“Strike while the iron is hot” is an adage that’s been promoted by music execs for time immemorial. Peter Frampton followed that adage when afforded the opportunity to do so, and it proved to be a double-edged sword.
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On the one hand, he hustled out “I’m In You”, which turned out to be his biggest hit single. But, through no fault of his own, he also lost some of the credibility that he’d toiled so long to amass.
‘Alive’ and Well
For a stretch in the early 70s, it seemed like Peter Frampton’s solo career might never ignite. After making a name for himself as a guitarist with Humble Pie, Frampton flexed impressive artistic muscles as a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist when he went on his own.
He released one studio album a year from 1972 through 1975. Although these albums were well-received by critics and the fans who checked them out, he struggled to make a broader impact. But he developed a reputation as an indefatigable, charismatic live performer. And that’s what gave him his breakthrough.
The live record Frampton Comes Alive!, released in 1976, displayed his concert expertise. And, lo and behold, several songs from the record gained traction as radio songs. Suddenly, Peter Frampton was one of the biggest rock stars on the planet. His record label insisted that he get back to the studio quickly and churn out a record while the fans were still frothing.
Hurrying the Hit
In later years, Peter Frampton regretted the haste with which he made the 1977 album I’m In You. He also rued his decision to appear on the cover in a silk shirt with his chest exposed. A ploy to pander to his rapidly expanding base of teenage female fans, the cover made him a target of the same critics who had backed him in the leaner years.
Nonetheless, Frampton’s ability to deliver a winning melody hadn’t deserted him. The title track, a ballad that reflected on his feelings for his then-wife, capitalized on his recent hot streak. “I’m In You” made it all the way to No. 2. Were it not for Andy Gibb’s “I Just Want To Be Your Everything”, Frampton would have had a chart-topper.
Unfortunately, Frampton’s popularity would soon tumble following that single and album. His appearance in the lambasted film version of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band didn’t help matters. He would eventually build his reputation back up the way he did the first time, by gigging and reminding people of his incredible, varied talents.
Behind the Lyrics of “I’m In You” by Peter Frampton
“I’m In You” comes off as someone trying to convince their significant other, who might be having doubts, of the solidity of their connection. Peter Frampton makes his direct case in the refrains. “I’m in you, you’re in me,” he explains. “Yes, you gave me the love/Love that I never had.”
The unfussy nature of Frampton’s pronouncements suggests that the couple doesn’t need to dig too deep to understand their bond. “When I cry, you don’t laugh,” he explains, as one example. “I can’t feel more than I’m singing,” he testifies. And then: “You can’t buy what we made.”
One wonders if Peter Frampton might have avoided the pitfalls he encountered if he had worked longer on the album. Maybe the fickle nature of the pop music scene would have slowed him down regardless. In any case, “I’m In You”, with its soulful simplicity, is one that he got right, even in a rush.
Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns
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