Squeeze/Chris Difford/Glenn Tilbrook: Top 50 Songs

Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook, image from warwickartscentre.co.uk

Squeeze/ Chris Difford/ Glenn Tilbrook Top 50 Songs

Squeeze was a new wave band formed in England in 1975. The group have released 15 studio albums from 1978 to 2017. The only two members from every incarnation of the band, however, are singer/songwriters Chris Difford (born 11/4/1954 in Greenwich, United Kingdom) and Glenn Tilbrook (born 8/31/1957 in Woolwich, London, England). When Squeeze temporarily dissolved in 1982, the two recorded as a duo. The group had another long studio hiatus from 1998 to 2010 during which time Difford and Tilbrook each released solo albums. Click here to see other best-of lists from performers and here to see other best-of lists from songwriters and/or producers. Spotify Podcast: Check out Dave’s Music Database podcast: The Best of Squeeze based on this list. It debuts September 14, 2021 at 7pm CST. Tune in every Tuesday at 7pm for a new episode based on the lists at Dave’s Music Database.

Awards (Squeeze): Awards (Chris Difford & Glenn Tilbrook):

Top 50 Songs Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by song’s appearances on best-of lists as well as chart success, sales, radio airplay, streaming, and awards. (Click for codes to singles charts.) DMDB Top 5%: 1. Tempted (1981) DMDB Top 10%: 2. Up the Junction (1979) 3. Hourglass (1987) DMDB Top 20%: 4. Cool for Cats (1979) 5. Black Coffee in Bed (1982) 6. Goodbye Girl (1978) 7. Pulling Mussels from the Shell (1980) 8. Take Me I’m Yours (1978) 9. 853-5937 (1987) 10. Annie Get Your Gun (1982) 11. Labelled with Love (1981) 12. Slap and Tickle (1979) 13. Is That Love? (1981) 14. Another Nail in My Heart (1980) 15. Satisfied (1991) Beyond the DMDB Top 20%: 16. If I Didn’t Love You (1980) 17. Heartbreaking World (1985) 18. Trust Me to Open My Mouth (1987) 19. In Quintessence (1981) 20. Everything in the World (1993) 21. I Won’t Ever Go Drinking Again (?) (1985) 22. Loving You Tonight (1993) 23. Slaughtered, Gutted, and Heartbroken (1989) 24. When the Hangover Strikes (1982) 25. Still (Glenn Tilbrook, 2009) 26. Fat As a Fiddle (Chris Difford, 2008) 27. Last Time Forever (1985) 28. Some Fantastic Place (1993) 29. Separate Beds (1980) 30. Hits of the Year (1985) 31. Interviewing Randy Newman (Glenn Tilbrook, 2001) 32. Like I Did (Chris DIfford, 2010) 33. Squabs on the Forty Five (1981) 34. Hot Shaved Asian Teens (Glenn Tilbrook, 2004) 35. No Show Jones (Chris Difford, 2003) 36. Electric Trains (1995) 37. Goldfish (Chris Difford, 2010) 38. Bang Bang (1978) 39. Pinocchio (1993) 40. To Be a Dad (1998) 41. Temptation for Love (Squeeze with Cathy Dennis, 1995) 42. On My Own I’m Never Bored (Chris Difford, 2008) 43. 1975 (Chris Difford, 2010) 44. Action Speaks Faster (Difford & Tilbrook, 1984) 45. Ice Cream (Glenn Tilbrook, 2014) 46. Vanity Fair (1981) 47. Chat Line Larry (Glenn Tilbrook & Nine Below Zero, 2011) 48. Some Americans (1987) 49. Messed Around (1981) 50. No Place Like Home (1985) Resources and Related Links: DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Squeeze DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Chris Difford DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Glenn Tilbrook Dave’s Music Database: “Best-of Lists for Performers” Dave’s Music Database: “Best-of Lists for Songwriters and/or Producers First posted 12/23/2019; updated 9/10/2021.

Squeeze released Argybargy

Argybargy Squeeze

Released: February 8, 1980 Peak: 71 US, 32 UK, 26 CN Sales (in millions): -- Genre: new wave

Tracks: Song Title (Writers) [time] (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to singles charts. Pulling Mussels from the Shell [3:57] (5/9/80, 44 UK, 9 CL, 2 CO) Another Nail in My Heart [2:56] (1/80, 17 UK, 56 CN, 21 CL, 10 CO) 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) Wrong Side of the Moon (Difford/Holland) [2:23] There at the Top [3:45] Songs written by Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook unless noted otherwise. Total Running Time: 36:38 The Players: Chris Difford (vocals, rhythm guitar) Glenn Tilbrook (vocals, lead guitar) Jools Holland (keyboards) John Bentley (bass) Gilson Lavis (drums)

Rating: 3.944 out of 5.00 (average of 19 ratings) Quotable: ”Packed with perfect, timeless pop that stands not only as the band's crowning achievement, but also as a landmark recording of the era” – Chris Woodstra, All Music Guide Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Album: “Where Cool for Cats marked a great leap over the debut, Argybargy improved at least that far over its own predecessor.” AMG ”Everything on this record is in place” HE as Squeeze “figured out a sound that wasn't just commercial, but tasteful and sophisticated.” JA “Still a distinctly British band, Squeeze compensated with an incredibly catchy batch of songs that, despite the subject matter, spoke the universal language of bright, bouncy, instantly endearing pop.” AMG The clever and catchy songs of Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford had found their full flower and the band's embellishments and propulsion had grown by confident leaps and bounds.In short, the band finds a clear and distinct voice on Argybargy.” HE They ”don't settle for have-fun fall-in-love fear-girls. They pen short stories worthy of early Rupert Holmes, and with a beat…'Tis said McCartneyesque tunefulness is the ticket here, but…Tilbrook sounds more like Ray Davies…at peace with himself and out for big bucks.” RC ”The acute observations of the British working class were even more vivid — none so poignant as the classic Pulling Mussels (From the Shell),” AMG “a memorable soul ballad,” JA “which offers a series of detailed snapshots of the different walks of life on a seaside holiday.” AMG “Opening with the one-two punch of …[that song] and Another Nail In My Heart, this album keeps up an exuberant pace, but never runs out of breath.” HE The latter is "a comparatively up-tempo number with an interesting marimba part and a smooth 50's-style dance beat.” JA If I Didn’t Love You is easily as strong as the two singles; great vocal, great slide guitar solo, and the chorus' jerky rhythm is like a Cars riff gone right.” JA “The rest is just as solid.” JA There’s “the often-overlooked courting-to-breakup story-song Vicky Verky, which nearly matched [the] brilliance” AMG of “Up the Junction” from the Cool for Cats album. "Separate Beds…has the dynamic, layered production you'd expect from a mid-70's Elton John or Paul McCartney record.” JA ”New bassist John Bentley [brings a] subtle, swooping melodicism…he’s brilliant on the MG's-inspired There at the Top); Holland's contribution is a peppy, nicely done 50's dance number (Wrong Side of the Moon); nerdy synth noises are kept to a minimum; and there are inspired hooks and unexpected transitions everywhere.” JA “This album is an essential pop statement, full of verve, invention, humor and surprise.” HE “Argybargy is simply packed with perfect, timeless pop that stands not only as the band's crowning achievement, but also as a landmark recording of the era.” AMG Notes: The U.S. release reordered songs 6-11 as “If I Didn’t Love You,” “Farfisa Beat,” “Here Comes That Feeling,” “Vicky Verky,” “Wrong Side of the Moon,” and “There at the Top.” The 1997 UK re-release added bonus tracks “Funny How It Goes” and “Go.”

Resources and Related Links: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Squeeze AMG All Music Guide review by Chris Woodstra JA John Alroy, Wilson & Alroy’s Record Reviews RC Robert Christgau HE Half.Ebay.com Other Related DMDB Pages: First posted 3/16/2006; last updated 2/7/2022.