Frank (Squeeze album)

Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English {{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |{{#if: 24 August 1989 | Template:Short description}}}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Category handlerTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=Babylon and On1987A Round and a Bout1990studioFranksqueezeFrank.jpgSqueeze24 August 1989The Chocolate Factory and Nomis Studios (London, UK)Post-punk<ref name="whitall" />45:19A&M<ref name=MH/>* Eric "ET" Thorngren

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Frank is a studio album by new wave group Squeeze, released in 1989.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The album sold poorly, and Squeeze was dropped by A&M Records while on tour.<ref name=autogenerated1 /> 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.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">Template:Cite book</ref> It peaked at No. 113 on the Billboard 200.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Style

Susan Whitall of The Honolulu Advertiser described Frank as having a "typically Squeezian diversity of songs". The album was described as post-punk.<ref name="whitall">Template:Cite news</ref>

Production

Frank was recorded live in the studio with producer Eric "E.T." Thorngren.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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."<ref name="TP">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Phoenix New Times wrote that Squeeze went "for a live garagey sound that finally gives [Gilson] Lavis' powerhouse drumming center-stage placement."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Rolling Stone Album Guide called the album "well-crafted" but "only occasionally involving."<ref name=RS/>

Track listing

All songs written by Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook except as indicated.

1. "Frank" (Public domain, no author) – 0:15
2. "If It's Love" – 4:02
3. "Peyton Place" – 4:08
4. "Rose I Said" – 3:36
5. "Slaughtered, Gutted and Heartbroken" – 4:37
6. "(This Could Be) The Last Time" – 3:49
7. "She Doesn't Have to Shave" – 3:27
8. "Love Circles" – 5:34
9. "Melody Motel" – 3:51
10. "Can of Worms" – 4:47
11. "Dr. Jazz" (Jools Holland) – 4:04
12. "Is It Too Late" – 3:12

Bonus tracks on 2007 CD reissue

13. "Red Light" (b-side of "Love Circles") (Merrill E. Moore<ref>https://www.discogs.com/release/3271838-Squeeze-Love-Circles Template:Bare URL inline</ref>) – 4:23
14. "Frank's Bag" (b-side of "If It's Love") (Chris Difford, Glenn Tilbrook, Julian Holland, Gilson Lavis, Keith Wilkinson<ref>https://www.discogs.com/release/3271852-Squeeze-If-Its-Love Template:Bare URL inline</ref>) – 3:43
15. "Good Times Bring Me Down" (previously unreleased) – 5:14
16. "Any Other Day" (previously unreleased) – 3:42
17. "Who's That" (demo, b-side of "Love Circles") – 2:41
18. "If I'm Dead" (Glenn Tilbrook demo) – 2:14
19. "She Doesn't Have to Shave" (live, BBC Radio 1 Acoustic Session 19/10/1989) – 3:11
20. "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