AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Squeeze

Artist:Squeeze

Song:Tempted

Album:Essential Squeeze

Squeeze is one of the most durable bands of the New Wave era of the early 80s. They were more successful in their native England. The 1981 single Tempted broke them in the US. The leaders of Squeeze are Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook. They wrote all the songs and usually one of the two sang lead. Tempted was an exception. The other original members were Jools Holland on keyboards and Paul Gunn on drums. Gunn was soon replaced by Gilson Lavis and Harry Kakoulli was brought in to play bass. The name Squeeze is a tribute to The Velvet Underground album Squeeze. They played clubs in London. A 1976 EP got them a record deal with A&M. John Cale produced the 1978 album Squeeze. a couple of singles charted in the UK. In North America and Australia, they were called UK Squeeze as there were bands with similar names. The UK was eventually dropped. Squeeze broke through in England when the 1979 single Cool for Cats reached #2 on the British Singles chart. John Bentley replaced Harry Kakoulli in 1979. With the 1980 album Argybargy, Squeeze charted in the US for the first time with the single Another Nail in My Heart getting airplay on college radio. Then Holland left for a solo career and was replaced by former Ace lead singer Paul Carrack. Squeeze's manager Jake Rivera wanted the 1981 album East Side Story to be a double album with each side produced by Elvis Costello, Dave Edmunds, Nick Lowe and Paul McCartney. After that was deemed a logistical nightmare, Costello did produce the album. Costello suggested that Carrack sing lead on Tempted. Difford wrote the lyrics while riding in a taxi to London's Heathrow Airport to go on a US tour. Difford says his ego was bruised at first when Carrack was chosen to sing the song. But he got over that and he likes it now. It reached #49 on the Billboard Hot 100. After touring, Squeeze split up. Difford & Tilbrook released a 1984 album produced by Tony Visconti. Squeeze reunited and then reformed in 1985 for the album Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti. This was the band that recorded Argybargy. Squeeze continued to tour and record until Difford left in 1999 and they split up. This budget comp was released when Universal reissued the entire Squeeze catalog in 2007. Squeeze reformed again in 2007 and they are still active. Difford and Tilbrook are the only original members. Here's the video for Tempted by Squeeze.