Retro Spins: Squeeze - Sweets From A Stranger

 

Despite their iconic staple hit, Tempted, Squeeze wasn't burning up the charts with it back when it was initially released in 1981. In truth, the song would only be considered a minor hit, peaking at forty-nine on the Billboard Hot 100, though it would be their first single to chart. Unfortunately, for Paul Carrack, who joined the group that year, and was asked to sing it by producer Elvis Costello, since he didn't write the track, royalties were non-existent. Carrack would decide to forge out on his own solo career shortly after its release and be replaced by Don Snow.

This revised lineup, consisting of founding members Glen Tilbrook, Chris Difford, and Gilson Lavis, along with John Bentley, who joined in 1980, and newest member Don Snow, headed to the studio to record and release 1982's Sweets From A Stranger. It would be their third for the decade, and their fifth overall. Sadly, it would also be a massive critical flop.

Well, that's a fun note to start this one off on.

If it's a weaker album, I couldn't really tell. To me, it just sounds like more of the same. I'd call it average at best. Enjoyable to listen to once, but nothing I'm necessarily going to come back to.

Mind you, I say this while also noting that there were some standout tracks. These included I Can't Hold On, When The Hangover Strikes, I've Returned, Tongue Like A Knife, and His House Her Home. It almost feels like the band was going for a late era Beatles vibe. Layers of instrumentation and harmony.

Compounded by negative reviews, the stresses of touring, and conflict between band members led Difford and Tilbrook to break up the band later that year. However, this would be after releasing a final single, Annie Get Your Gun.

Though you might think the story ends there, the lineup of Chris Difford, Glenn Tilbrook, Jools Holland, Gilson Lavis, and John Bentley would reunite in 1985 for a one-off charity gig. This would lead the band to reform, and though there would be changes, 

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