Why It Matters To Me – Foreigner and Frampton in the Rock Hall
I feel like I’m writing a report in Junior High with the title of this article/post “Why It Matters To Me – Foreigner and Frampton in the Rock Hall”. But it really hit home with this Rock Hall class – it’s 1:30 in the morning and I’m sitting at my kitchen table writing this…so that should tell you something.
Big Jim moved A LOT – and music saved him
As a kid I moved a lot – I went to 13 schools in 12 years. Now don’t get me wrong, I loved growing up with my Dad and the adventures we’d take together – he made me who I am today. But try moving to a new town in fourth grade during the last month of school. Trust me, it’s not easy to make friends – but the radio was always there for me, as well as my Montgomery Ward stereo complete with cassette deck AND turntable (two speakers that were hung strategically on the wall finished the look).
It was during those days of not knowing anyone that I’d get on my bike and go to the record store, looking for the album (or cassette) of the artist I’d heard on the radio. That was Foreigner. I remember hearing the soaring voice of Lou Gramm and these guitar rhythms of Mick Jones that just stuck with me. Singing “I would climb any mountain, sail across a stormy seaaaaaa” as I played the debut album over and over and over. Lou and Mick were my friends – even when I was alone in a new town (again). Foreigner will always have a special place in my heart. Always. So that’s the Foreigner part of why it matters to me – Foreigner and Frampton in the rock hall…now on to Mr Frampton.
Frampton Comes Alive – Thank you Peggy
I don’t talk a lot about my sister Peggy on the air – but I think about her all the time. My mom and dad got divorced when I was two years old, I went with Dad and Peggy with my mom Cecelia (an amazing woman btw). I’d spend a month during the summer with my Mom – more travel and making it even tougher to make friends at home – but it was awesome to be around her and my sister Peggy.
Peggy was the cool one. By a mile. 100 miles. She was pretty and funny and knew more about music than I did (again, by a mile). I remember seeing the Frampton Comes Alive album in her room when I was 10 (I know, shocking that a teenage girl was into Frampton). I’ll be honest when I saw this “pretty boy” cover with his chest hair and flowing locks…I went “ewww, that’s not real rock” and dismissed it. Not for long.
Frampton Comes Alive one of the greatest double albums of all time
When Peggy would go out with her friends and I was alone at home I’d take out her records and start playing them (BTO, Beach Boys Endless Summer) and there was Frampton. So I let it play. And I never quit listening. There’s something sonic and soaring about “Frampton Comes Alive” that spoke to me. It was that super cool place that I desperately wanted to be part of…a real rock concert with girls in tight jeans passing a joint while I rocked out. Peter was that guy to me – just like my sister Peggy, he was the too cool for school person who reminded me it’s going to be okay.
(note: this part is sad…really sad) Why It Mattes To Me – Foreigner and Frampton in Rock Hall…losing Peggy
Peggy died in a car crash when I was in high school – she was a passenger in a car that got hit at an intersection where she passed away…along with her daughter Chrissie (who was 2 at the time). Frampton makes me smile and think of her – Peggy was a bright light in my life and the music she introduced me to will always be with me.
Why It Matters To Me – Foreigner and Frampton in the Rock Hall
Released July 2, 1981.
So there you go, I know this isn’t the normal “the Rock Hall finally got something right” angry dude post…or me running off stats of how many albums they sold. I’m sure our corporate people will tell me this isn’t “Google SEO” worthy and won’t get enough clicks. Don’t care.
Music matters. The people who make the music matter. This is why it matters to me – Foreigner and Frampton in the Rock Hall.
