Track Listing

1. Take Me I'm Yours
2. Goodbye Girl
3. Cool For Cats
4. Up The Junction
5. Slap And Tickle
6. Another Nail In My Heart
7. Pulling Mussels From A Shell
8. If I Didn't love you
9. Is That Love
10. Tempted
11. Black Coffee In Bed
12. Annie Get Your Gun

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #65235 in Music
• Released on: 1995-12-11
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Original recording remastered, Import

Amazon.co.uk Review
Squeeze wanted to be the next Beatles and you can't fault them for trying. Their distinctive Brit-pop stylings often came close; with songwriters Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook marrying supremely catchy melodies to equally adept wordplay just like, well, the Beatles. Singles: 45s & Under gathers a dozen of their most well-loved classics into one truly five-star collection. It represents the prime of their first five years and it's all, well, prime--from Difford croaking out "Cool for Cats" to Tilbrook chiming "Another Nail for My Heart" to former Ace vocalist Paul Carrack crooning the delightful "Tempted". --Michael Ruby

CD Description
True to its title, this collection of a dozen songs presentthe stunning array of Squeeze's singles during the group's first run, from 1978 to 1982. The five albums which these songs also called home are no less dazzling and represent a genuinely impressive series of peaks (anyone unfamiliar with their long players would do well to start with ARGY BARGY andEAST SIDE STORY). Squeeze had a more substantial string of hits in their British homeland than in America, but they rose admirably to the challenge of conquering the States. On SINGLES, every song is saturated with compelling and never-cliched hooks. In addition, songwriters Tilbrook and Difford offer some of the most literary wordplay ever to grace the popsong format.

Customer Reviews

Great collection, But....
A collection of fabulous songs on here but unfortunately for me this CD is slightly marred by the inclusion of US versions of Slap & Tickle, and Goodbye Girl in place of their UK counterparts. These versions are, imo, inferior; Slap & Tickle woefully so, where the sharp edged, synth driven production has been toned down considerably, and in Goodbye Girl the lyrics have been adapted slightly to help American listeners identify with the music (Jersey has been replaced by Boston, etc).

'tis a shame - hence only 4 stars here.

Little stories in song
Squeeze had its roots in the same British lyricism and wit as 1970s Elvis Costello. These charming songs succeed through their deft characterizations, clever observations and catchy tunes. There's also plenty of stylistic variety, from the plaintive rock of their second hit Goodbye Girl with its chugging beat through the punky pop of Cool For Cats and their first chart song Take Me I'm Yours with its gritty guitars to the out-and-out country of Labelled With Love.

Further highlights are the melodious, mid-tempo ballad Up The Junction, a stunning break-up song with striking imagery and impressive turns of phrase, and Another Nail In My Heart which has a sing-along chorus. Other great tracks include Tempted and Pulling Mussels From The Shell. This is fine pop music, quirky and absorbing, especially when Squeeze goes into proper story-telling mood as on the beautiful ballad Labelled With Love.

The lyrics are peculiarly British but the songs have universal appeal. Those who like the music of legendary Stiff Records artists like Ian Dury and the Blockheads, Kirsty MacColl and Nick Lowe will love this album which showcases their work from 1978 to 1982. Squeeze emerged during the punk era but far outlived it. An appealing story-telling style blended with musical versatility to create these truly timeless sounds.

A wonderful cd for anyone who is a Squeeze fan
What a happy cd! There are a lot of songs on this cd that everyone knows (again, from the 80's) and I think Squeeze is a band that I will always be able to listen to. This cd has all the greatest songs - from "Black Coffee in Bed" to "Tempted" to "Pulling Mussels"... need I say more? Squeeze had some great hits and I highly doubt you would be disappointed in buying this cd. If you enjoyed this sound then, it is a great cd to get you back in that mood. Whenever I hear any of the songs on this I find myself singing along and dancing in my seat.