Our Frank

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"Our Frank"
Morrissey-our-frank-single.jpg
Single by Morrissey
from the album Kill Uncle
B-side
  • "Journalists Who Lie"
  • "Tony the Pony"
Released11 February 1991
Studio Hook End Manor (Oxfordshire, England)
Length3:25
Label His Master's Voice (UK)
Songwriter(s)
  • Morrissey
  • Mark E. Nevin
Producer(s)
Morrissey singles chronology
"Piccadilly Palare"
(1990)		"Our Frank"
(1991)		"Sing Your Life"
(1991)
Alternative cover
Our Frank.jpg
Cover of US CD
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]

"Our Frank" is a song by English singer Morrissey, released on 11 February 1991 by His Master's Voice as the lead single from his second solo studio album, Kill Uncle (1991). Written by Morrissey and Mark E. Nevin and produced by Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley, the single peaked at number 26 on the UK Singles Chart. [2] Retrospective commentary has described the track as a buoyant, sardonic opener to Kill Uncle that plays to Morrissey’s wry lyrical persona. [3]

Contents

It was the lowest any Morrissey single had charted since his first release "Suedehead" in 1988. [4] The accompanying video shows Morrissey surrounded by skinheads in a park. The video was not included on the 1992 The Malady Lingers On video compilation.

Background and composition

Commenting on the reissue of Kill Uncle, Marc Hogan of Pitchfork characterized "Our Frank" as a "buoyant alt-pop opener" whose sardonic lyric voice sets the album’s tone. [5]

Critical reception

Retrospectively, Marc Hogan of Pitchfork called "Our Frank" a "buoyant alt-pop opener" whose bitter humor suits Morrissey’s persona. [6] Ned Raggett at AllMusic was more reserved, writing that the title track "isn't all it could be." [7]

Track listings

7" vinyl and cassette

  1. "Our Frank"
  2. "Journalists Who Lie"

12" vinyl

  1. "Our Frank"
  2. "Journalists Who Lie"
  3. "Tony the Pony"

CD

  1. "Our Frank"
  2. "Journalists Who Lie"
  3. "Tony the Pony"
CountryRecord labelFormatCatalogue number
UKHis Master's Voice7" vinylPOP1625
UKHis Master's Voice12" vinyl12POP1625
UKHis Master's VoiceCompact discCDPOP1625
UKHis Master's VoiceCassetteTCPOP1625

Release

The single was issued in multiple UK formats, including 7-inch (POP 1625), 12-inch (12POP 1625), CD (CDPOP 1625) and cassette (TCPOP 1625). [8]

Etchings

Original UK vinyl pressings included etched run-out messages, including a Wilde-referencing pun noted in retrospective coverage of the album era. [9]

Musicians

Live performances

The song was performed live by Morrissey on his 1991 Kill Uncle tour. Along with all of the material from Kill Uncle, "Our Frank" has never been performed by Morrissey since the 1991 tour, until 1 July 2022 in Las Vegas when he also debuted five songs. [10] [11]

Music video

The promotional video for "Our Frank" was directed by John Maybury and intercuts performance footage with scenes shot around London’s King's Cross area. [12] [13]

References

  1. ↑ Raggett, Ned. "Our Frank Review". AllMusic . Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  2. ↑ "OUR FRANK – MORRISSEY". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  3. ↑ Hogan, Marc (12 April 2013). "Review: Morrissey – Kill Uncle (reissue)". Pitchfork. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  4. ↑ "Morrissey UK chart". officialcharts.com. 27 February 1988. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  5. ↑ Hogan, Marc (12 April 2013). "Review: Morrissey – Kill Uncle (reissue)". Pitchfork. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  6. ↑ Hogan, Marc (12 April 2013). "Review: Morrissey – Kill Uncle (reissue)". Pitchfork. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  7. ↑ Raggett, Ned. ""Our Frank" – Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  8. ↑ "OUR FRANK – MORRISSEY". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  9. ↑ Hogan, Marc (12 April 2013). "Review: Morrissey – Kill Uncle (reissue)". Pitchfork. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  10. ↑ "Morrissey live history: Tour stats".
  11. ↑ "Morrissey-OUR FRANK-Live @ Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV, July 1, 2022-The Smiths-Moz". YouTube .
  12. ↑ "Our Frank — Morrissey". IMVDb. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  13. ↑ Goddard, Simon (2012). Mozipedia: The Encyclopedia of Morrissey and The Smiths. Ebury Press. p. 314. ISBN   978-0091927103.
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