Failed and failing relationships are a common theme on Some Fantastic Place, though Difford and Tilbrook’s often combustive connection was mediated by their decision to write together in the same space – previously they had worked on songs separately.

A consummate pop record, with Difford and chief tunesmith Tilbrook firing on all cylinders, the diverse East Side Story featured enduring fan-favorites (and best Squeeze songs) including the sublime, infidelity-related radio hit “ Tempted” and the exuberant soul-pop of ‘In Quintessence,” while the country-flavored “Labelled With Love” swept up to No.4 on the UK singles chart. a b c Sonmez-Ebril, Simru (31 July 2020). "Artist Profile: Squeeze". Wers 88.9fm . Retrieved 4 January 2021. Thomson, Graeme (2006). Complicated Shadows: The Life and Music of Elvis Costello. Canongate U.S. ISBN 978-1841957968.

Reviews

The craftsmanship is scrupulous as ever. Q magazine’s Phil Sutcliffe called it right when he praised the “choice of detail, choice of words, the melody and sound that exactly catch the mood”. In 1982 Squeeze had disbanded. The chemistry between Tilbrook and Difford could not be as easily dismissed however, and the ensuing record they made together in 1984 has become the “lost” Squeeze album for many fans. But the band couldn’t lay dormant for long, as Squeeze reformed the next year for ‘Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti’, along with Holland, Lavis and Keith Wilkinson, Squeeze’s longest serving bass player. Over the next 14 years Difford and Tilbrook remained the only constant element as Squeeze continued to receive critical acclaim, release albums and tour, with the likes of ‘Hourglass’ becoming their biggest ever hit in the USA. I’m not strapped to the song emotionally but it was a great live number and sums up being on the road and having fun. It’s a comfortable pair of jeans as a song."

One key to their success is that the songwriting is pretty high quality. "Tempted" is the most famous song here, but there are plenty of catchy songs. Larkin, Colin (2011). "Squeeze". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th conciseed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8. East Side Story is the fourth studio album by new wave group Squeeze. The album peaked at number 19 in the UK Albums Chart, spending 26 weeks in the listing. [4] After a brief hiatus, during which Difford and Tilbrook issued a solo album imaginatively titled Difford & Tilbrook, Squeeze returned with Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti, probably as well known for the sleeve (tea cosy, fan, dessert) as for the songs. In the middle section Gilson does a fantastic fill, which no one else would have thought of. He stamped himself on it, but not in a way that’s intrusive.Chris Difford was inspired to write the song after he saw his then-wife Cindy’s wedding ring by the soap in the shower. A&M released the self-explanatory Singles: 45s And Under compilation to coincide with the band’s parting of the ways and – ironically – it went platinum on both sides of the Atlantic. As it turned out, the group’s split proved to be short-lived; after Difford and Tilbrook reconvened for 1984’s Difford & Tilbrook, they reformed Squeeze with Lavis, a returning Jools Holland, and Keith Wilkinson replacing John Bentley on bass.

This line-up recorded 1985’s Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti – distinguished by the vivid, childhood-related “ King George Street” – and September ’87’s solid Babylon And On, which rose to No.14 on the UK Top 40 and yielded Squeeze’s two biggest US Top 40 hits courtesy of ‘853-5937’ and “ Hourglass”: the latter promoted by a striking, optical-illusion-filled video directed by comedian Adrian Edmondson. PC it isn’t, but then good writing, whatever the medium, is about reflection, not correction. ARGYBARGY, 1980 Squeeze albums – Argybargy Consequently, it makes for a satisfying album, “stuffed with melodic treats and lyrical wit, for consumption by an audience significantly smaller than they deserve”, according to Vox. CD: I know what you mean. It makes me think of hummus and olives. It’s actually played on a banjo and when Glenn first played that part to me I was appalled. I used to run a mile when Glenn brought out these weird instruments but now I realise it was inspired. What other bands were using a banjo? a b c d MacInnis, Craig (5 August 1989). "The Top 100 Albums of the '80s". Toronto Star. Toronto, Ont.: Torstar Syndication Services, a Division of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. p.G1. ISSN 0319-0781.I wouldn't have believed my least favorite decade for pop music of the 20th century, the 1980s, would have produced an album like this. It's catchy from start to finish, long (14 songs!), varied, and entirely authored by the same two co-writers. Though it's not a dead ringer for any of these, it reminds me of the The Beatles' mid-to-late-'60s albums as well as The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society and Odessey and Oracle, in terms of impeccable English pop songcraft. Squeeze were, he wrote, “building a career as substantial and durable as, say, Randy Newman”. SOME FANTASTIC PLACE, 1993 Squeeze albums – Some Fantastic Place