Frank (Squeeze album)
Frank is a studio album by new wave group Squeeze, released in 1989.[5][6] The album sold poorly, and Squeeze was dropped by A&M Records while on tour.[5] 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 | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 24 August 1989 | |||
Studio | Chocolate Factory, London | |||
Genre | New wave, power pop, roots rock | |||
Length | 45:19 | |||
Label | A&M[1] | |||
Producer | Eric "ET" Thorngren Glenn Tilbrook | |||
Squeeze chronology | ||||
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Singles from Frank | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [3] |
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide | [1] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [4] |
Frank peaked at number 58 in the UK Albums Chart.[7] It peaked at No. 113 on the Billboard 200.[8]
Production
Frank was recorded live in the studio with producer Eric "E.T." Thorngren.[9]
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."[10] Phoenix New Times wrote that Squeeze went "for a live garagey sound that finally gives [Gilson] Lavis' powerhouse drumming center-stage placement."[11] The Rolling Stone Album Guide called the album "well-crafted" but "only occasionally involving."[4]
Track listing
All songs written by Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook except as indicated.
- "Frank" (Public domain, 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") – 4:23
- "Frank's Bag" (b-side of "If It's 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 – guitar, backing vocals; lead vocals on 5, 8
- Glenn Tilbrook – guitars, lead and backing vocals
- Jools Holland – keyboards, backing vocals; lead vocals on 11
- Keith Wilkinson – bass, backing vocals
- Gilson Lavis – drums
with:
- Barrie St. Johns, Karen Beany, Monique Dyan – backing vocals on 2
- Matt Irving – accordion on 3, 9
References
- MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 1078.
- Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Frank - Squeeze | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
- Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Volume 7: MUZE. p. 685.CS1 maint: location (link)
- The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 665–666.
- Squeeze | Biography & History | AllMusic
- The Rough Guide to Rock - Google Books
- Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 522/3. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- Squeeze | Billboard
- "Fresh Squeeze". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
- "Squeeze". Trouser Press. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
- Suicide Squeeze | Phoenix New Times