Squeeze - Sweets from a Stranger

2007 digitally remastered edition of the album that followed up the band's stellar success with East Side Story. While both songwriters Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford acknowledge it was a forced effort, the sessions were once again produced in part by Elvis Costello and still managed to produce some classics, like the global hit single "Black Coffee In Bed", the energetic "I've Returned" and the torch-like "When The Hangover Strikes". The original album tracks are augmented with the one-off hit single "Annie Get Your Gun", the previously released bonus songs "I Can't Get Up Anymore" and "When Love Goes To Sleep", the b-sides "I'm At Home Tonight", "Elephant Girl", "Spanish Guitar" and rarities "Tomorrow's World (Tilbrook's demo of "His House Her Home"), the demo of "Whenever We Meet" and "Last Call For Love". Universal. Album Description

Sweet...

Not one of their best, but still deserves some accolades for such tracks as the catchy "I Can't Hold On" and the refined "Points Of View". But the albums highlight is the exceptional back-to-back sexy Sunday morning vibe of "When The Hangover Strikes" and "Black Coffee In Bed". Listen closely and you can hear Elvis Costello and Paul Young wailing away in the background. August 16, 2008

An extra star for effort--the bonus tracks make this essential for Squeeze fans

Although hardly the way the band should have gone out (the first time at least), the fifth album by Squeeze has more than enough sweets to keep fans listening. Difford and Tilbrook have gone on record as saying this album may be a bit more "forced" than "East Side Story" but the best songs measure up to the best from that album. The bonus tracks earn this fine if underrated album an extra star based on the quality of the material. The album probably would have been stronger if there was a stronger produced there to help weed out the weaker songs from the album but Phil McDonald does such a fine job of translating the band's sound to the record (or CD in this case) that it's a minor issue.

The pressure was on Difford and Tilbrook to make that break through album. WIth producer Philip McDonald and orchestral arranger Del Newman on board, they came awfully close to making an album that was as good as its predecessor. Paul Carrack was out (he had recorded a solo album and was on tour if I recall correctly)and keyboardist Don Snow was in. While I miss Carrack's soulful vocals, the band does a terrific job with some strong tunes.

This remastered edition sounds comparable to the 1997 remasters done by Glenn Tilbrook and Roger Wake what makes this essential are the bonus tracks. We get a great selection of b-sides, demos and singles that double the length of the album. "Annie Get Your Gun" which was released as a single and SHOULD have been here is included along with its b-side "I'm Home Tonight". The two b-sides from the previous edition "I Can't Get Up Anymore" and "When Love Goes to Sleep" are also included. Some of these tracks have appeared on various compilations but they find their rightful place again with the album that spawned them. "Tomorrow's World" is a demo of His "House Her Home".

I'd strongly recommend this remaster for the bonus tracks. As mentioned the sound is comparable to the 1997 reissue and while it lacks the dynamic range of the original CD release, it sounds pretty good overall.

Recommended.
August 7, 2008

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