Do You Feel Like I Do?

Talented youngster shows promise, displays perseverance. The gigs increase, and what starts as word of mouth becomes national press, each recording a progressive step and then boom! Album of the year in Rolling Stone magazine as well as the best-selling LP; ultimately one of the most praised live albums ever. Then comes the incredible pressure to replicate a once-in-a-lifetime success, followed by the excess, drugs, drink, artistic decline, wandering, and, ultimately, rehabilitation and self-satisfaction. Yes, we’ve heard this story before, but as with his guitar playing, no one does it like Frampton, and his unique voice and style leave you feeling the way you do after one of his guitar solos, as if it’s absolutely right and distinctly his. Frampton’s self-deprecation and willingness to take responsibility for his choices win readers over. Coauthored by Light (Johnny Cash), the work is full of appealing anecdotes involving the many musical favorites with whom Frampton has played. That the veteran touring guitarist has been diagnosed with a degenerative muscle disease adds poignancy to his musical mission, but Frampton’s determination is inspiring. Frampton provided a soundtrack for a generation; here’s the story.