Search - Squeeze :: Squeeze - Greatest Hits

Deserving of better

Tim Brough | Springfield, PA United States | 03/08/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"After being all but ignored in the US for most of their career, Squeeze belatedly hit the top 40 with "Hourglass." With a novelty sing-a-long chorus and a comic video, it gave the band their needed MTV exposure...and then it vaporized almost immediately. One other minor hit from "Babylon and On," "853-5937" (annoyingly absent from this collection), and the band's fortunes fell away.



It makes "Greatest Hits" a frustrating experience. While it does nicely supplant the old "45's and Under," it ignores the non A&M material, and their final albums, especially the great "Loving You Tonight" and title track from "Some Fantastic Place." And since for some insane, criminal, reason, the entire classic Squeeze discography is out of print in America, this remains the sole place to get about a third of the songs on this disc.



The Lennon and McCartney comparisons that Difford and Tilbrook frequently garnered are apparent here, starting from the singles off "Argy Bargy," which was where Tilbrook and Difford coalesced their quirks to their classicism. By their best album, "East Side Story," the band was aiming for the edge of the universe, and with Paul Carrack's perfect vocal, "Tempted" became their benchmark. But it also became their anchor, as their desire to make great art and still have mad success began to strain them. "Sweets From A Stranger" was wildly uneven, with the soulful "Black Coffee in Bed" being the most brilliant moment. (And "I've Returned" missing in action here.)



Then it was off to some overbearing solo work and an erratic reunion (the three best songs from "Cosi Fan Tutti Fruitti" are all here). Then they got serious for one last hurrah and made the stunningly poppy "Babylon And On." With the energetic "Trust Me To Open My Mouth" and classic sounding "Footprints," this was what most people probably think of when they refer to a Squeeze sound. "Frank" had some ok moments, but this time it was record company indifference that did the album in.



But for those moments that dot the soundscape of "Greatest Hits," you get some of the finest pop the 80's produced. The gamut from quirky new wave ("Cool For Cats"), country ("Labeled With Love"), soul ("Tempted" and "Black Coffee in Bed") and classic, sophisticated pop ("Footprints," "Up The Junction"). Squeeze were maestros of modern music. While you'll find plenty to like here, they deserve better than this haphazard anthology."

No "dry well" here!

extreme_rice2 | 09/22/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I disagree that the output of Squeeze dried up at the decade mark.On the contrary, I think Squeeze matured to a nice, mellow sound that makes for much more enjoyable listening.How anyone can claim that a band that has changed as many members, yet kept the two principles, can be washed up is beyond me. The band has grown, shrunk, changed faces, and even regrouped with Paul Carrick--all to great effect. I highly recommend this album to anyone who would like an instant collection of the greatest hits of Squeeze--this album will only force the listener to buy more and more albums!As for comparisons to Lennon and McCartney, well, that's grossly unfair. As Squeeze matured, their music did not become anthems of drug abuse, bizarre lifestyles, and lunacy. Their music became a bit more adult and still makes sense."

Missing one song from Singles 45s and Under

Tim Brough | 06/29/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"FYI: Actually this has 11 of the 12 songs from "Singles 45's and Under." Missing is "If I Didn't Love You" from Argy Bargy and substituted from the same "era" is "Labelled With Love" from East Side Story."