Show Me the Way (Peter Frampton song)

"Show Me the Way" is a song by the English rock musician Peter Frampton. Originally released in June 1975 as the lead single from his fourth studio album Frampton, it gained popularity after being recorded live and released in February 1976 as the lead single from his live album Frampton Comes Alive! In the US, the song reached number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 10 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming his biggest US hit until "I'm in You" in 1977.

"Show Me the Way"
Side A of 1976 UK live single
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
Genre	Rock
Length	4:02 (album version) 3:25 (single edit) 4:32 (1976 live version)
Label	A&M
Songwriter(s)	Peter Frampton
Producer(s)	Peter Frampton
Peter Frampton singles chronology
"Baby (Somethin's Happening)" (1974) "Show Me the Way" (1975) "Baby, I Love Your Way" (1975)
(I'll Give You) Money (1975) Baby, I Love Your Way (1976)

Cash Box said of the studio single that "Peter turns in a dynamic performance both instrumentally and vocally" and that "his highly emotive vocals are matched by some of his usually dexterous guitar playing".^[1] Record World said that "Frampton's voice and guitar are crisp and the song is a scintillating treat for the ears."^[2]

Like "Do You Feel Like We Do," another single from the Frampton Comes Alive! album, the song prominently features a talk box effects pedal.

Track listing

1975 release

7" vinyl - United States (1975)

1. "Show Me the Way" - 3:18
2. "The Crying Clown" - 4:05

Live version

7" vinyl - United States (1976)

1. "Show Me the Way" - 3:25
2. "Shine On" - 3:35

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (1975–2017)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[3]	25
Belgium (HUMO)[4][page needed]	5
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[5]	1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[6]	5
Belgium (Ultratop Back Catalogue Flanders)[7]	34
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[8]	2
France (IFOP)[9]	8
Netherlands (Single Tip 100)[10]	1
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[11]	1
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[12]	26
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[13]	11
UK Singles (OCC)[14]	10
US Billboard Hot 100[15]	6
US Rock Singles Best Sellers (Billboard)[16]	11
US Top 100 Singles (Cash Box)[17]	4

Year-end charts

Chart (1976)	Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[3]	99
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[18]	41
US Billboard Hot 100[19]	50
US Top 100 Singles (Cash Box)[20]	35

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[21] Live version	Gold	500,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Later versions

The American alternative rock band Dinosaur Jr recorded it as a bonus track on the 1987 album You're Living All Over Me. In May 2000, Peter Frampton revisited it in a performance with the Foo Fighters, on Late Show with David Letterman. It was also recorded in 2014 by Jake Kitchin^[22] for use as background music television commercials for Uncle Ben's Beginners rice. Frampton recorded the song again as a version for acoustic guitar for his 2016 CD Acoustic Classics.