Our Frank
Encyclopedia
"Our Frank" is a song by Morrissey
, released as a single in February 1991. It was the first single taken from the Kill Uncle
album. It was also the first of his collaborations with Mark Nevin to be released.
Despite being released before the album that spawned it, the single reached number 26 in the UK Singles Chart
. This was the lowest any Morrissey single had charted since his first release "Suedehead
" in 1988.
Despite its title, the song lyrics are not about someone named Frank, but rather they describe "frank and open, deep conversations" that get Morrissey nowhere and leave him disheartened. Throughout the song he complains about his frustration, asking his conversation partner to stop and uncharacteristically demanding cigarettes and alcohol to get through the dross. The final verse, however, sees Morrissey singing "Won't somebody stop me from thinking? From thinking all the time, about everything. So deeply, so bleakly..." indicating that the conversations he so dreads are in fact with himself. This introspective twist gives the song a hit of Morrissey's wry wit, but at the same time it displays the dark uniqueness that pervades the album. The lyrics of "Our Frank", along with the brooding music and strange production (Morrissey's voice is overdubbed
and echoed
) offer some insight into why the album was poorly received and also why some of the songs have become particularly popular with fans.
gave "Our Frank" a positive review, calling the single the singer's "freshest vinyl confection since 'Suedehead
'".
Morrissey
Steven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
, released as a single in February 1991. It was the first single taken from the Kill Uncle
Kill Uncle
Kill Uncle is Morrissey's second solo album, released on 4 March 1991 by EMI and HMV Records...
album. It was also the first of his collaborations with Mark Nevin to be released.
Despite being released before the album that spawned it, the single reached number 26 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. This was the lowest any Morrissey single had charted since his first release "Suedehead
Suedehead
"Suedehead" was the debut solo single from Morrissey, released in February 1988.The single charted higher than any of the singles released by his former band The Smiths, reaching number five in the UK Singles Chart. It charted at #30 in The Netherlands and at #8 in New Zealand...
" in 1988.
Despite its title, the song lyrics are not about someone named Frank, but rather they describe "frank and open, deep conversations" that get Morrissey nowhere and leave him disheartened. Throughout the song he complains about his frustration, asking his conversation partner to stop and uncharacteristically demanding cigarettes and alcohol to get through the dross. The final verse, however, sees Morrissey singing "Won't somebody stop me from thinking? From thinking all the time, about everything. So deeply, so bleakly..." indicating that the conversations he so dreads are in fact with himself. This introspective twist gives the song a hit of Morrissey's wry wit, but at the same time it displays the dark uniqueness that pervades the album. The lyrics of "Our Frank", along with the brooding music and strange production (Morrissey's voice is overdubbed
Dubbing (music)
In sound recording, dubbing is the transfer or copying of previously recorded audio material from one medium to another of the same or a different type. It may be done with a machine designed for this purpose, or by connecting two different machines: one to play back and one to record the signal...
and echoed
Echo (phenomenon)
In audio signal processing and acoustics, an echo is a reflection of sound, arriving at the listener some time after the direct sound. Typical examples are the echo produced by the bottom of a well, by a building, or by the walls of an enclosed room and an empty room. A true echo is a single...
) offer some insight into why the album was poorly received and also why some of the songs have become particularly popular with fans.
CD
- "Our Frank"
- "Journalists Who Lie"
- "Tony the Pony"
| Country | Record label | Format | Catalogue number |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | HMV | 7" vinyl | POP1625 |
| UK | HMV | 12" vinyl | 12POP1625 |
| UK | HMV | Compact disc | CDPOP1625 |
| UK | HMV | Cassette | TCPOP1625 |
Reviews
Perhaps surprisingly, NMENME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
gave "Our Frank" a positive review, calling the single the singer's "freshest vinyl confection since 'Suedehead
Suedehead
"Suedehead" was the debut solo single from Morrissey, released in February 1988.The single charted higher than any of the singles released by his former band The Smiths, reaching number five in the UK Singles Chart. It charted at #30 in The Netherlands and at #8 in New Zealand...
'".
Musicians
- Morrissey: voiceSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
- Mark E. Nevin: guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Nawazish Ali Khan: violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
- Seamus Beaghen: pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
- Mark "Bedders" BedfordMark BedfordMark Bedford , nicknamed 'Bedders', is a bass guitarist and former member of the band Madness....
: bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Andrew Paresi: drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....