to such meteoric fame? What happened after he crashed back down to earth?

Peter tells his story with laid back candor, is often self- deprecating, and can be funny and charming too at times.

His story is, of course, is a familiar one in some respects, the pitfalls of success, struggles with relationships, management, money, and substances.

Creatively, Frampton was not especially consistent, when it came to releasing new material, but I think he garnered some self-satisfaction with his work, eventually, happy to have produced quality music, despite mediocre sales.

I think that as rock memoirs go, and I’ve read my fair share of them, this is one of the more satisfying ones, at least for me. Sure, all of these memoirs tend to cover the same ground, and often the same formats, but
Frampton comes off like a regular guy who just happened to experience some extraordinary events in his life, while mingling with an array of interesting people and multi-talented musicians.

Peter’s approach gives the book an easy- going tone and makes it feel conversational, and not at all like a monologue. While the book is mostly chronological, the flow is not rigid and Peter often seems to go off script into a stream of consciousness, but never veers too far off course.

I do hope that despite Covid robbing musicians of the chance to perform live at the moment, that Peter’s health will hold steady until it is safe to fully gather again, and that he will be able to enjoy his craft for many years to come.

This one is most definitely for the fans, but Peter is so palatable, and upbeat, those less familiar with the artist will find the book interesting and an easy foray into Peter's life and his music.

* I added audio on this one- switching back and forth between reading the text and listening. Both experiences are pleasant, I think Peter did a wonderful job with the narration.

4 stars show less

I may never have gotten to sleep with Leonard Cohen (a life goal) but I did get to see him interviewed live in a small venue in Toronto. It was the highlight of my month. Never have I seen a person with so much talent be so incredibly humble--and that made him sexier than 99% of men. This book is a sociological/anthroplogical analysis of the song Hallelujah accessible and engaging to anyone whose ever been moved by the piece. Bypassing musical jargon and not allowing itself to get bogged show more down in technical details, this is about the humanity behind the man, the song and those who love it. Leonard Cohen you will be missed. show less

Can you knock an author down for being just too sincere? Alan Light's biography of the iconic song "Hallelujah", written by Leonard Cohen, enhanced by John Cale, Jeff Buckley, and Rufus Wainwright, and then destroyed by a zillion American Idol contestants, begins with an excellent introduction that could have served as a fine magazine article and that could have ended it. But he proceeds to do a good job, for the most part, of expanding the roles of John Cale and Jeff Buckley in their show more differing versions and recognition of Leonard Cohen's genius with a melody and with verses rarely if even sung. For those who have not read the riveting biography "I'm Your Man" by Sylvie Simmons (and you should!), the details of Cohen's exile and late life triumph are well told here.

The author does a fine job of enhancing our knowledge and appreciation. The kd lang and Regina Spektor sections are particularly winsome, and Bob Dylan's small but significant role is a treat. But the book is about 3 chapters too long, and I just wish the lesser lights had never been turned on. show less

I'm one of those fans who discovered Nina via TV adverts (and an 'inherited' record), so I knew how incredibly talented she was but not how she battled racism, an abusive marriage (on both sides) and mental illness during her incredible life and career. A powerful and difficult biography to read, if a little disjointed and judgemental.