Music Blogs

The talk box is an effects box used with an electric guitar.

It consists of an guitar amplifier connected to a tube that runs up the microphone stand, and ends close to the guitarist's mouth. The musician can then let the sound from his amplified guitar enter the mouth, and can mouth audible words into the microphone with the guitar replacing the vocal cords.

The most famous sample of the talk box in popular music is, without much doubt, Peter Frampton's "Show Me The Way" from his breakthrough Frampton Comes Alive! album, circa 1976.

The talk box was first created in 1971 by Bill West for Joe Walsh to use on the song "Rocky Mountain Way", which also appears in this playlist. However, the talk box has found its way into many other recordings over the years. This playlist contains songs that utilize this unique instrument effect.

It's a classic rock-heavy list for sure, but also contains some funk, which is a genre that's used it to great effect as well.

The Playlist:

1. Show Me The Way - Peter Frampton 

2. California Love - 2Pac/Dr. Dre/Roger Troutman - Various Artists

3. Feel The Spirit Of My Guitar - Johnny "Guitar" Watson

4. Sweet Emotion - Aerosmith

5. Rocky Mountain Way - Joe Walsh

6. She's A Woman - Jeff Beck

7. I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Zapp & Roger

8. Livin' On A Prayer - Bon Jovi

9. Man In The Box - Alice In Chains

10. Generator - Foo Fighters

11. Tell Me Something Good - Rufus

12. Haitian Divorce - Steely Dan

13. The Zoo - Scorpions

14. Hair Of The Dog - Nazareth

15. Do You Feel Like We Do - Peter Frampton

16. Walk This Way - Aerosmith

17. It's My Life - Bon Jovi

18. Funky Bounce - Zapp