Squeeze - A Round And A Bout (1990)

Note: this release was originally purchased as a CD which was either sold, stolen, traded or lost, then replaced by another CD.

About what you'd expect from a live album - crowd noise, between song banter, mostly faithful reproductions of the studio versions, few surprises. The mix is a bit off - heavy on snare, light on bass - if such things bother you. Soundboard recording, maybe? Essential only for fans and completists such as myself.

Billboard, May 12, 1990, p. 92

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #163

also available on VHS

Tracks:

1. Footprints - originally on Babylon and On (1988)
2. Pulling Mussels From A Shell - Argybargy (1980)
3. Black Coffee In Bed - Sweets From A Stranger (1982)
4. She Doesn't Have To Shave - Frank (1989)
5. Is That Love - East Side Story (1981)
6. Doctor Jazz - Frank
7. Up The Junction - Cool For Cats (1979)
8. Slaughtered, Gutted And Heartbroken - Frank
9. Take Me, I'm Yours - U.K. Squeeze (1978)
10. If It's Love - Frank
11. Hour Glass - Babylon And On
12. Labelled With Love - East Side Story
13. Annie Get Your Gun - Singles: 45's And Under (1982)
14. Tempted - East Side Story
15. By Your Side - Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti (1985)

It's a nice blend of old hits and newer stuff - they were on tour at the time promoting Frank. I like the little changes they make to Footprints and Tempted plus the fan participation during Black Coffee In Bed & If It's Love (Tilbrook was still doing that bit when I saw him in 2013 and it continued to be a crowd-pleaser.) Jools Holland certainly brought his A-game to these shows - he completely steals the middle section of the disc. Neither Up The Junction nor Hour Glass translate well live, but they're hits so ya gotta play 'em, right? Nonetheless, the band sounds like they're having fun on stage and that's contagious.

The biggest surprise of the night comes after they've played their signature tune, Tempted, when Tilbrook announces, "We're gonna do something we worked out at sound check this afternoon. We have played it before but we haven't played it for a long while and it's a bit of a different version. Might work, might not, but there it is." then they launch into a reggae-ish version of By Your Side. The original on the Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti album is an over-produced, synth-heavy cut, so this rendition shouldn't work for several reasons, but it does.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: The first Squeeze CD I ever purchased - prior to that time, I only bought vinyl or tape. It seems unreal that there were 5-6 years when I bought CDs but had no in-dash CD player in my car/truck, but this album would definitely have been purchased during that span of time. Must have listened to this one at the house or I had to use one of these to hear it my car:

Previously revisited for the blog:

The Knowledge (2017)	Babylon and On (1987)
Cradle To The Grave (2015)	Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti (1985)
The Complete BBC Sessions (2008)	Difford & Tilbrook (1984)
Domino (1998)	Singles: 45's and Under (1982)
Ridiculous (1995)	Sweets From A Stranger (1982) and 2008 reissue
Some Fantastic Place (1993)	East Side Story (1981)
Play (1991)	Argybargy (1980) - 1987 reissue and 2008 Deluxe Edition
Frank (1989)	Cool For Cats (1979)
	U.K. Squeeze (1978)

Squeeze - The Knowledge (2017)

I had high hopes after the release of 2015's Cradle To The Grave, but this follow-up doesn't meet expectations. Most Squeeze albums requiring multiple listenings to reveal all their goodness, but that trick didn't seem to work here (at least to my ears). The album just plods along with midtempo songs too long for their own good - as the songwriting duo of Difford and Tilbrook have aged, their songs have gotten about a minute longer than their early output. Metacritic has it rated at a very positive 81 so I'll admit there's the possibility I'm missing something, but on the continuum of Squeeze albums, I'll place this one is closer to Domino and Ridiculous than Play or Argybargy. That's more in line with the "User Score" below.

Metacritic also has the producer of the album as John Cale, so they may be having problems over there.
(Cale disastrously produced the group's debut album over 40 years ago;
Laurie Latham and Glenn Tilbrook produced The Knowledge)

And yes, I'll buy their next release as soon as its released; I'll always be a fan.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks: While the album is ultimately disappointing, there are a few great tunes sprinkled about: Patchouli, Departure Lounge, Please Be Upstanding, and Two Forks. Rough Ride might have been good if the arrangement hadn't included a children's chorus and opera singer.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None, but I took a road trip this past weekend on I-37 and my Cool for Cats CD provided part of the soundtrack.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Cradle To The Grave (2015)
The Complete BBC Sessions (2008)
Domino (1998)
Ridiculous (1995)
Some Fantastic Place (1993)
Play (1991)
Frank (1989)
Babylon and On (1987)
Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti (1985)
Difford & Tilbrook (1984)
Singles: 45's and Under (1982)
Sweets From A Stranger (1982) and 2008 reissue
East Side Story (1981)
Argybargy (1980) - 1987 reissue and 2008 Deluxe Edition
Cool For Cats (1979)
U.K. Squeeze (1978)

Squeeze - Cradle To The Grave (2015)

I'm always up for a new Squeeze CD even though their track record lately hasn't been great. This is somewhat of a return to form for Difford & Tilbrook and I'm glad I picked it up as it's their best album since 1991's Play.

I can't put it any better than Lee Zimmerman from Blurt:

Suffice it to say those looking for an album on the order of early Squeeze classics like Argybargy or East Side Story won’t be disappointed. Packed with winsome melodies, joy and jubilation (made all the more expressive by titles like “Nirvana,” “Beautiful Game,” “Sunny” and the all too appropriate “Top of the Form”), Cradle to the Grave is a stunning example of the brilliance Difford and Tilbrook seemingly command at their fingertips.

What he said. Evidently, the music was written for a BBC series about life in the '70s, Cradle to Grave. Maybe I'll check that out and see how the songs tie into the show. My only complaint is that that the album isn't very consistent, but neither was East Side Story so what do I know?

What's with shirtless male bodybuilders on their album covers? No judgment, just asking if there's a reason or connection.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks: I like the title track, Nirvana, Only 15, Top of the Form, Sunny, and Everything. Not a fan of Beautiful Game or Haywire, but even they have their moments.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Don't get me started. I pre-ordered the "Limited Edition" of this CD directly from the group's website. I think the edition contained bonus tracks or was autographed or both or something not really worth $25 but I was willing to pay for anyway. Two weeks later, I received this email:

What the hell? Just print up some more CDs, Matt! That's no way to treat someone who has been a fan of the group for over 30 years. I was so upset, I put the group in time-out and waited 4 months to order this regular copy. Yeah, I know I can stream/purchase files of the bonus tracks other places, but it's just not the same, is it? Especially when your blog is about CDs. Rant over. Has nothing to do with the high quality of the album itself. Carry on.

Previously revisited for the blog:
The Complete BBC Sessions (2008)
Domino (1998)
Ridiculous (1995)
Some Fantastic Place (1993)
Play (1991)
Frank (1989)
Babylon and On (1987)
Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti (1985)
Difford & Tilbrook (1984)
Singles: 45's and Under (1982)
Sweets From A Stranger (1982) and 2008 reissue
East Side Story (1981)
Argybargy (1980) - 1987 reissue and 2008 Deluxe Edition
Cool For Cats (1979)
U.K. Squeeze (1978)

Squeeze - Sweets from a Stranger: 2008 reissue (1982)

Note: this release was originally purchased as a LP, later replaced by a CD.

I've already posted about this album back on October 3, 2012. But last year I had gift cards burning a hole in my pocket, so I sprung for the 2008 reissue with 9 bonus tracks. I'm listening to the whole CD this morning, but will try to limit my comments to said bonus tracks and liner notes of this reissue. I will say that I should be listening to this album more often than I do.

In addition to accurate reproductions of the original album sleeves, the liner notes contain an essay by David Bailey, keeper of the Squeeze archives over at www.packetofthree.com (go check it out). And he totally nails the feel of this album when he writes

Sweets From A Stranger is an alcohol-soaked soundtrack: the sound of the bad taste in your mouth the morning after a relationship gone sour.

That's a heavy-handed metaphor to be sure, but it perfectly captures the tone of the songwriting here. As a teenager, I wasn't worldly enough to pick up on the themes at the time of release, but I certainly see them now. The beauty of this songwriting is how well the music matches the themes of the lyrics even though the lyrics and music were written by two different people.

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #32
• Billboard Rock: #36
• CashBox: #43
• Rolling Stone: #14

Bonus tracks: In the nine bonus tracks we've got the usual b-sides, 7" single versions, and demos along with a few extra tracks tacked on with no explanation of their origin. The best of the tracks may be a demo for a song titled Wherever We Met. I'm normally not wild about the release of demos, but I'm glad they included this one. I also like When Love Goes To Sleep (because it sounds like it could have been a filler track from Cool For Cats), the previously promo-only I'm At Home Tonight, and the quirky closer Last Call For Love. I'm not wild about either of the two b-sides included here so I'll say it again: b-sides are usually b-sides for a reason. Included is the 7" single version of Annie Get Your Gun which sounds remarkably like the version on Singles: 45's and Under and is the same length; draw your own conclusions.

Bottom line: if the were just for the bonus tracks, I'd be a little disappointed in this upgrade purchase. However, the sound is so much better on this version than my original 1995 CD copy that, taken all together, it was worth the $12.63.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD:  see October 3, 2012 post.

Previously revisited for the blog:
The Complete BBC Sessions (2008)
Domino (1998)
Ridiculous (1995)
Some Fantastic Place (1993)
Play (1991)
Frank (1989)
Babylon and On (1987)
Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti (1985)
Difford & Tilbrook (1984)
Singles: 45's and Under (1982)
Sweets From A Stranger (1982)
East Side Story (1981)
Argybargy (1980) - 1987 reissue and 2008 Deluxe Edition
Cool For Cats (1979)
U.K. Squeeze (1978)

Squeeze - Play (1991)

Note: this release was originally purchased as a cassette tape, later replaced by a CD.

Upfront, I'm going to go out on a limb and call this my favorite Squeeze album (excluding the stellar compilation Singles: 45's and Under). Not necessarily because the songs here are stronger than their late '70s/early '80s singles (nothing could really compare to Tempted in my book), but because it's the band most consistent album. Glenn Tilbrook has never written a better collection of melodies. The band's ninth studio album, it was their only release on Reprise Records, which barely marketed the thing. IMHO, this album is underrated (Rolling Stone Album Guide gives it 2 stars, Christgau didn't even bother with it) and under-appreciated (I see it often in used bins), but that plays right into my contrarian nature. However, David Medsker over at PopDose knows where I'm coming from. Because lyricist Chris Difford wasn't in a good place at the time, the lyrics tend to be very dark.

Press of the time:

• Billboard: "superior examples of songcraft"
• Stereo Review: Best of the Month - "a high-water mark for Squeeze"
• CD Review: "a delightful disc designed to be absorbed, not just heard."

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks:  I always listen to all 12 tracks without skipping but my favorite tracks are Letting Go, The Day I Get Home, House Of Love, Wicked And Cruel, and There Is A Voice.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: My wife and I bought our first house in 1991 and, since we didn't have any children at the time, we had a spare bedroom. In that "junk room" were things like a seldom-used weight bench, boxes of books, and odd bits of furniture. Out of convenience, we left the ironing board set up in that room. On a small jam box in that room, I would listen to this tape while I ironed my shirts (Later, P.M. Dawn's The Bliss Album...? got a fair amount of playing time on that deck as well).

Three or four years ago, during a very depressed state (due to the wrong dosage of hypertension medication), I listened to the song There Is A Voice repeatedly. The chorus lyrics are "Each day is a night" which I'm guessing suggest that you're in such a funk you either don't know or don't care whether it's day or night. I never quite got to that state, but there's no denying the greatness of that lyric. I got the dosage worked out, but I still enjoy the song, grateful I've never been that down.

Previously revisited for the blog:
The Complete BBC Sessions (2008)
Domino (1998)
Ridiculous (1995)
Some Fantastic Place (1993)
Frank (1989)
Babylon and On (1987)
Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti (1985)
Difford & Tilbrook (1984)
Singles: 45's and Under (1982)
Sweets From A Stranger (1982)
East Side Story (1981)
Argybargy (1980) - 1987 reissue and 2008 Deluxe Edition
Cool For Cats (1979)
U.K. Squeeze (1978)

Glenn Tilbrook - Happy Trails (2013)

I don't get to hear as much live music as I'd like, but last night I caught Glenn Tilbrook in Houston on his Happy Trails tour. The venue, Dosey Doe's Big Barn, is a relocated and repurposed tobacco barn from Kentucky, but the acoustics were great.  Attendance? I'd guess about 200.  Sadly, this show wasn't a sell out.  Glenn, along with drummer Simon Hanson and multi-instrumentalist Chris McNally played any number of instruments, including guitars, ukeleles, various percussion, synth, and harmonium, plus a Kala U-Bass bass ukelele with polyurethane strings with surprisingly incredible tone.  In addition, several iPads were used for sampling, sound effects, and sound effects. Not exactly acoustic, but not full blown, either.

For this tour, Tilbrook is recording every performance and making copies of the show available immediately on CD.  They were for sale ($20) at the merchandise table alongside the musicians who were available for autographs (below), photographs, and general meet-and-greet.  It's a great idea, is much appreciated, and becoming increasingly common in the industry.  The only downside is that there's no overdubbing to clean up the messy bits and there's occasionally some long gaps between tracks.  But this is what I heard, warts and all.  Overall, a very enjoyable evening - my only (very minor) complaint comes from sitting next to Joe Know-It-All, but he shut up once the music started.

Tracks:  My favorites were the old Squeeze tunes, naturally.  It was a great show and I enjoyed the solo stuff, but let's be honest, I went to hear the Squeeze stuff.  Before going, I told somebody, "As long as he sings a few Squeeze songs, it will be worth the $25 ticket."  I got my money's worth.  And yeah, I'll probably go buy a couple of Glenn's solo CDs.

The highlight for me was Tempted, followed closely by Take Me I'm Yours and Someone Else's Bell.  In addition to the Squeeze material, I also enjoyed Parallel World and the Stevie Wonder cover.  I'll be skipping anything not sung by Glenn, though.  It's a nice show of support and I'm sure the band appreciates it, but I didn't come to hear the drummer sing.

The first CD opens with 6 songs from the opening act, a solo spot from Joe Michelini, leader of the indie band River City Extension.

The remainder of the first CD is the first set from Glenn:

• Parallel World (from The Incomplete Glenn Tilbrook, 2001)
• Best Of Times (from Pandemonium Ensues, 2009)
• Everybody Sometimes (new song from upcoming release, Happy Ending)
• Dennis (new song in memory of Beach Boy Dennis Wilson)
• Hostage (from The Incomplete Glenn Tilbrook)
• Annie Get Your Gun (from Singles: 45's and Under, 1982) 
• You See Me (from The Incomplete Glenn Tilbrook)
• Beachland Ballroom  (from Pandemonium Ensues, 2009)
• One For The Road (instrumental from Transatlantic Ping Pong, 2004)
• Still (from Pandemonium Ensues, 2009)
• Pulling Mussels (From The Shell) (from Argybargy, 1980)

Following a brief intermission, the second disc picks up the remainder of the show:

• Someone Else's Bell (from East Side Story, 1981)
• Black Coffee In Bed (from Sweets From A Stranger, 1982)
• Hourglass (from Babylon And On, 1987)
• Hello There (co-written and sung by Chris McNally)
• Persephone (unreleased)
• Ray (unreleased)
• Until You Come Back To Me (Stevie Wonder cover)
• Some Fantastic Place (from Some Fantastic Place, 1993)
• Up The Junction (from Cool For Cats, 1979)
• Kevin And Dave (co-written and sung by Simon Hanson)
• Rupert (unreleased)
• Chat Line Larry (from The Co-Operative, 2011)

Encore:

• Tempted (from East Side Story)
• Take Me I'm Yours (from U.K. Squeeze, 1978)
• Goodbye Girl (from Cool For Cats)

Personal Memory Associated with this CD:  I sometimes write that particular CDs are souvenirs of certain concerts I've attended.  In this case, that's never been more true.

I admit that I complained about Haircut 100 issuing a live CD with nothing more than a soundboard recording.  While this CD may seem similar, it is very different in my mind because I wasn't at the Haircut 100 concert (although I would have loved to have been there).

Squeeze - Frank (1989)

UK Import

Note: this release was originally purchased as a cassette tape, later replaced by a CD. The CD I listened to was a 2008 reissue with 8 bonus tracks.

After the comparatively over-produced slick stylings of Babylon and On and Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti, the band got back to the business of crafting clean 4 minute pop gems with wonderful melodies and out-of-left-field chord progressions. In terms of genres, the album isn't as unfocused as East Side Story, but there are a fair number of styles represented here. It's a good release, but a mostly live-in-studio album was strangely out of time in 1989, when most of what you heard on the radio included some sort of booming, electronically enhanced drums (i.e., Fine Young Cannibals, Milli Vanilli). If this had been released 5 years earlier, I probably would have listened to it and enjoyed it more. Now that I think about it, there are several cuts here that wouldn't be out of place on the 1984 Difford & Tilbrook album. If I were to rank Squeeze's 13 studio albums, this would fall somewhere in the middle.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #113

Tracks:  I like most all the tracks here, but tracks like Rose I Said, Slaughtered Gutted And Heartbroken, and Love Circles are better than (This Could Be) The Last Time and Melody Motel.

Bonus tracks: One decent track (Any Other Day) and surprisingly uninteresting b-side studio blues jams, demos, and live versions of She Doesn't Have To Shave and Melody Motel that also appear on The Complete BBC Sessions.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD:  Released the same month I got married and landed my first teaching gig, this cassette got some playing time during the fall/winter of 1989 as I roamed around Dallas spending money I didn't have and trying to figure out the whole married grown-up thing.

Previously revisited for the blog:
The Complete BBC Sessions (2008)
Domino (1998)
Ridiculous (1995)
Some Fantastic Place (1993)
Babylon and On (1987)
Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti (1985)
Difford & Tilbrook (1984)
Singles: 45's and Under (1982)
Sweets From A Stranger (1982)
East Side Story (1981)
Argybargy (1980) - 1987 reissue and 2008 Deluxe Edition
Cool For Cats (1979)
U.K. Squeeze (1978)

Squeeze - Singles: 45's and Under (1982)

Note: this release was originally purchased as a LP, later replaced by a CD.

One of the greatest "best of" collections of the '80s bar none. This was one of the first albums I replaced with a CD back in the late '80s. I've since picked up all the Squeeze studio releases on CD, but I've kept this around solely for the non-album single, Annie Get Your Gun, which isn't the best Squeeze song, but at the time it was noteworthy because it would be the last Squeeze single, ever (well, as it turns out, maybe not). From the November 11, 1982 edition of Rolling Stone magazine:

That brief item made me sad. Fortunately, the break-up didn't last long. And I was happy again.

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #47
• CashBox: #65
• Rolling Stone: #25

Tracks: We've seen all but one of these songs before.For my opinion on the titles and the albums they came from, click on the album links in the table below.

Song	Album	UK	US
Take Me I'm Yours	U.K. Squeeze	19
Goodbye Girl	Cool For Cats	63
Cool for Cats		2
Up the Junction		2
Slap and Tickle		24
Another Nail in My Heart	Argybargy	17
Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)		44
If I Didn't Love You
Is That Love	East Side Story	35
Tempted		41	49
Black Coffee in Bed	Sweets From a Stranger	51	103
Annie Get Your Gun	Previously unreleased	43

Personal Memory Associated with this CD:  In high school, I dubbed a cassette copy of the album so I could listen to it in the car. I remember thinking that, in order to save me time fast-forwarding through the tape, I would only record the really good songs off the album. Needless to say, they all made the cut, even though I wasn't wild about the last two tracks.

Previously revisited for the blog:
The Complete BBC Sessions (2008)
Domino (1998)
Ridiculous (1995)
Some Fantastic Place (1993)
Babylon and On (1987)
Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti (1985)
Difford & Tilbrook (1984)
Sweets From A Stranger (1982)
East Side Story (1981)
Argybargy (1980) - 1987 reissue and 2008 Deluxe Edition
Cool For Cats (1979)
U.K. Squeeze (1978)

Squeeze - Sweets From A Stranger (1982)

Note: this release was originally purchased as a LP, later replaced by a CD. The CD I listened to was released in 1995 so doesn't contain any of the bonus tracks of the 1997 or 2008 reissues.

Even though I'd eventually own them all, this was the first Squeeze album I ever purchased. It got a lot of playing time back in 1982 and on into '83. This release didn't earn the same amount of critical respect as its predecessor, East Side Story. That didn't matter to me, as I considered it an underrated collection of fantastic New Wave/power pop songs. At age 16, I didn't fully understand all the lyrical metaphors, but now I think I understand them better and smile as I remember how confused I was by lyrics such as "She likes love/by luck or labour/she likes love/but not for favour" which I assumed was about a girl simply playing hard to get, not realizing it was a song about prostitution (from I Can't Hold On). I listened to this so much when it was released, it doesn't get as much playing time as it should these days. Got albums like that?

After this release, the group split, tried to put on a musical (Labelled With Love), released a duo album, and then reformed in 1985 with Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti.

Press of the time:

• Rolling Stone (★★★★):"It's a quirky, uneven, tremendously endearing and occasionally foolish record"
• Smash Hits (7 out of 10): "at least half the songs here find Squeeze at their excellent best."
• Stereo Review: "Squeeze is a very good, thoroughly English band that has all the right influences but is also locked into a fairly rigid formula"
• Robert Christgau: B+ 

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #32
• Billboard Rock: #36
• CashBox: #43
• Rolling Stone: #14

Tracks:  I love them all with the exception of the featured single, Black Coffee In Bed, an obvious attempt to capitalize on the minor success of their previous single, Tempted. To me, Black Coffee In Bed is a poor imitation, containing none of the soulfulness of Tempted, while rambling on for far too long. Just when you think the song is ending, it goes back for a second attempt at the bridge about 4 minutes in. (Also, the video was horrible and, in 1982, that counted for something). The other 11 tracks are worth checking out, but my bias should be obvious to you by now.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD:  Even though this was released in the spring of '82, my memories of the album are tied to fall of that year. That fall must have been unusually cold and wet, because I have images in mind of driving to and from school in that sort of weather, listening to a tape of this album in the Markmobile and forcing my friends to listen to it. One time after listening to this album, I actually thought about starting a cover band that would play mostly Squeeze tunes. I laugh now imagining how well a New Wave cover band would have been received in the early '80s amid the rice fields and cattle ranches of the South Texas Plains.

My LP copy had a perforated tear-off flap that had critic's praises for the band printed on it, but you could remove to see the full album cover (which wasn't that great to begin with).

I've never seen the band live. They're still touring. I need to take care of that.

Previously revisited for the blog:
The Complete BBC Sessions (2008)
Domino (1998)
Ridiculous (1995)
Some Fantastic Place (1993)
Babylon and On (1987)
Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti (1985)
Difford & Tilbrook (1984)
East Side Story (1981)
Argybargy (1980) - 1987 reissue and 2008 Deluxe Edition
Cool For Cats (1979)
U.K. Squeeze (1978)

Squeeze - U.K. Squeeze (1978)

Note: the CD I listened to was not the 1997 reissue.

Record Collector Magazine: "I've read that [John Cale] wanted to call the album Gay Guys."

Glenn Tilbrook: "Yes, that was his idea for it. Great. Get us off to a running start! When most bands make their first album, they go in and do a lot of stuff that's been going down well in their sets; well, that wasn't the case with us. He told us to write new songs - which we did. He was an inspirational guy to work with, but I felt that it was almost like we were writing for what he wanted rather than what the band itself was. When you're in a position to be making a first album, it's (A) awe-inspiring to be making an album, and (B) difficult to assert yourself against somebody who knows the ropes."

An almost unlistenable debut album from what later became a fantastic pop/rock band. The story goes that the band showed up at the studio with material and their producer, former Velvet Underground member John Cale, made them discard all that material and come up with new songs on the spot. In my experience, "forced creativity" is usually unproductive, and this weak effort seems to support that theory. There's just no melody here - its more about the sound of the music than the actual music. The album was so bad that the label, A&M, added two songs to the album that were produced by the band and released those two as singles. Hard to believe that this is the same band that would give us Tempted in just a few years. If I had heard this album in 1978, I might have never listened to Squeeze again and that would have been a tragedy indeed.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks: Forget them all except the self-produced Take Me I'm Yours.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: I knew this album was hot mess, but since it's Squeeze I just couldn't resist when I saw sitting in a used CD bin.

Previously revisited for the blog:
The Complete BBC Sessions (2008)
Domino (1998)
Ridiculous (1995)
Some Fantastic Place (1993)
Babylon and On (1987)
Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti (1985)
Difford & Tilbrook (1984)
East Side Story (1981)
Argybargy (1980) - 1987 reissue and 2008 Deluxe Edition
Cool For Cats (1979)

Squeeze - Ridiculous (1995)

Squeeze were no longer fashionable in 1995, so even though this album was released right in the middle of the Britpop craze (Oasis, Blur, etc.), it was largely ignored. It's not the best Squeeze album, but it is far from being the worse. Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook continue to worship at the pop altar and deliver some strong songs. The biggest problem seems to be that the band made the mistake of signing with I.R.S. - a legendary New Wave record label in the '80s - right as the label was imploding. Sadly, in a few years, the band would likewise implode. Hit or miss.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks: Electric Trains, Walk Away (which contains the wonderful line, "if it's not one thing, it's your mother"), This Summer, and Lost For Words should all please Squeeze (or Crowded House) fans as they are full of solid pop music with good lyrics, quirky hooks, and unusual chord changes. Skip Heaven Knows, Got To Me, and Long Face.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
The Complete BBC Sessions (2008)
Domino (1998)
Some Fantastic Place (1993)
Babylon and On (1987)
Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti (1985)
Difford & Tilbrook (1984)
East Side Story (1981)
Argybargy (1980) - 1987 reissue and 2008 Deluxe Edition
Cool For Cats (1979)

Squeeze - Argybargy: Deluxe Edition (1980)

This is a great pop album. Back on November 23, 2010, I reviewed my original copy (1987 release) of this CD for this blog. My final comment in that post was "Argybargy was re-issued in 2008 as a two disc Deluxe Edition. If any of you want to get me something for my birthday or Christmas, this would be a welcome gift." My loving sister took this to heart and I did indeed receive the Deluxe Edition that Christmas. So, while I will listen to the entire 2 CD set this morning, I'll limit my comments to the 25 bonus tracks. The 36 page booklet of liner notes is a wonderful new addition as well.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #71
Peak on CashBox album chart: #89

CD 1 bonus tracks (previously unreleased tracks, b-sides, & demos): A lot of these sound like nondescript 1980 music, a blend of disco, pop, and new wave. It's not that they're bad, they often don't sound like Squeeze songs (i.e., Go and Going Crazy). Of the 9 bonus tracks on this disc, the best are Funny How It Goes, Pretty One, and Library Girl. Interestingly, there's an alternate version of the fun song Farfisa Beat, but the Farfisa organ is barely heard.

CD 2 bonus tracks (a 1980 radio ad for the the album followed by a recording of the group live at the historic Hammersmith Odeon on March 9, 1980): the radio ad is a historical curiosity, but certainly not something you'd want to hear more than once. The live tracks are a different story altogether. If these recordings are any indication, Squeeze was a great live band in 1980. They sound like they're just playing in a local pub for the boys having a pint. Lots of fun and lots of energy. If you've got the old CD, the live tracks make the Deluxe Edition a worthwhile purchase. There's even a good cover of Ray Charles' Mess Around.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: My sister gave me this edition for Christmas, 2010. Immediately ripped to iTunes, this new edition has probably received more playing time that the original.

Previously revisited for the blog:
The Complete BBC Sessions (2008)
Domino (1998)
Some Fantastic Place (1993)
Babylon and On (1987)
Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti (1985)
Difford & Tilbrook (1984)
East Side Story (1981)
Argybargy (1980)
Cool For Cats (1979)

Squeeze - The Complete BBC Sessions (2008)

This double CD features Squeeze's BBC studio recordings which include acoustic versions of some of their biggest hits and live to air recordings, covering the years 1977-1994. Judging from the band's brief setlists here, the band had absolutely no desire to be commercially successful. Instead of playing their hits to a national audience, we're treated to live versions of obscure b-sides. The band doesn't give us a version of their most famous hit, 1981's Tempted, until 1992. When they finally get to their hits, in the late '80s, they're no longer hits, but reworked versions of their early hits (the band was getting ready to play on the very first MTV Unplugged in 1989). That's where the gold is in these tracks - the stripped-down remakes. This makes the second disc much better than the first. This compilation isn't for casual fans. The sound of these recordings is surprisingly good; the liner notes are sadly lacking for such a retrospective.

Tracks, Disc 1:
Tracks 1-4, August 17, 1977: The band were just finding their sound here, so these tracks are of historical interest, but not much more than that. Not quite punk, not quite new wave, not quite pop, it's all rather manic.

Tracks 5-8, May 3, 1978: More of the same, except the band slows things down a little. In the b-side I Must Go, we get hints of the interesting chord progressions that would be characteristic of the group's sound.

Tracks 9-12, March 18, 1982: Even though most Brits knew of the band by '82, we still get filler tracks and b-sides, mostly from the Sweets From A Stranger album. However, by this time, the songwriting had improved greatly, so even filler tracks like I Can't Hold On sound good. However, the last track of this session, The Apple Tree, sounds as bad here as it does on Difford & Tilbrook.

Tracks 13-16, October 19, 1989: This is when it starts getting good. Unplugged versions of songs from the albums Frank and Babylon And On and a great remake of Is That Love? from East Side Story, the first real hit to make an appearance on this compilation.

Tracks, Disc 2:
Tracks 1 -4, June 4, 1992: Probably my favorite set, mainly because it gives us hits: Take Me I'm Yours, Up the Junction, Pulling Mussels/Labelled With Love, and Tempted (although Paul Carrack isn't on vocals, it's still a good cut). Just vocals with an acoustic guitar and occasional piano.

Tracks 5-8, July 14, 1993: Full band versions of 4 songs from Some Fantastic Place. No surprises here, these versions hardly differ from the album versions. Paul Carrack made a brief return to the band around this time to sing the Tempted knock-off, Loving You Tonight.

Tracks 9-11, March 4, 1994: Full band is back. The sound isn't as good on this set where we're treated to another straight-ahead version of Third Rail that sounds almost exactly like track 5. We get an interesting version of the band's biggest US hit, Hourglass, that works in a little of Sunshine Of Your Love. Finally, the second version of Tempted with Glenn Tilbrook on vocals. I wish the mix was better.

Tracks 12 & 13, December 13, 1994: A more unplugged sound. We get another version of Some Fantastic Place and a third version of Tempted, this time with Paul Carrack on vocals. It's hard to decide which is the better version of Tempted - this one or track 4. The vocals are better here, but I like the arrangement of the earlier version.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Domino (1998)
Some Fantastic Place (1993)
Babylon and On (1987)
Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti (1985)
Difford & Tilbrook (1984)
East Side Story (1981)
Argybargy (1980)
Cool For Cats (1979)

Squeeze - Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti (1985)

Note: this release was originally purchased as an LP, later replaced by a CD. My edition is the original CD release, not the 1997 reissue with 2 bonus tracks.

When Squeeze reformed in 1985, in took them a few albums to get back up to speed. The production on this album was odd in '85 and hasn't aged well. It's like the band wanted to sound more like XTC than Squeeze. The distorted bass is strangely forward in the mix and there are some unusual choices in regard to synth sounds. Still, there are a few songs where the old Difford & Tilbrook magic is evident. Fortunately, the band's releases got steadily better until the mid-'90s. Because of problems with the A&M label, it took me a long time to find a copy of the CD. But I can't say I really blame the label - why produce CDs that probably won't sell? Because of quirky melodies and chord progressions, most Squeeze music requires several listenings before they can be fully enjoyed. As a result, I listened to this record over and over, allowing the music to sink in. Honestly, if I listened to this album for the first time today, it probably wouldn't get another listen for a while. But since that wasn't the case back then, I still know every word.

The band has said the album title "merges the titles of two highly important pieces of music - Mozart's comic opera Cosi Fan Tutte and Little Richard's Tutti Frutti." It bears no resemblance to either. The subsequent tour was dubbed "Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti en Routti."

Press of the time:

• Smash Hits (9 out of 10): "some of Squeeze's strongest work yet."
• Rolling Stone: "musically involuted and psychologically involving"
• Stereo Review: "unsettling, but it's not altogether unpleasant"
• CashBox: "Typically exquisite songwriting"
• Billboard: "ripe, witty set of modern pop/rock"

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #57 (Oct 19, 1985)
• CashBox: #37
• Rolling Stone: #26

Tracks: Dated production aside, the good tracks are King George Street, Hits Of The Year, Break My Heart, and, if you ignore the bizarre intro, Last Time Forever. The final track, I Won't Ever Go Drinking Again (?), is probably the best hangover song ever recorded.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: This album reminds me of my sophomore year in college when I started dating the girl I would later marry. Being a complete idiot when it comes to talking with women, I would sometimes use song lyrics in a lame attempt at being romantic. I'm fairly certain that I copped some lyrics from this release. The results of that plagiarism were as bad as you might think. It amazes me that my wife put up with that and married me anyway.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Domino (1998)
Some Fantastic Place (1993)
Babylon and On (1987)
Difford & Tilbrook (1984)
East Side Story (1981)
Argybargy (1980)
Cool For Cats (1979)

Squeeze - East Side Story (1981)

Note: this release was originally given to me as an LP, later replaced by a CD.

This album is generally considered to be Squeeze's best and it's hard to argue with that, even though this is probably the most uneven album the band recorded. You've got blue-eyed soul, rockabilly, psychedelic, delicate ballads, pop, ska, and country/western all represented somewhere in these 14 tracks. Rolling Stone magazine, which famously called Difford & Tilbrook new wave's Lennon & McCartney in its review of this album (below), placed this release at #82 in its list of the 100 Best Albums of the Eighties. That's far too low, guys.

Press of the time:

• Smash Hits (9 out of 10): "a little persistence is amply rewarded"
• Trouser Press: "far more ingenious than the average pop band."
• Robert Christgau (B+): "The songs are imaginative, compassionate, and of course hooky"
• Rolling Stone (★★★★): "Squeeze's finest hour"
• Stereo Review: "Plodding"
• Musician: "finely crafted and accessible pop"

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard Top 200: #44
• Billboard Rock: #10
• CashBox: #54
• Rolling Stone: #13

Tracks: It's all good. I've already documented that Tempted is one of my all-time top ten songs. In addition to Tempted, the best tracks are In Quintessence, Piccadilly, Is That Love, Someone Else's Bell, Vanity Fair, and Messed Around. Admittedly, some tracks are an acquired taste: There's No Tomorrow, Heaven, and F-Hole. But even these tracks grow on you after a few listens.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Given this album by my friend Jim, it received many, many plays on my bedroom's turntable. By the time I figured out what the band was doing, I was in love with the album. And then I was a life-long Squeeze fan.

I've been told that Tempted should be listened to three times consecutively at a very loud volume.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Domino (1998)
Some Fantastic Place (1993)
Babylon and On (1987)
Difford & Tilbrook (1984)
Argybargy (1980)
Cool For Cats (1979)

Squeeze - Cool For Cats (1979)

Note: this release was originally purchased as a cassette tape, later replaced by the 1997 remastered CD with bonus tracks.

Awesome, goofy, early New Wave/power pop. This was Squeeze's sophomore effort and it is better than most. When Jools Holland plays piano with the group, they always sound like a pub band to me and that suits this music just fine. Miles ahead of the group's debut, UK Squeeze, but not quite as good as the follow-up, Argybargy.

Press of the time:

• Trouser Press: "Fun stuff"
• Smash Hits (9 out of 10): "Posers will hate this, but you should check it out without delay"
• Stereo Review: "The melodies are nonexistent, the lyrics are hilarious and bitter, and the performances are eerie and deliberately mechanical."
• Robert Christgau (B): "not only does its songcraft surpass that of the band's debut, but it also isn't quite as sophomoric"
• Rolling Stone: "too often offers more tedium than titillation."

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks: Typical Difford & Tilbrook greatness. Top tracks are Slap And Tickle, Up The Junction, Goodbye Girl, and the title track. I'm not a fan of The Knack and Slightly Drunk. When you hear the two bonus tracks, it is easy to understand why they were left off the original album (I'm just guessing the bonus tracks were recorded around the same time as the rest of the album. The useless liner notes are little more than a track listing and band credits.)

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: My high school's mascot was the Black Cat. Sadly, despite my best efforts, the title track of this album would not be considered for the our Class of 1984 class song. An early example of "the man" keeping me down. In this particular instance, "the man" was actually our female senior class sponsors, who flat out rejected my nomination of this tune. Teachers were always stifling my creativity. So what did we end up with as our senior class song? All The Way by Triumph. WTF??

I don't know why I've kept it, but my original cassette is one of the few tapes I still have:

Previously revisited for the blog:
Domino (1998)
Some Fantastic Place (1993)
Babylon and On (1987)
Difford & Tilbrook (1984)
Argybargy (1980)

Difford & Tilbrook (1984)

Note: this release was originally purchased as a LP, later replaced by a CD.

The songwriting duo from Squeeze put out this album after the group split up (temporarily) in the early '80s. Compared to the duo's usual fantastic writing, the songwriting on this release isn't that great, but even the best material couldn't hold up to the slick, flat production given here. However, this came out in the summer of 1984 and I listened to it non-stop, so I'm very familiar with all the tunes and arrangements. Difford & Tilbrook should have been more well known in the US, but this wasn't the release that would gain them fame and recognition. This CD is out of print and very rare (I didn't pay this much, but they are currently selling for $45-50) but you can now download the album from iTunes on the cheap.

Press of the time:

• Billboard : "sleeker, more expansive pop feel"
• Rolling Stone (★★★): "chock full of Tilbrook's typically jaunty pop tunes"
• Smash Hits (6 out of 10): "plenty of rewards."
• Record Mirror (++): "a disappointment"
• Musician: "no more original than its title"

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #55
• Billboard Rock: #25
• CashBox: #58
• Rolling Stone: #33

Tracks: I have to admit that I always listen to the first 8 tracks no matter how bad they may be. The better tracks are Action Speaks Faster, Love's Crashing Waves, On My Mind Tonight, Hope Fell Down while the worse ones are Tears For Attention and The Apple Tree.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: During the summer before starting college, I endured an overnight freshman orientation and I must have listened to this album non-stop on the way there and back, because I can't listen to it without thinking about that hot summer drive. The car I drove didn't have a cassette player, so I had to use my Sony Walkman. I had taken some of my high school graduation money and purchased the smallest Walkman I could find, which at that time was about the size of a cassette case (below). That thing lasted me a long time, but I can't think of listening to anything on it except Difford & Tilbrook and maybe Talk Show by The Go-Go's.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Domino (1998)
Some Fantastic Place (1993)
Babylon and On (1987)
Argybargy (1980)