Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!: Day 345 - Squeeze

Greatest Hits - Squeeze

A&M Records

Released April 1992

UK Chart #6

Notes on Singles

Take Me I'm Yours / Night Nurse

February 1978

UK Chart #19

Take Me I'm Yours was originally going to be the band's first single in 1976 prior to the Packet of Three EP on BTM Records backed by No Disco Kid No but it was shelved prior to release.

Goodbye Girl /Saints Alive

November 1978

UK Chart #63

Cool For Cats / Model

March 1979

UK Chart #2

Up The Junction / It's So Dirty

May 1979

UK Chart #2

Slap and Tickle / All's Well

August 1979

UK Chart #24

Another Nail In My Heart / Pretty Thing

February 1980

UK Chart #17

Pulling Mussels (From The Shell) / What The Butler Saw

May 1980

UK Chart #44

Is That Love / Trust

May 1981

UK Chart #35

Tempted / Yap Yap Yap

July 1981

UK Chart #41

US Chart #49

 Labelled With Love / Squabs of Forty Fab

September 1981

UK Chart #4

Black Coffee In Bed / The Hunt

April 1992

UK Chart #51

US Chart #103

Annie Get Your Gun / Spanish Guitar

October 1982

UK Chart #43

 Last Time Forever / Suites From Five Strangers

June 1985

UK Chart #45

No Place Like Home / The Fortnight Saga

September 1985

UK Chart #83

 King George Street / Loves Crashing Waves (Live)

April 1986

Did Not Chart

Hourglass / Wedding Bells

July 1987

UK Chart #16

US Chart #15

Trust Me To Open My Mouth / Take Me I'm Yours (Live)

September 1987

UK Chart #72

 Footprints / Striking Matches Instant Buff (King Buff)

June 1988

Did Not Chart

If It's Love / Frank's Bag

September 1989

Did Not Chart

Love Circles / Red Light

January 1990

Did Not Chart

Cool For Cats / Trust Me To Open My Mouth / Squabs of Forty Fab

April 1992

UK Chart #62

***********************

Sticking with Deptford, South East London, today's choice of Greatest Hits is Squeeze. 

Their first major compilation was ten years prior to this one and was called Singles 45 and Under that reached #3 on the UK Album Chart.

Ten years later with a few more hit singles under their belt, after a break-up and a reunion came the second major compilation Greatest Hits.

Squeeze were one of those bands that really came to light during the Punk/New Wave scene in 1977. They were not a Punk band at all but would often be found on bills as support or even as headliners at shows that were predominately punk orientated.

Their first EP, Packet of Three is considered a New Wave Classic. Released on Deptford Fun City (the label was financed by Miles Copeland but run by the band, which when they signed to A&M was taken over by Mark Perry) it was produced by John Cale who would also produce their Debut Album once they signed to A&M. 

Deptford at the time also had Mark Perry's Alternative TV and some young band called Dire Straits prior to their becoming one of the biggest bands on the planet (they had also played support to a couple of Punk bands back then!).

When you think of a British band who consistently made great singles in the late 70s through to the 80s then surely Squeeze must be up near the top of that list. I think the most startling thing about a number of the singles is that they didn't reach as high in the charts as you would expect. There are three off the top of my head I would have assumed would be Top 20 hits but infact did not even reach the Top 40: Goodbye Girl - #63, Pulling Mussels (From The Shell) - #44 and Tempted - #41. 

The only absence from this Greatest Hits album is their second single for A&M, Bang Bang which reached #49 on the UK Singles Chart in May 1978.

Squeeze have actually had three lives, 1974-82, 1985-99 and 2007 to the present day. Inbetween the main songwriters, Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford, have played together and embarked on Solo careers.

A couple of years ago they released their first album in sometime with Cradle To The Grave.

Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!