― JM, Thursday, 1 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
― the pinefox, Tuesday, 20 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
anyway, they were classic in their first incarnation -- after east side story, the quality drops off even faster than post-dance gary numan. what made squeeze pretty interesting is how they were at their best when they had one foot in the pub and the other in the studio, as opposed to being strictly one or the other. which may be why i like the first two (but esp. cool for cats) best -- they sound exactly like a bar-band that's been let loose in a fancy studio, only it works ("slap and tickle," "take me i'm yours," "goodbye girl.")
― Little Big Macher (llamasfur), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 06:11 (twenty years ago) link
― dave q, Tuesday, 21 October 2003 06:16 (twenty years ago) link
― Little Big Macher (llamasfur), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 06:20 (twenty years ago) link
Only briefly. Their mid 80s output hardly consisted of masterpieces, but their, mostly overlooked, 90s output was mostly just as brilliant as the "Cool For Cats"/"Argybargy"/"East Side Story" trilogy
Of course, "hipsters" would accuse them of sounding dated, which is bullshit because they were kind of retro oriented already during the late 70s.
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 13:33 (twenty years ago) link
― Mike Ouderkirk (Mike Ouderkirk), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 17:08 (twenty years ago) link
― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 18:43 (twenty years ago) link
― 10 Roddington Place, Tuesday, 21 October 2003 19:45 (twenty years ago) link
― Felcher (Felcher), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 19:49 (twenty years ago) link
― Ann Sterzinger (Ann Sterzinger), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 21:02 (twenty years ago) link
― Chris Ott (Chris Ott), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 01:52 (twenty years ago) link
― the squeezefox, Sunday, 22 August 2004 23:32 (nineteen years ago) link
― Daniel DiMAGGIO (Daniel DiMAGGIO), Sunday, 22 August 2004 23:56 (nineteen years ago) link
Question:
Are U.K. Squeeze and Squeeze the same?
― jim wentworth (wench), Monday, 23 August 2004 00:17 (nineteen years ago) link
― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Monday, 23 August 2004 05:33 (nineteen years ago) link
― mclaugh (mclaugh), Monday, 23 August 2004 12:04 (nineteen years ago) link
― the bellefox, Thursday, 26 August 2004 09:43 (nineteen years ago) link
are the first couple of albums worth getting?which one *specifically*?
― piscesboy, Thursday, 26 August 2004 10:22 (nineteen years ago) link
― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Sunday, 28 May 2006 22:29 (seventeen years ago) link
― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Sunday, 28 May 2006 22:55 (seventeen years ago) link
― chaki (chaki), Sunday, 28 May 2006 23:43 (seventeen years ago) link
― pleased to mitya (mitya), Monday, 29 May 2006 00:53 (seventeen years ago) link
And the band is CLASSIC of course.
― zeus (zeus), Monday, 29 May 2006 12:32 (seventeen years ago) link
Because we've never met. I have each Squeeze albums until 'Babylon And On', plus 'Ridiculous'. It's a fact, though, that after 'East Side Story' their songwriting quality gets worse.
― zeus (zeus), Monday, 29 May 2006 12:34 (seventeen years ago) link
― bernard snow (sixteen sergeants), Monday, 29 May 2006 12:42 (seventeen years ago) link
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Monday, 29 May 2006 12:49 (seventeen years ago) link
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Monday, 29 May 2006 12:49 (seventeen years ago) link
― chaki (chaki), Monday, 29 May 2006 19:54 (seventeen years ago) link
― neustile (neustile), Monday, 29 May 2006 20:21 (seventeen years ago) link
― Eisbär (llamasfur), Monday, 29 May 2006 20:42 (seventeen years ago) link
― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Monday, 29 May 2006 20:51 (seventeen years ago) link
― s1ocki, Monday, 16 April 2007 13:14 (sixteen years ago) link
I hardly know any of their music. I do like "Up The Junction", though. -- Robin Carmody, Monday, 29 January 2001 01:00 (6 years ago) Bookmark Link
^^^this dude was drinking some Incorrect Juice when he made this post.
"Pulling Mussels From A Shell" is a banger, though.
― Dom Passantino, Wednesday, 16 January 2008 15:36 (sixteen years ago) link
Classic, of course.
― Alex in NYC, Wednesday, 16 January 2008 17:38 (sixteen years ago) link
just heard up the junctionca-lassic
― Meteor Crater (jdchurchill), Thursday, 10 December 2009 23:44 (fourteen years ago) link
up the junction does really interesting things with the idea of time-lapse in narrative within the context of the 3-minute pop-song, no joke
― 102. LJ: British. 5. (acoleuthic), Thursday, 10 December 2009 23:44 (fourteen years ago) link
also yeah it is k-classic although goodbye girl might be even better
― 102. LJ: British. 5. (acoleuthic), Thursday, 10 December 2009 23:45 (fourteen years ago) link
i started screaming tempted in staples a while back. many heads turned
― FACK, Thursday, 10 December 2009 23:51 (fourteen years ago) link
Hmmm, just listening to their BBC Sessions...surprised to find myself really liking the opening handful of tracks, which keep reminding me (in a general way) of a mishmash of Vapors, Vibrators, and maybe early Adam Ant. Less aggressive, for sure, but definitely in that vein.
― dlp9001, Friday, 11 December 2009 03:31 (fourteen years ago) link
I absolutely love Squeeze. Up the Junction is amazing - yes. Also love Annie Get Yr Gun, Goodbye Girl, Another Nail in my Heart all of the big singles really.
― ★彡☆ ★彡 (ENBB), Friday, 11 December 2009 03:34 (fourteen years ago) link
true story: my dad and my uncle gigged with squeeze and lent them their stuff
― 102. LJ: British. 5. (acoleuthic), Friday, 11 December 2009 03:36 (fourteen years ago) link
Slap & Tickle is my jam, Cool For Cats is my album. Love it but never warmed to the others beyond the singles.
― sleeve, Friday, 11 December 2009 03:45 (fourteen years ago) link
Some people turn their nose up at them simply due to the Jools Holland connection, which is a shame. Far less consistent than the likes of XTC, yet their finest material - most of which is non-singles, believe it or not - more than compensates for the intermittent failed pop experiments and stylistic wrong-turns.
― PaulTMA, Monday, 28 December 2009 15:31 (fourteen years ago) link
Heard Up the Junction in the car today and god damn that is one of the best songs ever, no question. <3 <3 <3
― ★彡☆ ★彡 (ENBB), Thursday, 31 December 2009 02:59 (fourteen years ago) link
Classic for the "Hourglass" video alone
― Mr. Snrub, Thursday, 31 December 2009 03:22 (fourteen years ago) link
Itunes tells me i've listened to This Summer 22 times (and never skipped it) in the last two years, which feels like a fairly healthy amount. Such. A. Tune.
― what kind of present your naked body (Upt0eleven), Thursday, 31 December 2009 03:32 (fourteen years ago) link
I'm the only guy in the world who likes Sweets From a Stranger; Difford & Tilbrook don't even like it last I heard. Still some great stuff there, reminds me of high school road trips.
― mojitos (a cocktail) (Cave17Matt), Thursday, 31 December 2009 03:39 (fourteen years ago) link
The non-Squeeze Squeeze album Difford & Tilbrook and Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti are really the low point of their career. Sweets From a Stranger is plenty alright.
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 31 December 2009 04:39 (fourteen years ago) link
Just wrote some thoughts on their debut album here:
Rolling Past Expiry Hard Rock 2010
― xhuxk, Monday, 4 January 2010 15:31 (fourteen years ago) link
New single 'Tommy' is streaming, now:http://soundcloud.com/squeezeofficial-1/01-tommy
― 'Separate Lives', by Phil Collins & Marilyn Manson (PaulTMA), Friday, 9 November 2012 18:05 (eleven years ago) link
My favourite Squeeze story is still the one where Jools Holland wrote 'I am a cunt' on the forehead of a passed-out John Cale during the first album sessions. I noticed THAT story was absent from the recent documentary! Hehehehe!
― The Jupiter 8 (Turrican), Sunday, 11 November 2012 20:34 (eleven years ago) link
Every so often (like tonight) I'll find myself digging out Cosi Fan Tutti Fruitti in an attempt to listen to it with fresh ears and see if I manage to catch anything I've missed or possibly find something in it that I never have before, but I always end up coming to the same conclusion: 'King George Street' and 'Last Time Forever' = keepers, rest of the album = does nothing for me.
I also really am not too keen on the production on Cosi, either - which is strange because Laurie Latham (who produced Cosi) worked on The Stranglers' Aural Sculpture only the year before, and I think that album sounds absolutely fine!
― The Jupiter 8 (Turrican), Thursday, 29 November 2012 04:08 (eleven years ago) link
the solo on "Another Nail in My Heart" is some virtuoso shit. still can't figure it out after three years. amazing song
― flappy bird, Tuesday, 26 April 2016 20:35 (seven years ago) link
Yeah, Tilbrook has always been quite an underrated guitarist. Always love the way he manages 2 pack so many chords in2 his songs, 2.
― WHERE'S JIM!? (Turrican), Tuesday, 26 April 2016 20:51 (seven years ago) link
That one's got some real Dire Straits shit going on.
― everything, Tuesday, 26 April 2016 21:03 (seven years ago) link
What do Squeeze fans think of their first EP, Packet of Three? Is it well known at all? It wasn't on Single 45's and Under presumably because it was on Deptford Fun City not A&M. I can imagine it being dismissed since it's got a punkier, or at least pub-rockier, sound to it, but I quite like it, Night Ride in particular.
― Just noise and screaming and no musical value at all. (Colonel Poo), Tuesday, 26 April 2016 21:17 (seven years ago) link
It's alright, Squeeze were never entirely convincing during their brief 'punk' phase. I'd love to hear more recordings of the band prior to their debut, or what was rejected by John Cale - assuming Cool For Cats was all new stuff. There was a first draft of that album which was rejected by the label, though the (not great) song 'Blood And Guts' was released on a compilation.
― PaulTMA, Tuesday, 26 April 2016 21:28 (seven years ago) link
A new pressing of Packet Of Three was bundled with vinyl copies of A Round And A Bout. The was a live 'Annie Get Your Gun' CD single which may be the one way to get those tracks on CD
― PaulTMA, Tuesday, 26 April 2016 21:30 (seven years ago) link
I think it's funny that Squeeze blocked Bang Bang - which was a bigger hit chart-wise in the UK than many of their better known songs - from absolutely all future singles/hits albums, due to Tilbrook hating it. I went to see them in 2012 and they OPENED with it. I tweeted Difford to ask what made them bring it back and he said he didn't know
― PaulTMA, Tuesday, 26 April 2016 21:32 (seven years ago) link
Eye'm pretty sure that the material on Cool For Cats was drawn from a huge backlog 'o' stuff Difford/Tilbrook had mostly built up prior 2 the first LP. The first LP was mostly written in the studio 2 please John Cale. They had a habit 'o' stockpiling songs and pulling them out years later. Eye think there's one or 2 tracks on later albums which were earlier songs dusted off.
― WHERE'S JIM!? (Turrican), Tuesday, 26 April 2016 21:35 (seven years ago) link
Tilbrook particularly hates 'Get Smart' on that first LP.
― WHERE'S JIM!? (Turrican), Tuesday, 26 April 2016 21:39 (seven years ago) link
whoah I had no idea Cale produced that first record, that's nuts.
― Οὖτις, Tuesday, 26 April 2016 21:40 (seven years ago) link
I like Backtrack. I mean, it's a pub-rock ramalama number which really sounds like it wants to be a Nick Lowe record but which I think suits the scruffy production the best. The other two don't do much for me. This didn't seem obscure back in the day though - Deptford Fun City kept issuing it during their later success so it was a pretty common single. I picked up a copy of it from a guy in my high school class and used to see it second hand a lot.
― everything, Tuesday, 26 April 2016 21:43 (seven years ago) link
Some great stories about the first album sessions. Cale made them bin most of their songs and instructed them to write more on new subjects at his request (Strong In Reason), instrumentals (Wild Sewerage Tickles Brazil) and supposedly he had them cover 'Amazing Grace' and play it for several hours. And he told them to title the album 'Gay Guys'. Seems like he got more hardline after he discovered Jools Holland had written "I am a cunt" on his forehead while he was passed out and failed to notice for a couple of days
― PaulTMA, Tuesday, 26 April 2016 21:44 (seven years ago) link
(on Cale, not himself)
― PaulTMA, Tuesday, 26 April 2016 21:45 (seven years ago) link
Yeah, he wanted 2 de-pop everything and demanded the band wrote songs about muscle men.
― WHERE'S JIM!? (Turrican), Tuesday, 26 April 2016 21:50 (seven years ago) link
My guitar teacher and I are big fans of secret '80s guitar heroes: Elliot Easton, guy from Squeeze, even Neil Giraldo (solo on "hit me with your best shot" is pretty tricky). Dudes who know how to lay low until just the right spot to show off. Maybe James Honeyman-Scot or Mike Campbell count, too, but plenty of people cite them as an influence. Less so the aforementioned.
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 27 April 2016 00:43 (seven years ago) link
how representative is labelled with love because jesus christ that is an awful dirge
― spud called maris (darraghmac), Thursday, 18 May 2017 13:14 (six years ago) link
I don't think its representative at all - I can't think of another song they did quite like it. but I do think it's one of their best songs so take that how you will
― frogbs, Thursday, 18 May 2017 13:23 (six years ago) link
I agree, awful country pastiche, while Tempted is mighty
― Dr X O'Skeleton, Thursday, 18 May 2017 13:45 (six years ago) link
apols for the link to you know where but..
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/event/article-4800220/Squeeze-frontman-Chris-Difford-working-Bryan-Ferry.html
― piscesx, Friday, 25 August 2017 10:57 (six years ago) link
Wow.
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 25 August 2017 13:42 (six years ago) link
Yeah that was one crazy story. Or set of them.
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 25 August 2017 13:45 (six years ago) link
whoa @ John Bentley in the Magma shirt, very nice
― frogbs, Friday, 25 August 2017 13:55 (six years ago) link
Q mag/Marti Pellow was the 0_o bit for me
― piscesx, Friday, 25 August 2017 14:10 (six years ago) link
Sounds like being in the orbit of Bryan Ferry is not for the faint of heart.
― DavidLeeRoth, Friday, 25 August 2017 17:11 (six years ago) link
Rarely seen video now on Youtube. First US single from Some Fantastic Place in 1993:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjkGuY_EVGE&feature=youtu.be
― PaulTMA, Thursday, 13 December 2018 16:49 (five years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjkGuY_EVGE
So they've been on tour over here and last night was pretty sharp -- saw Difford/Tilbrook on their own a couple of years back so it was nice to see them with a full band lineup. My girlfriend's the major fan -- had a great running commentary all night on various deep cuts as a result.
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 13 September 2019 16:20 (four years ago) link
I'm pretty sure this is Glenn TIlbrook singing, but the lyrics are too generic for Google to yield any results.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytMdOWd_WNs
Can anyone ID?
― enochroot, Thursday, 7 May 2020 01:37 (three years ago) link
It's definitely not Squeeze, but he does sound like a sped up Tilbrook.
― Hideous Lump, Thursday, 7 May 2020 05:39 (three years ago) link
That is a song called "Friends Forever" by Greg Hatwell & Marc Lane.
― Tim, Thursday, 7 May 2020 08:23 (three years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gb6vxg_guz8^ Squeeze performing at the recently mentioned My Father's Place as opening act for Blondie.
― AP Chemirocha (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 1 June 2021 03:05 (two years ago) link
That whole first album still seems so out of character for them.
Somehow I was never aware (until today) that Squeeze actually named themselves after the Doug Yule VU album:
As teenagers on the South London scene, Squeeze – setting out their stall early on by facetiously naming themselves after a poorly-received Velvet Underground album
― enochroot, Tuesday, 1 June 2021 13:07 (two years ago) link
stain on my fuckin’ notebook
― calstars, Saturday, 30 April 2022 20:23 (one year ago) link
Pulling Mussels from a God Damn Shell
― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Saturday, 30 April 2022 20:28 (one year ago) link
And now she's two years olderHer mother fucks a soldier
― mig (guess that dreams always end), Saturday, 30 April 2022 21:57 (one year ago) link
Fast live version of Pulling Mussels (1980)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbx_6gavLno
― that's not my post, Monday, 27 March 2023 04:25 (one year ago) link
― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Saturday, April 30, 2022 3:28 PM (one year ago) bookmarkflaglink
otm
― budo jeru, Friday, 23 June 2023 22:41 (nine months ago) link
Alternate universe where the 'suntan lotion' backing vocals are in the studio version
― PaulTMA, Friday, 23 June 2023 22:42 (nine months ago) link
you're going to get that and so much more when openAI puts musenet back online!
― budo jeru, Friday, 23 June 2023 22:43 (nine months ago) link
There is a flexi disc which has them in. Actually sounds terriblehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WkPIG2inPA
― PaulTMA, Friday, 23 June 2023 22:49 (nine months ago) link
It sounds like they were recording in the studio next to The Muppets, and got them in for some impromptu backing vocals.
― enochroot, Saturday, 24 June 2023 01:35 (nine months ago) link
A bit of a dry-run for Squabs on Forty Fab, this.
Tbh not sure what you're both getting at.
― you can see me from westbury white horse, Saturday, 24 June 2023 03:14 (nine months ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdzHoiF8nmU
I think this is my favourite track from Ridiculous (1995), there was a lot of Beatles homage stuff around at that time but I can't think of much that's in this style, it sounds specifically like some of the more eerie tracks from the White Album
― he thinks it's chinese money (soref), Saturday, 24 June 2023 09:04 (nine months ago) link