''Frank'' is a studio album by
new wave group
Squeeze, released in 1989.
The album sold poorly, and Squeeze was dropped by
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group and functions as a branch of Interscope Geffen A&M Records, Interscope-Geffen-A&M. Established in 1962 by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss, the label initially operated independent ...
while on tour.
Forced to take offers from different major labels for the first time in their career, the band soon signed with
Reprise Records and began working on their next studio album, ''
Play''.
''Frank'' peaked at number 58 in the
UK Albums Chart.
It peaked at No. 113 on the
''Billboard'' 200.
Style
Susan Whitall of ''The Honolulu Advertiser'' described ''Frank'' as having a "typically Squeezian diversity of songs". The album was described as
post-punk
Post-punk (originally called new musick) is a broad genre of music that emerged in late 1977 in the wake of punk rock. Post-punk musicians departed from punk's fundamental elements and raw simplicity, instead adopting a broader, more experiment ...
.
Production
''Frank'' was recorded live in the studio with producer Eric "E.T." Thorngren.
Critical reception
''
Trouser Press'' called the album the band's best since ''
Argybargy'', writing: "Relocating its original magic with memorably inventive material and spirited delivery, Squeeze here seems exuberantly youthful, as if music-making had suddenly become fun again."
''
Phoenix New Times'' wrote that Squeeze went "for a live garagey sound that finally gives
ilsonLavis' powerhouse drumming center-stage placement." ''
The Rolling Stone Album Guide'' called the album "well-crafted" but "only occasionally involving."
[
]
Track listing
All songs written by Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook except as indicated.
# "Frank" (Public domain
The public domain (PD) consists of all the creative work to which no Exclusive exclusive intellectual property rights apply. Those rights may have expired, been forfeited, expressly Waiver, waived, or may be inapplicable. Because no one holds ...
, no author) – 0:15
# " If It's Love" – 4:02
# "Peyton Place" – 4:08
# "Rose I Said" – 3:36
# "Slaughtered, Gutted and Heartbroken" – 4:37
# "(This Could Be) The Last Time" – 3:49
# "She Doesn't Have to Shave" – 3:27
# " Love Circles" – 5:34
# "Melody Motel" – 3:51
# "Can of Worms" – 4:47
# "Dr. Jazz" ( Jools Holland) – 4:04
# "Is It Too Late" – 3:12
Bonus tracks on 2007 CD reissue
#"Red Light" (b-side of "Love Circles") (Merrill E. Moore) – 4:23
#"Frank's Bag" (b-side of "If It's Love") (Chris Difford, Glenn Tilbrook, Julian Holland, Gilson Lavis, Keith Wilkinson[https://www.discogs.com/release/3271852-Squeeze-If-Its-Love]) – 3:43
#"Good Times Bring Me Down" (previously unreleased) – 5:14
#"Any Other Day" (previously unreleased) – 3:42
#"Who's That" (demo, b-side of "Love Circles") – 2:41
#"If I'm Dead" (Glenn Tilbrook demo) – 2:14
#"She Doesn't Have to Shave" (live, BBC Radio 1 Acoustic Session 19/10/1989) – 3:11
#"Melody Motel" (live, BBC Radio 1 Acoustic Session 19/10/1989) – 3:52
Personnel
Squeeze
* Chris Difford – guitars, backing vocals, lead vocals (5, 8)
* Glenn Tilbrook – keyboards, guitars, lead and backing vocals
* Jools Holland – acoustic piano, organ, backing vocals, lead vocals (11)
* Keith Wilkinson – basses, backing vocals
* Gilson Lavis – drums
Additional personnel
* Matt Irving – accordion (3, 9)
* Karen Beany, Monique Dyan and Barrie St. Johns – backing vocals (2)
Production
* Squeeze – arrangements
* Glenn Tilbrook – producer
* Eric "ET" Thorngren – producer, engineer, mixing
* Paul Tipler – assistant engineer
* Mark Willie – assistant engineer
* Stylorouge – design
* Chris Difford, Gilson Lavis, Glenn Tilbrook and Keith Wilkinson – portrait photography
* Trevor Rogers – front cover and inner sleeve photography
References
{{Authority control
Squeeze (band) albums
1989 albums
A&M Records albums
Albums produced by Glenn Tilbrook