Peter Frampton – Breaking All The Rules

Today we’re reviewing Peter Frampton’s seventh studio album, Breaking All The Rules. While looking through the stack of one-dollar records at the record store, this album’s cover art instantly caught my eye. The color scheme and editing of the cover’s photograph reminded me of a stereotypical ’80s album, and as a big fan of the ’80s, I knew I had to get this album. Breaking All The Rules was by far one of the albums I was looking forward to listening to the most, so let’s dive in and see what Frampton has to offer.

Since this record was released in 1981, I expected to hear a strong “’80s sound” filled with synths and layering techniques. However, I was taken back when I found that most of this album was heavily influenced by the soft rock sounds of the ’70s. Tracks such as “Lost A Part Of You” and “Going To L.A.” are prime examples of this ’70s sound, with keyboards and easygoing vocals being the main component. After a repeated listen, however, I found the album to include elements of ’80s anthemic rock in some of the harder-hitting tracks.

Songs like “You Kill Me” and “Dig What I Say” are some of the heavier and meatier cuts on the album, which I personally enjoy more than the more contemporary tracks. “Breaking All The Rules” is another stand-out track on this record, as it ties in the heavier sound with a fuzzy guitar line that’s reminiscent of The Rolling Stones. By far my favorite track on this album is “Friday On My Mind.” The driving bass line and post-punk elements of this track is what stands out against the rest of the album, making it arguably the most “different” of the bunch.

Overall, this album took me by surprise. Even though I didn’t entirely know what to expect when first listening to this project, I can say that it wasn’t necessarily what I wanted to hear. I’m not at all saying that this is a bad album, but I didn’t expect to hear as many ’70s influences as I did. If there’s one thing I can take away from Breaking All The Rules, it’s that this is definitely a great album to listen to if you want to experience the transition between ’70s and ’80s rock.