Frantic (album) explained

Frantic is the eleventh studio album by English singer Bryan Ferry, released on 15 April 2002 by Virgin Records. The majority of tracks were produced by the team of Rhett Davies, Colin Good, and Ferry; David A. Stewart and Robin Trower also co-produced several tracks.^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

Critical reception

Tim DiGravina of AllMusic wrote of the album, "Some listeners might suggest that an album this varied has an identity crisis, but with [these] standout tracks as glorious as the Dylan covers and the Eno closer, Frantic is a fascinating addition to Bryan Ferry's accomplished discography."^[5] David Medsker of PopMatters stated that "Frantic may play like a greatest hits album, with bits here recalling Boys and Girls and songs there echoing late Roxy, and it may rank in the middle to upper of the pack of his overall body of work. But it's the most cohesive album he's done in ages. Given how down and out he appeared to be, the fact that Frantic is more than half good is cause for joy."^[6]

Personnel

Musicians

• Bryan Ferry – vocals (1–6, 8–13), harmonica (1, 3, 5, 8, 13), keyboards (4, 10, 12, 13), arrangements (7)
• Colin Good – acoustic piano (1–6, 8, 11), string arrangements (1–3, 6, 11, 13), Mellotron (6), virginal (7), arrangements (7), keyboards (13)
• Terry Disley – keyboards (4, 10, 12)
• Brian Eno – keyboards (4, 10, 13), backing vocals (4, 12, 13), guitar (13)
• Paul Taylor – keyboards (4, 10, 12), programming (10)
• Ben Chapman – programming (4, 10, 13)
• Reece Gilmore – programming (4, 12, 13)
• James Sanger – programming (4, 13)
• Eddie LeJeune – accordion (9), backing vocals (9)
• Pete Glenister – guitar (1, 2, 6, 8, 13)
• Mick Green – guitar (1–3, 6, 8, 11)
• Chris Spedding – guitar (2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 13), sitar (11)
• David Williams – guitar (2–4, 6, 12, 13), bass (4)
• Adam Lamprell – guitar (4, 10, 13)
• David A. Stewart – guitar (4, 10, 12)
• Martin Wheatley – guitar (8)
• D. L. Menard – guitar (9), backing vocals (9)
• Jonny Greenwood – guitar (10)
• Robin Trower – guitar (10)
• Zev Katz – bass (1–3, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13)
• Marcus Miller – bass (10, 12)
• Bobby Irwin – drums (1–3, 6, 13)
• Andy Newmark – drums (4, 10, 12), percussion (8, 13)
• Paul Thompson – drums (4, 8), percussion (11)
• Frank Ricotti – percussion (1, 2, 6–9, 11)
• Otis Ferry – whip effects (2)
• Rosie Wetters – cello (1–3, 6, 11, 13)
• Natalia Bonner – viola (1–3, 6, 11, 13)
• Lucy Theo – violin (1–3, 6, 11, 13)
• Lucy Wilkins – violin (1–3, 6, 11, 13)
• Julia Thornton – harp (7, 8)
• Keith Thompson – recorder (7), crumhorn (7), curtal (7), woodwind (8), oboe (11)
• Ken Smith – fiddle (9), backing vocals (9)
• Robert Fowler – alto saxophone (11)
• Sarah Brown – backing vocals (2, 4, 6, 8, 11, 12)
• Kelli Dayton – backing vocals (2, 10, 11)
• Alice Retif – backing vocals (2, 10)
• Audrey Wheeler – backing vocals (2, 4, 12)
• Nicole Blumberg – backing vocals (4)
• Stephen Granville – backing vocals (4, 12)
• Mary Nelson – soprano vocals (7, 8, 11)
• Alison Goldfrapp – backing vocals (11)
• Lucy Kaplansky – backing vocals (11)
• Patti Russo – backing vocals (11)
• Jhelisa Anderson – backing vocals (12)

Technical

• Bryan Ferry – producer
• Rhett Davies – producer (1–3, 5–8, 11, 13), additional producer (4, 9, 10, 12)
• Colin Good – producer (1–3, 5–8, 11, 13), additional producer (4, 9, 10, 12)
• David A. Stewart – producer (4, 12)
• Robin Trower – producer (9, 10, 13)
• Nick Addison – engineer
• Michael Boddy – engineer
• Neil Brockbank – engineer, mixing (5)
• Ash Howes – engineer, mixing (10)
• Richard T. Norris – engineer
• Sven Taits – engineer
• Mark Tucker – engineer
• Dan Grech-Marguerat – assistant engineer
• Kevin Harp – assistant engineer
• Bob Clearmountain – mixing (1–4, 6–9, 11–13)
• Bob Ludwig – mastering at Gateway Mastering (Portland, Maine)

Artwork

• Bogdan Zarkowski – design, photography
• Nicholas De Ville – design
• Bryan Ferry – design
• Eric Boman – photography
• Albert Sanchez – photography

Charts

Chart (2002)! scope="col"

Peak position
Czech Albums (ČNS IFPI)[7]	78
European Albums (Music & Media)[8]	7
Italian Albums (Musica e dischi)[9]	46

Notes and References

1. Web site: Medsker. David. Bryan Ferry: Frantic. 20 June 2002. PopMatters. 24 March 2014.
2. Web site: Young. Alex. Album Review: Bryan Ferry – Olympia. 22 October 2010. Consequence of Sound. 24 March 2014.
3. Web site: Jones. Chris. Bryan Ferry Frantic Review. bbc.co.uk. 24 March 2014.
4. Web site: Weiner. Mathew. Bryan Ferry. Stylus Magazine. 24 March 2014. 9 May 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120509234048/http://stylusmagazine.com/reviews/bryan-ferry/frantic.htm. dead.
5. Web site: Frantic – Bryan Ferry. AllMusic.
6. Web site: Bryan Ferry: Frantic, PopMatters. 20 June 2002.
7. Web site: Oficiální česká hitparáda IFPI ČR – 20. týden 2002 . Marketing & Media . cs . 17 May 2002 . 25 February 2022.
8. European Top 100 Albums . . 20 . 21 . 18 May 2002 . 10 . 29800226 . World Radio History.
9. Web site: Classifiche . . it . 22 July 2022. Select "Album" in the "Tipo" field, type "Frantic" in the "Titolo" field and press "cerca".