Squeeze - East Side Story

Squeeze produces their best fruit ever!

Squeeze was a progressive pop band that formed out of the burgeoning punk/new wave era of the mid-late 1970s. Though they had limited commercial success in the U.S.A., they did score big with this release and its attendant hit single "Tempted," aided by the temporary addition of ex-Ace lead singer Paul Carrack.
The band's success never quite eclipsed this masterpiece of pop textures, ranging from fast-paced rock'n'roll ("Is That Love?") to blue-eyed soul ("Tempted") to sudden Beatlesque bursts of pop psychedelia ("F-Hole" and "There's No Tomorrow"), rockabilly ("Messed Around", love ballads ("Vanity Fair") and even country-and-western ("Labelled With Love"). This latest contribution was no doubt influenced by the record's flamboyant producer and Liverpool stablemate Elvis Costello, who also contributed vocal injections on the hit single "Tempted." The labyrinthian variation of musical styles also echoes Costello's masterpiece "Imperial Bedroom" which was released around the same time.
There must be something in the water of the Mersey River in Liverpool that produces such enduring musical genious as the Beatles, Elvis Costello, and of course this band, which reached its zenith with this classic pop-punk-progressive popourri. April 17, 2008

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