Squeeze: A Retrospective, 1974-2026

Squeeze A Retrospective: 1974-2026 Squeeze, circa 1985. In front: Chris Difford; in back, left to right: Glenn Tilbrook, Jools Holland, Gilson Lavis, Keith Wilkinson.

Overview: New wave group formed in London, England in 1974. They briefly disbanded in 1982, but reformed in 1985. They split again in 1999, but reunited in 2015. The only members through every incarnation have been the singer/songwriting team of Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook. Over a 50-year recording career with a cast of nearly as many members and a constant revolving door of record companies, Squeeze basically became “a trade name for [the songwriting team of Chris] Difford and [Glenn] Tilbrook [the band’s only constants] plus sidemen.” NM In the beginning, Squeeze established themselves as “one of the most traditional pop bands of the new wave…[providing] one of the links between classic British guitar-pop and post-punk. Inspired heavily by the Beatles and the Kinks,” STE Difford and Tilbrook “were hailed as the heirs to Lennon and McCartney's throne during their heyday in the early '80s. Unlike Lennon and McCartney, the partnership betweeen Difford and Tilbrook was a genuine collaboration, with the former writing the lyrics and the latter providing the music. Squeeze never came close to matching the popularity of the Beatles, but the reason for that is part of their charm. Difford and Tilbrook were wry, subtle songwriters that subscribed to traditional pop songwriting values, but subverted them with literate lyrics and clever musical references. While their native Britain warmed to Squeeze immediately, sending singles like ‘Take Me I’m Yours’ and ‘Up the Junction’ into the Top 10, the band had a difficult time gaining a foothold in the states; they didn't have a Top 40 hit until 1987, nearly a decade after their debut album…Squeeze [still] built a dedicated following…and many of their songs…‘Pulling Mussels (From the Shell),’ ‘Tempted,’ ‘Black Coffee in Bed’ – became pop classics of the new wave era.” STE The Beginning: Squeeze began when “Tilbrook answered an advertisement Difford had placed in a store window, and the pair began writing songs. By the spring of 1974, the duo had recruited…Jools Holland…and…Paul Gunn, and…named themselves Squeeze, after the disowned Velvet Underground album that featured none of the group's original members. Squeeze began playing the thriving pub rock circuit, although their songs were quirkier and more pop-oriented than many of their peers. By 1976, the band…had also signed a contract with Miles Copeland's burgeoning BTM record label and management company. Squeeze had already recorded several tracks for RCA, including two cuts with Muff Winwood, that the label rejected. BTM went bankrupt before it could release the band’s debut single, Take Me I’m Yours, in early 1977 but Squeeze was able to work with John Cale on their debut EP, due to a contract Copeland had arranged with Cale.” STE The Players: John Bentley (b: 79-82) Owen Biddle (b/d: 26) Paul Carrack (k/v – Ace; Squeeze: 80-81, 93; with Carlene Carter, solo) Yolanda Charles (b: 17) Chris Difford (g/v – Squeeze: 74-82, 85-99, 15-17, 26; Difford & Tilbrook: 84; solo: 00-09). Born April 11, 1954. Danica Dora (background vocals: 26) Melvin Duffy (background vocals: 26) Paul Gunn (d: 74-76) Simon Hanson (d: 15-17, 26) Christopher Holland (k: 98-99) Jools Holland (k - Squeeze: 74-80, 85-90; The Millionaires; solo; television host for BBC). Born Julian Holland on January 24, 1958. Bruce Hornsby (session k: 91) Matt Irving (session k: 91) Carol Isaacs (touring k: 91-92) Harry Kakoulli (b: 76-79) Stephen Large (k: 15-17, 26) Gilson Lavis (d – with Chuck Berry; Squeeze: 76-82, 85-92; Jools Holland’s Big Band: 92-). Born June 27, 1951. Andy Metcalfe (k – Soft Boys; Robyn Hitchcock’s Egyptians; Squeeze: 86-88) Andy Newmark (d: 94-95) Steve Nieve (with Elvis Costello & The Attractions; session & touring k – Squeeze: 91-92) Hilaire Penda (b: 98-99) Lucy Shaw (b: 15) Steve Smith (percussion: 17, 26) Don Snow, aka “John Savannah” (k – The Sinceros; Squeeze: 81-82, 91-92, 95-96) Ashley Soan (d – Del Amitri; Squeeze: 98-99) Pete Thomas (d – with Elvis Costello & The Attractions; Squeeze: 92-94) Glenn Tilbrook (v/g – Squeeze: 74-82; 85-99, 15-17, 26; Difford & Tilbrook: 84; solo: 00-09). Born August 31, 1957. Keith Wilkinson (b: 85-96) Kevin Wilkinson (no relation to Keith Wilkinson; d: 95-96) v = vocals; g = guitar; b = bass;k = keyboards; d = drums Links DMDB encyclopedia entry for Squeeze DMDB encyclopedia entry for Chris Difford DMDB encyclopedia entry for Glenn Tilbrook The Top 50 Songs of Squeeze, Chris Difford, and Glenn Tilbrook DMDB review of Squeeze: In Concert (2021) SqueezeOfficial.com (official site) Facebook Wikipedia 45cat.com (singles discography) ChrisDifford.com (Chris Difford’s official solo site) GlennTilbrook.com (Glenn Tilbrook’s official solo site) Spotify Podcast: Check out Dave’s Music Database podcast: The Best of Squeeze. Aired 9/14/2021. Tune in every Tuesday at 7pm for a new episode based on the lists at Dave’s Music Database.

Awards

Studio Albums Hover over an album cover to see its name and release date. Click on the cover to go directly to the album’s snapshot on this page.

Compilations 45 45s and Under (1978-82, released 1982) GH Greatest Hits (1978-1989, released 2001) PC The Piccadilly Collection (1980-1993, released 1996) BS Big Squeeze: The Very Best of (1978-1998, released 2002) ES Essential (released 2007) Under each album snapshot, songs featured on the anthologies are noted. If the song charted, the date of the song’s release or first chart appearance and its chart peaks are noted in parentheses. Click for codes to charts.

Squeeze Squeeze

Released: February 13, 1978 Peak: -- Sales (in millions): -- Genre: new wave Rating: 2.868 out of 5.00 (average of 22 ratings)

Tracks: Sex Master [2:21] Bang Bang [2:04] (5/78, 49 UK, 42 CL, 19 CO) Strong In Reason [4:14] Wild Sewerage Tickles Brazil (Instrumental) [3:49] Out of Control [4:44] Take Me I'm Yours [3:46] (2/3/78, 19 UK, 37 CL, 14 CO) 45, GH, BS, ES The Call [5:17] Model [2:59] (3/9/79, B-side of “Cool for Cats”) BS Remember What [2:51] First Thing Wrong [3:43] Hesitation (Rool Britannia) [3:45] Get Smart [2:06] About the Album: The band entered the studio with producer Cale later that year to work on their debut album, provisionally titled Gay Guys by the group’s producer. Cale had the group throw out most of their standard material, forcing them to write new material; consequently, the record wasn’t necessarily a good representation of the band’s early sound. By the time the album was released in the spring of 1978, the group and A&M had abandoned the record’s working title, and it was released as Squeeze. In America, the band and album had to change their name to UK Squeeze, in order to avoid confusion with an American band called Tight Squeeze; by the end of the year, they had reverted back to Squeeze in the US. Preceded by the hit single ‘Take Me I’m Yours,’ the album became a moderate success.” STE Go to the DMDB page for more about this album.

Cool for Cats Squeeze

Released: March 9, 1979 Peak: -- US, 45 UK Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.06 UK Genre: new wave Rating: 3.759 out of 5.00 (average of 22 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Tracks: Slap & Tickle [4:00] (8/31/79, 24 UK, 27 CL, 14 CO) 45, GH, BS, ES Revue [2:30] Touching Me, Touching You [2:25] It's Not Cricket [2:34] It’s So Dirty [3:10] The Knack [4:32] Hop, Skip & Jump [2:47] Up the Junction [3:10] (5/18/79, 2 UK, 4 C, 4 CO) 45, GH, BS, ES Hard to Find [3:36] Slightly Drunk [2:41] Goodbye Girl [2:57] (3/9/79, 2 UK, 20 CL, 8 CO) 45, GH, BS, ES Cool for Cats [3:29] (11/2/78, 63 UK, 28 CL, 21 CO) 45, GH, BS, ES Also from This Era: All’s Well (8/31/79, B-side of “Slap and Tickle”) BS About the Album: ”The group’s true British breakthrough arrived in 1979, when they released their second album, Cool for Cats. More representative of the band’s sound than its debut, Cool for Cats generated two number two singles in its title track and Up the Junction… Squeeze tried for a seasonal hit that year with Christmas Day, but the single failed to chart. Kakoulli was fired from the band after the release of Cool for Cats and was replaced by John Bentley.” STE Go to the DMDB page for more about this album.

Argybargy Squeeze

Released: February 8, 1980 Peak: 71 US, 32 UK, 26 CN Sales (in millions): -- Genre: new wave Rating: 4.122 out of 5.00 (average of 22 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Tracks: Pulling Mussels from the Shell [3:57] (5/9/80, 44 UK, 9 CL, 2 CO) 45, GH, PC, BS, ES Another Nail in My Heart [2:56] (1/80, 17 UK, 56 CN, 21 CL, 10 CO) 45, GH, BS, ES Separate Beds [3:20] Misadventure [2:54] I Think I’m Go Go [4:16] Farfisa Beat [2:56] (9/80, --) Here Comes That Feeling [2:11] Vicky Verky [3:11] If I Didn’t Love You [4:11] (3/12/80, 21 CL, 30 CO) 45 Wrong Side of the Moon [2:23] There at the Top [3:45] Also from This Era: Christmas Day (11/23/79, --) BS Going Crazy (11/23/79, B-side of “Christmas Day”) BS What the Butler Saw [2:45] (5/9/80, B-side of “Pulling Mussels from the Shell”) PC, BS Library Girl [3:17] ES About the Album: ”Released in the spring of 1980, Argybargy received the strongest reviews of any Squeeze album to date, and produced moderate UK hits with Another Nail in My Heart and Pulling Mussells (From the Shell). Both songs, plus If I Didn’t Love You, became hits on college radio and New Wave clubs in America, increasing the band’s profile considerably; it was the first Squeeze album to chart in America, reaching number 71.” STE Go to the DMDB page for more about this album.

East Side Story Squeeze

Released: May 15, 1981 Peak: 44 US, 19 UK, 29 CN, -- AU Sales (in millions): -- Genre: new wave Rating: 4.229 out of 5.00 (average of 22 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Tracks: In Quintessence [2:55] (6/6/81, 39 AR, 6 CO) Someone Else’s Heart [3:00] Tempted [4:00] (6/20/81, 49 US, 50 CB, 52 HR, 8 AR, 1 CO, 41 UK, 45 CN, 95 AU) 45, GH, PC, BS, ES Piccadilly [3:26] There’s No Tomorrow [3:27] Heaven [3:49] Woman's World [3:42] Is That Love? (2:31] (5/1/81, 39 CL, 16 CO, 35 UK) 45, GH, BS, ES F-Hole (4:41] Labelled With Love (4:44] (9/25/81, 24 CL, 12 CO, 4 UK) 45, GH, BS, ES Someone Else's Bell (3:08] Mumbo Jumbo (3:13] Vanity Fair (3:09] BS sup> Messed Around (2:42] Also from This Era: Trust (/5/1/81, B-side of “Is That Love”) BS Yap, Yap, Yap (7/10/81, B-side of “Tempted”) BS Squabs on Forty Fab [4:47] (9/25/81, B-side of “Labelled with Love”) PC, BS About the Album: ”Jools Holland, whose fascination with boogie-woogie piano was beginning to sit uncomfortably with Difford and Tilbrook’s increasingly sophisticated compositions, left the band in late 1980…he was replaced by Paul Carrack.” STE After Argybargy, critics called Difford and Tilbrook “‘the new Lennon and McCartney,’ and in order to consolidate their growing reputation, Squeeze made an attempt at their own Sgt. Pepper with 1981’s East Side Story…Upon its summer release, [it] was hailed with excellent reviews.” STE Despite being “perhaps Squeeze’s most successful album,” NM “it didn’t become a huge hit as expected…The soulful, Carrack-sung Tempted failed to reach the UK Top 40, but it did become the group’s first charting US single, reaching the Top 50. The country-tinged Labelled with Love became the group’s third, and last, British Top 10 hit that fall. Carrack left at the end of 1981.” STE Go to the DMDB page for more about this album.

Sweets from a Stranger Squeeze

Charted: May 29, 1982 Peak: 32 US, 37 UK, 26 CN Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.1 UK Genre: new wave Rating: 3.540 out of 5.00 (average of 22 ratings)

Tracks: Out of Touch (3:50] I Can’t Hold On (3:34] Points of View (4:12] Stranger Than the Stranger on the Shore (3:19] Onto the Dance Floor (3:37] When the Hangover Strikes (4:29] (7/82, --) Black Coffee in Bed (6:12] (4/9/82, 26 AR, 6 CL, 51 UK) 45, GH, PC, BS, ES I've Returned (2:34] Tongue Like a Knife (4:10] His House, Her Home (3:23] The Very First Dance (3:17] The Elephant Ride (3:22] Also from This Era: Elephant Girl [3:37] (7/82, B-side of “When the Hangover Strikes”) PC, BS Last Call for Love [3:26] ES About the Album: ”Ever since the release of their debut, Squeeze had been touring and recording without break, and signs of weariness were evident on Sweets from a Stranger. Though it was the group’s highest-charting US album, reaching number 32 shortly after its spring release, [it] was uneven. In the UK, it was a considerable disappointment, reaching number 37, with its single Black Coffee in Bed stalling at number 51.” STE Go to the DMDB page for more about this album.

45s and Under Squeeze

Released: October 22, 1982 Recorded: 1978-1982 Peak: 47 US, 3 UK, 76 AU Sales (in millions): 1.0 US, 0.3 UK, 1.3 world (includes US and UK) Genre: new wave Rating: 4.412 out of 5.00 (average of 22 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Tracks: (1) Take Me I’m Yours (2) Goodbye Girl (3) Cool for Cats (4) Up the Junction (5) Slap and Tickle (6) Another Nail in My Heart (7) Pulling Mussels from the Shell (8) Labelled with Love * (9) If I Didn’t Love You * (10) Is That Love (11) Tempted (12) Black Coffee in Bed (13) Annie Get Your Gun Total Running Time: 44:00 About the Album: ”Difford and Tilbrook decided to disband Squeeze late in 1982, releasing the compilation Singles – 45s and Under, shortly after its announcement. Ironically, Singles peaked at number three on the British charts; it would later go platinum in the US.” STE * “Labelled with Love” appeared on the UK version while “If I Didn’t Love You” was on the US version. Tracks Not on Previously Noted Albums: Annie Get Your Gun [3:22] (10/8/82, 40 AR, 12 CL, 43 UK, 52 AU) 45, GH, BS, ES

Difford & Tilbrook Difford & Tilbrook

Released: June 1984 Charted: July 14, 1984 Peak: 55 US, 47 UK Genre: new wave Rating: 3.261 out of 5.00 (average of 8 ratings)

Tracks: Action Speaks Faster (4:50] Love’s Crashing Waves (3:08] (6/84, 32 CO, 57 UK) PC Picking Up the Pieces (3:18] On My Mind Tonight (4:08] Man for All Seasons (2:35] Hope Fell Down (4:22] (9/84, --) PC Wagon Train (3:36] You Can’t Hurt the Girl (3:01] Tears for Attention (4:50] The Apple Tree (4:24] Also from This Era: Within These Walls [2:59] (6/84, B-side of “Love’s Crashing Waves”) PC Introvert BS About the Album: ”Difford and Tilbrook had no intention of ending their collaboration — they simply wanted to pursue other projects. In particular, they saw themselves as songwriters in the classic tradition of Tin Pan Alley or the Brill Building, and began writing for Helen Shapiro, Paul Young, Billy Bremner and Jools Holland. They also worked on Labelled with Love, a musical based on their songs, which played briefly in Deptford, England early in 1983. The duo released an eponymous album in the summer of 1984, showcasing a sophisticated new sound, as well as long, flowing haircuts and coats. The record was a moderate success, but the duo already were thinking of re-forming Squeeze.” STE Go to the DMDB page for more about this album.

Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti Squeeze

Released: August 1985 Charted: September 7, 1985 Peak: 57 US, 31 UK, -- CN, 97 AU Genre: new wave Rating: 3.666 out of 5.00 (average of 19 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Tracks: Big Beng (4:02] By Your Side (4:24] King George Street (3:48] (4/86, --) GH I Learnt How to Pray (4:47] Last Time Forever (6:24] (6/15/85, 28 CO, 45 UK) GH, PC, BS, ES No Place Like Home [4:26] (9/85, 83 UK) GH Heartbreaking World [5:09] (10/85, --) Hits of the Year [3:03] (10/5/85, 39 AR, 31 CO) Break My Heart [4:51] I Won’t Ever Go Drinking Again (?) [5:05] Also from This Era: Suites from Five Strangers (6/85, B-side of “Last Time Forever”) BS The Fortnight Saga (9/85, B-side of “No Place Like Home”) BS About the Album: “Early in 1985, the band reunited to play a charity gig, which prompted Difford, Tilbrook, Holland, and Lavis (who had been driving a cab) to…re-form, adding bassist Keith Wilkinson. Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti was released in the fall of 1985 to positive reviews and moderately successful sales.” STE Go to the DMDB page for more about this album.

Babylon and On Squeeze

Released: September 15, 1987 Peak: 36 US, 14 UK, 95 CN, 84 AU Sales (in millions): -- Genre: new wave Rating: 3.616 out of 5.00 (average of 19 ratings)

Tracks: Hourglass [3:16] (7/87, 15 US, 13 RR, 45 AC, 22 AR, 3 CO, 16 UK, 23 CN, 90 AU) GH, PC, BS, ES Footprints [3:49] (6/88, --) GH Tough Love [3:07] The Prisoner [4:06] 853-5937 [3:16] (12/19/87, 32 US, 27 RR, 37 AR, 6 CO, 91 UK, 50 CN) In Today’s Room [3:28] Trust Me to Open My Mouth [3:12] (9/87, 50 AR, 25 CO, 72 UK) GH Striking Matches [3:02] Cigarette of a Single Man [3:29] Who Are You? [3:30] The Waiting Game [3:06] (11/87, --) Some Americans [4:40] Also from This Era: Wedding Bells (7/87, B-side of “Hourglass”) BS About the Album: “Babylon and On followed in the fall of 1987, and the album became a surprise hit, reaching number 14 in the UK generating their biggest American hits – Hourglass, which reached number 15 on the strength of MTV’s heavy rotation of the song’s inventive video, and the Top 40 853-5937.” STE Go to the DMDB page for more about this album.

Frank Squeeze

Released: August 24, 1989 Peak: 113 US, 58 UK Sales (in millions): -- Genre: new wave Rating: 3.402 out of 5.00 (average of 21 ratings)

Tracks: Frank [0:15] If It’s Love [4:02] (9/89, 7 MR) GH, PC Peyton Place [4:08] Rose, I Said [3:36] Slaughtered, Gutted and Heartbroken [4:37] This Could Be the Last Time [3:49] She Doesn’t Have to Shave [3:27] Love Circles [5:34] (1/15/90, --) GH Melody Motel [3:51] Can of Worms [4:47] Dr. Jazz [4:04] Is It Too Late [3:12] Also from This Era: Who’s That? (1/15/90, B-side of “Love Circles”) BS About the Album: “Squeeze’s renewed success wasn’t long-lasting. The group’s next album, Frank, was released in the fall of 1989 and it wasn’t given much a promotional push by A&M. Consequently, it flopped in both the US and the UK,” STE although If It’s Love was a top 10 modern rock hit in the U.S. “During the supporting tour…A&M dropped Squeeze, leaving the band in the cold. Following the tour, Holland left the band” STE for a second time. Go to the DMDB page for more about this album.

Play Squeeze

Released: July 23, 1991 Peak: -- US, 41 UK Sales (in millions): -- Genre: new wave Rating: 3.484 out of 5.00 (average of 20 ratings)

Tracks: Satisfied (5:10] (8/3/91, 3 MR, 47 CN) Crying in My Sleep (5:03] (10/26/91, 14 MR) Letting Go (5:01] The Day I Get Home (4:50] The Truth (4:12] House of Love (3:23] Cupid’s Toy (4:31] Gone to the Dogs (3:54] Walk a Straight Line (3:50] Sunday Street [4:16] (7/91, --) Wicked and Cruel (4:14] There Is a Voice (4:01] Also from This Era: Maidstone (7/91, B-side of “Satisfied”) BS About the Album: “In 1991, the band signed with Reprise Records…The resulting album, Play, was released in the fall of 1991 to little attention, partially because it received no support from the label.” STE It did land one song, Satisfied, at #3 on the U.S. modern rock charts. Go to the DMDB page for more about this album.

Greatest Hits Squeeze

Released: September 18, 2001 Recorded: 1978-1989 Peak: -- US, 6 UK Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.3 UK Genre: new wave Rating: 4.339 out of 5.00 (average of 18 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Tracks: (1) Take Me I’m Yours (2) Goodbye Girl (3) Cool for Cats (4) Up the Junction (5) Slap and Tickle (6) Another Nail in My Heart (7) Pulling Mussels from the Shell (8) Tempted (9) Is That Love (10) Labelled with Love (11) Black Coffee in Bed (12) Annie Get Your Gun (13) King George Street (14) Last Time Forever (15) No Place Like Home (16) Hourglass (17) Trust Me to Open My Mouth (18) Footprints (19) If It’s Love (20) Love Circles About the Album: The first 12 cuts were also on the UK edition of 45s and Under, although in a slightly different running order. The other eight cuts are from the three studio albums Squeeze made after reuniting in 1985. It includes the band’s biggest U.S. hit, “Hourglass.”

Some Fantastic Place Squeeze

Released: September 13, 1993 Peak: 182 US, 26 UK, 65 CN Sales (in millions): -- Genre: new wave Rating: 3.530 out of 5.00 (average of 19 ratings)

Tracks: Everything in the World [4:30] (9/18/93, 9 MR) PC Some Fantastic Place [4:32] (8/30/93, 73 UK) PC, BS, ES Third Rail [3:39] (7/12/93, 39 UK) BS Loving You Tonight [4:49] (10/18/93, --) PC, ES It’s Over [3:45] (2/28/94, 89 UK) Cold Shoulder [5:48] Talk to Him [3:46] Jolly Comes Home [5:00] Images of Loving [4:10] True Colours (The Storm) [3:39] Pinocchio [4:42] Also from This Era: Discipline (8/30/93, B-side of “Some Fantastic Place”) BS About the Album: “Squeeze resigned with A&M Records in early 1993 and recorded their new album, Some Fantastic Place, with…Paul Carrack [returning] on keyboards…The album became a moderate British hit, debuting at number 26; it was ignored in the US” STE although the Carrack-led Loving You Tonight was one of the most pop savvy songs they’d ever done and Everything in the World was a top ten modern rock hit in the U.S. Go to the DMDB page for more about this album.

The Piccadilly Collection Squeeze

Released: August 20, 1996 Recorded: 1980-1993 Peak: -- Sales (in millions): -- Genre: new wave Rating: 3.514 out of 5.00 (average of 11 ratings)

Tracks: (1) Everything in the World (2) Some Fantastic Place (3) Loving You Tonight (4) If It’s Love (5) Within These Walls (5) What the Butler Saw (6) Squabs on the Forty Fab (7) Pulling Mussels from the Shell (8) Hourglass (9) Tempted (10) Black Coffee in Bed (11) Elephant Girl (12) Spanish Girl (13) Annie Get Your Gun (14) Love’s Crashing Waves (15) Hope Fell Down (16) This Could Be the Last Time (17) Last Time Forever About the Album: This compilation doesn’t know what it wants to be. It isn’t a straight retrospective, as it omits some essential Squeeze songs (“Take Me I’m Yours,” “Cool for Cats,” “Up the Junction”). In addition, it includes three songs from the most recent Some Fantastic Place album, but nothing from the Play album right before it. The collection gathers a handful of B-sides but isn’t bold enough to be a full-fledged archival package – which would be a welcome addition to the Squeeze catalog. It does also include a few songs from the 1984 collaboration between Difford & Tilbrook that essentially serves as the lost Squeeze album. Tracks Not on Previously Noted Albums: Spanish Guitar [2:44] (10/8/82, B-side of “Annie Get Your Gun”) PC, BS

Ridiculous Squeeze

Released: November 13, 1995 Peak: -- US, 50 UK Sales (in millions): -- Genre: new wave Rating: 3.355 out of 5.00 (average of 21 ratings)

Tracks: Electric Trains [4:03] (10/30/95, 44 UK) BS Heaven Knows [4:34] (5/27/96, 27 UK) BS Grouch of the Day [3:27] Walk Away [4:43] This Summer [3:39] (8/21/95, 32 UK) BS, ES Got to Me (Wilkinson) [3:45] Long Face [4:31] I Want You [4:03] Daphne [3:44] Lost for Words [1:59] Great Escape [3:27] Temptation for Love [3:37] Sound Asleep [4:38] Fingertips [5:40] Also from This Era: Periscope (8/21/95, B-side of “This Summer”) BS About the Album: Squeeze’s 1995 album “Ridiculous became a moderate hit, generating the hits This Summer and Electric Trains.” STE Go to the DMDB page for more about this album.

Domino Squeeze

Released: November 9, 1998 Peak: -- US, -- UK Sales (in millions): -- Genre: new wave Rating: 2.977 out of 5.00 (average of 19 ratings)

Tracks: Play On (3:39] Bonkers (3:43] What’s Wrong with This Picture? (3:24] Domino (4:34] BS To Be a Dad (4:10] Donkey Talk (4:55] Sleeping with a Friend (4:27] Without You Here (3:28] ES In the Morning (3:34] A Moving Story (3:11] Little King (3:33] Short Break (4:20] About the Album: The band’s seemingly last hurrah was with “Domino, in November of 1998.” STE Difford and Tilbrook were the only members left from any of the previous incarnations of Squeeze; then “Chris Difford effectively broke up the band in 1999 with his announcement that he was taking a hiatus from working with Tilbrook.” NM Both would release solo albums over the next 15+ years before Squeeze reunited again for an album in 2015. Go to the DMDB page for more about this album.

Big Squeeze: The Very Best of Squeeze

Released: June 2002 Recorded: 1978-1998 Peak: -- US, 8 UK Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.1 UK Genre: new wave Rating: 3.505 out of 5.00 (average of 13 ratings)

Tracks, Disc 1: (1) (1) Take Me I’m Yours (2) Goodbye Girl (3) Cool for Cats (4) Up the Junction (5) Slap and Tickle (6) Another Nail in My Heart (7) Pulling Mussels from the Shell (8) Is That Love (9) Tempted (10) Black Coffee in Bed (11) Annie Get Your Gun (12) Labelled with Love (13) Last Time Forever (14) Hourglass (15) Some Fantastic Place (16) Third Rail (17) This Summer (18) Electric Trains (19) Heaven Knows (20) Domino Tracks, Disc 2: (1) Suites from Five Strangers (2) Squabs on Forty Fab (3) Model (4) Spanish Guitar (5) Elephant Girl (6) Trust (7) Yap, Yap, Yap (8) The Fortnight Saga (9) Wedding Bells (10) What the Butler Saw (11) Going Crazy (12) Introvert (13) Who’s That? (14) Vanity Fair (15) Christmas Day (16) Maidstone (17) Discipline (18) Periscope (19) All’s Well About the Album: The Piccadilly Collection tried to be both a greatest hits and B-sides collection and mangled both efforts by trying to squish it all onto one disc. Big Squeeze fixes that problem by devoting one disc the hits and a second to B-sides.

Essential Squeeze

Released: May 2007 Recorded: 1978-1998 Peak: -- US, 25 UK Sales (in millions): -- Genre: new wave Rating: 3.319 out of 5.00 (average of 11 ratings)

Tracks: (1) Take Me I’m Yours (2) Goodbye Girl (3) Cool for Cats (4) Up the Junction (5) Slap and Tickle (6) Another Nail in My Heart (7) Pulling Mussels from the Shell (8) Is That Love (9) Tempted (10) Labelled with Love (11) Black Coffee in Bed (12) Annie Get Your Gun (13) Last Time Forever (14) Hourglass (15) Some Fantastic Place (16) Loving you Tonight (17) This Summer (18) Without You Here (19) Library Girl (20) Last Call for Love About the Album: As a career overview encapsulating 20 years on one disc, this isn’t a bad collection. It does skip over the Frank and Play albums but includes the requisite early songs which were also featured on 45s and Under and Greatest Hits. There are two previously unreleased cuts from the early ‘80s.

Cradle to the Grave Squeeze

Released: October 2, 2015 Peak: -- US, 12 UK Sales (in millions): -- Genre: new wave Rating: 3.267 out of 5.00 (average of 18 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Tracks: Cradle to the Grave [3:20] (12/7/15, --) Nirvana [3:55] (3/17/16, --) Beautiful Game [3:25] Happy Days [4:36] (8/2/15, --) Open [3:46] Only 15 [3:11] Top of the Form [3:05] Sunny [2:59] Haywire [3:52] Honeytrap [3:30] Everything [4:06] Snap, Crackle and Pop [4:52] About the Album: After 17 years of separately releasing solo albums, Difford & Tilbrook came back together under the Squeeze banner, although they were the only former members of the group involved.

The Knowledge Squeeze

Released: October 13, 2017 Peak: -- US, 25 UK Sales (in millions): -- Genre: new wave Rating: 3.339 out of 5.00 (average of 19 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Tracks: Innocence in Paradise [5:09] (10/5/17, --) Patchouli [3:45] A & E [3:39] Every Story [3:32] Rough Ride [4:18] Departure Lounge [5:14] Final Scre [3:57] Please Be Upstanding [3:59] The Ones [3:47] Albatross [2:10] Elmers End [2:59] Two Forks [4:29] About the Album: Difford & Tilbrook came back together in 2015 for Cradle to the Grave, 17 years after their previous studio album. Just two years later, they were back with The Knowledge. Stephen Large and Simon Hanson, who debuted on Cradle, were back again.

Trixies Squeeze

Released: March 6, 2026 Peak: -- US, 15 UK Sales (in millions): -- Genre: new wave Rating: 2.495 out of 5.00 (average of 10 ratings)

Tracks: What More Can I Say You Get the Feeling (1/20/26, --) The Place We Call Mars Hell on Earth The Dancer Good Riddance Don’t Go Out in the Dark Why Don’t You (3/6/26, --) Anything But Me It’s Over The Jaguars Trixies, Pt. 1 (11/13/25, --) Trixies, Pt. 2 (12/5/25, --) About the Album: After another extended gap (this time nine years), Difford & Tilbrook came together once again for Trixies, an album that featured material written by them in 1974 when they were 19 and 16 respectively. Simon Hanson, Stephen Large, and Steve Smith all return as players, having all been on 2017’s The Knowledge. Hanson and Large were also in the band for 2015’s Cradle to the Grave.

Resources/References: STE AllMusic.com biography of Squeeze by Stephen Thomas Erlewine NM NationMaster.com Related DMDB Links: First posted 3/12/2011; last updated 4/8/2026.