Regardless of whether I liked them anymore or not, they were still damn talented. Jools Holland's piano playing always amazed me. Difford and Tilbrook wrote some amazing songs. And those other guys did...other talented-like things. In between the breakup of Squeeze and the reunion of Squeeze, Difford and Tilbrook released an album together, the highlight of which was a wonderful tune called Love's Crashing Wave's.
At one point, I pined for the days when Cool for Cats was considered exciting and new. When new wave finally crashed and burned, that was the one album I went to (ok, that and the 12 inch single of Stephen "Tin Tin" Duffy's Kiss Me) when I wanted to sulk in my room and relive the glory days of night clubs, spiked hair and torn, black stockings.
So it was with trepidation today that I watched VH1 take their turn with Squeeze. And I was mostly relieved when the plans fell through and the band did not go through with the reunion. They probably would have played one of their later songs, anyhow. You know it wouldn't have been Cool for Cats or Up the Junction, and that's how I want to remember them.
The 80's nostalgia crap is getting to me. Someone stop me before I hunt down all the members of Aztec Camera and force them to play the entire track listing of High Land, Hard Rain. In my living room.
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
Excellent recap of the sights, smells adn sounds of that time, Michele. I loved Squeeze and fell off at about the same time you did, too. I liked their '90s comeback, though, also, and go back into them. "Pulling Mussles From the Shell" is one of my all-time favorite songs. It's hard to beat that Singles collection.
I hear Jools has been a big celebrity in the UK for years: figures, I always thought he was a dip.
2 - ski
"Singles" is truly one of the best examples of what a greatest hits compilation should be. I brought a lot of music to Baghdad, but this one has stayed in my Discman for a long time. A great thing about Squeeze, outside of their pop instincts and catchy tunes, was that they had fun. I have a cassette tape of a live broadcast (WBCN, 1985, Orpheum(?)Boston) that shows them reunited and having a great time, and a show closing "Goodbye Girl" that shows their musicianship off at its best. Don't forget the way Difford and Tilbrook traded off vocals, a great way to change the song up.
As for the '80's, a lot of great music was made, it got lost in all the crap that was put out, and to look at the "Hits" compilations, you'd think only 15 bands were out in that time.
So get up and go buy that Aztec Camera album, while you're at it, get some Smithereens, Del Fuegos, and English Beat while you are at it.
3 - Eric Olsen
Thanks Ski, excellent points, and take care of yourself in Baghdad, dude.