To Be Frank

Last updated

To Be Frank
Nik-Kershaw-To-Be-Frank.jpg
Studio album by
Released14 May 2001 (2001-05-14) (UK)
23 April 2002 (2002-04-23) (US)
Recorded2000
Genre Britpop
Length49:57
Label Koch Records (US)
Eagle Records
Producer Nik Kershaw
Nik Kershaw chronology
The Essential
(2000)
To Be Frank
(2001)
Then and Now
(2005)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
PopMatters (Favorable) [2]

To Be Frank is the sixth solo studio album by the English singer-songwriter Nik Kershaw. The album was released in 2001 (in the UK), and 2002 (in the US) on Koch Records. The only single released from this album was "Wounded", which peaked at #100, on the UK singles chart.

Contents

Critical reception

Reviewing for AllMusic, critic Jason D. Taylor wrote of the album "Feeling more like a last plea to rekindle the success of his past rather than an attempt at something new, To Be Frank is a faceless collection of material that leaves you wondering if anyone even cares anymore." [3] Reviewing for PopMatters, critic David Medsker wrote of the album "He’s older, wiser, but most importantly, he’s better. Alter egos and multiple personalities aside, To Be Frank is one of the most focused records Kershaw’s ever done." [2]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Nik Kershaw, unless otherwise indicated.

  1. "Wounded" – 4:21
  2. "Get Up" – 4:11
  3. "Die Laughing" – 4:39
  4. "Jane Doe" (Chesney Hawkes, Kershaw) – 4:22
  5. "How Sad" – 4:16
  6. "Take Me to the Church" – 4:54
  7. "Hello World" – 4:20
  8. "Already" – 5:13
  9. "One Day" – 5:07
  10. "All Is Fair" – 4:13
  11. "Show Them What You're Made Of" – 4:17

Singles

1. Wounded (Single Edit) [3:37] 2. They Said [4:30] 3. Food for Fantasy [4:26]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nik Kershaw</span> English musician (born 1958)

Nicholas David Kershaw is an English singer, songwriter, musician and record producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You've Got a Friend</span> 1971 single by Carole King

"You've Got a Friend" is a 1971 song written by American singer, songwriter, and musician Carole King. It was first recorded by King and included on her second studio album, Tapestry (1971). Another well-known version is by James Taylor from his album Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon. His was released as a single in 1971, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and number four on the UK Singles Chart. The two versions were recorded simultaneously in 1971 with shared musicians.

<i>The Works</i> (Nik Kershaw album) 1989 studio album by Nik Kershaw

The Works is the fourth studio album by the English singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Nik Kershaw. It was released in 1989 and was the last album he created for MCA Records. Kershaw chose the album's title as he felt the album represented "the collected works of Nik Kershaw". He did not release any new solo material until 15 Minutes, 10 years later.

<i>Human Racing</i> 1984 studio album by Nik Kershaw

Human Racing is the debut studio album by English singer-songwriter Nik Kershaw, released on 27 February 1984 by MCA Records. Several songs like "Drum Talk" were based around improvisation; other songs, like "I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me", had a political message.

<i>Radio Musicola</i> 1986 studio album by Nik Kershaw

Radio Musicola is the third studio album by English singer-songwriter Nik Kershaw, released on 24 October 1986 by MCA Records, just under two years after Kershaw's previous studio album, The Riddle (1984). It was the first studio album to be produced by Kershaw. It features guest backing vocalists, including Icehouse's Iva Davies, and Night's Stevie Lange, and Miriam Stockley.

<i>15 Minutes</i> (Nik Kershaw album) 1999 studio album by Nik Kershaw

15 Minutes is the fifth studio album by English singer-songwriter Nik Kershaw, released on 6 April 1999.

<i>The Riddle</i> (album) 1984 studio album by Nik Kershaw

The Riddle is the second studio album by English singer-songwriter Nik Kershaw, released on 19 November 1984 by MCA Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wouldn't It Be Good</span> 1984 single by Nik Kershaw

"Wouldn't It Be Good" is a song by English singer-songwriter Nik Kershaw, released on 20 January 1984 as the second single from his debut studio album, Human Racing (1984). The release was Kershaw's second single, and features the non-album track "Monkey Business" as the B-side, which was also released as a bonus track on the 2012 re-release of the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me</span> 1983 single by Nik Kershaw

"I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" is a song by English singer-songwriter Nik Kershaw from his debut studio album, Human Racing (1984). It was his first single, released on 9 September 1983 to limited success. When re-released on 4 June 1984, the song became Kershaw's highest-charting single on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number two. It features the non-album track "Dark Glasses" as the B-side, which was also released as a bonus track on the 2012 re-release of the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The One and Only (song)</span> 1991 single by Chesney Hawkes

"The One and Only" is the debut single by British singer and actor Chesney Hawkes. Written by Nik Kershaw, the single was released by Chrysalis Records in February 1991. Produced by Kershaw and Alan Shacklock, and recorded and mixed by Gareth Cousins, the song was featured in the 1991 film Buddy's Song which starred Hawkes as the eponymous Buddy and Roger Daltrey as his father. The film performed moderately well at the UK box office, but the song was a hit in that country's music charts, spending five weeks at number one on the UK Singles Chart in March and April 1991. Kershaw's influence can also be heard throughout the track not only in guitar style, but in the backing vocals on the intro and choruses, with Hawkes singing the verses.

<i>Bitterblue</i> 1991 studio album by Bonnie Tyler

Bitterblue is the eighth studio album by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler. It was released on 11 November 1991, through Hansa Records. Bitterblue is a pop rock album, described by Dieter Bohlen as "more commercial" than her previous albums. Bohlen began working with Tyler in early 1991, writing and producing multiple songs for the album. Bitterblue also features compositions from Albert Hammond, Nik Kershaw and Giorgio Moroder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Riddle (Nik Kershaw song)</span> 1984 single by Nik Kershaw

"The Riddle" is a song by English singer-songwriter Nik Kershaw, released in 1984 as the lead single from his second studio album of the same name. Kershaw described the lyrical content as being nondescript to fill as a "guide vocal" for the production. It reached number three on the UK Singles Chart and peaked within the top 10 in countries like Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Australia and New Zealand. An accompanying music video was made for the song and features references to Lewis Carroll's book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865).

<i>Future History</i> (album) 2011 studio album by Jason Derulo

Future History is the second studio album by American singer Jason Derulo, released on September 16, 2011. As the executive producer of the album, Derulo collaborated with several record producers, including DJ Frank E, The Fliptones, The Outerlimits, Emanuel Kiriakou, RedOne, Jai Marlon and frequent collaborator J.R. Rotem, among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One Step Ahead (Nik Kershaw song)</span> 1989 single by Nik Kershaw

"One Step Ahead" is a song by English singer-songwriter Nik Kershaw, released on 23 January 1989 as the lead single from his fourth studio album The Works (1989). It was written by Kershaw, and produced by Kershaw and Julian Mendelsohn. A music video was filmed to promote the single, and Kershaw also performed it on the Dutch TV show POP Formule.

<i>¡Tré!</i> 2012 studio album by Green Day

¡Tré! is the eleventh studio album by American rock band Green Day. It is the third and final installment in the ¡Uno!¡Dos!¡Tré! trilogy, a series of studio albums that were released from September to December 2012. Green Day started recording material for the album on February 14, 2012, and finished on June 26, 2012. ¡Tré! follows the power pop style of ¡Uno!, and the garage rock feel of ¡Dos! The album's title is a nod to the band's drummer Tré Cool. Cool is also featured on the album's cover. It is the band's last album as a quartet, due to Jason White reverting back to being a touring member in 2016. It is also their last album to date to be produced by their long-time producer Rob Cavallo, whose relationship with the band began with their 1994 album Dookie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elisabeth's Eyes</span> 1989 single by Nik Kershaw

"Elisabeth's Eyes" is a song by English musician Nik Kershaw, which was released as the second and final single from his fourth studio album The Works (1989). It was written by Kershaw, and produced by Kershaw and Julian Mendelsohn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Move (Little Mix song)</span> 2013 single by Little Mix

"Move" is a song recorded by British girl group Little Mix. It was released through Syco Music, as the lead single from their second studio album, Salute (2013). It was co-written by members Jesy Nelson, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Jade Thirlwall and Perrie Edwards with Maegan Cottone and Nathan Duvall, and produced by Duvall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)</span> 1964 song performed by Marvin Gaye

"How Sweet It Is " is a song recorded by American soul singer Marvin Gaye from his fifth studio album of the same name (1965). It was written in 1964 by the Motown songwriting team of Holland–Dozier–Holland, and produced by Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier. The song title was inspired by one of the actor and comedian Jackie Gleason's signature phrases, "How Sweet It Is!"

<i>Ei8ht</i> (album) 2012 studio album by Nik Kershaw

Ei8ht is the eighth studio album by Nik Kershaw, released on his independent label Shorthouse Records in 2012. The album reached No. 91 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 12 on the UK Independent Albums Chart.

Oxymoron is the ninth and most recent album by British singer-songwriter Nik Kershaw, released on 16 October 2020. The album was recorded at Abbey Road Studios.

References

  1. To Be Frank at AllMusic
  2. 1 2 "Nik Kershaw: To Be Frank". PopMatters. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  3. Jason D. Taylor (23 April 2002). "To Be Frank - Nik Kershaw | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved 29 November 2015.