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Thursday, May 16, 2019

SQUEEZE!

"EASTSIDE STORY"

On this day in music history: May 15, 1981 - “East Side Story”, the fourth studio album by Squeeze is released. Produced by Roger Bechirian, Elvis Costello and Dave Edmunds, it is recorded at Eden Studios in London from Late 1980 - Early 1981. Originally conceived as a double album with different producers working on one half each, it is pared down to a single album with Bechirian and Costello producing the bulk of it. It is also the bands first album to feature new vocalist and keyboardist Paul Carrack. Expanding on their trademark new wave sound, “East Side” is more musically diverse than their previous work, exploring a more pop oriented side of the band. The musical shift broaden the bands fan base, especially in the US. It spins off three singles including “Tempted” (#49 Pop, #8 Mainstream Rock) and “Is That Love” (#35 UK). The album is remastered and reissued on CD in Europe in 1997 with two additional bonus tracks added. The remastered CD is reissued in 2008 by American Beat Records, but without the bonus tracks. “East Side Story” peaks at number nineteen on the UK album chart and number forty four on the Billboard Top 200.
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Always enjoyed Squeeze with frankly in Difford and Tilbrook and vocals from the now legendary Paul Carrack, some of the best modern songwriting we have ever seen. Tilbrook is also a vastly underrated musician and guitarist. Somehow they never lived up to the success their talent suggested, if that makes sense. I know they have a strong and immensely loyal following but they never really hit the big time that they deserved to. Too clever perhaps for mass appeal, their biggest hit 'Cool For Cats' is throwaway pop. Fun but not with the subtlety or depth of 'Tempted' here
I think my favourite album is 'Some Fantastic Place' their tenth and it contains some truly great songs and features the return on keyboards of Paul Carrack who I really admire also.

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