Track Listing

1. Play On
2. Bonkers
3. What's Wrong With This Picture?
4. Domino
5. To Be A Dad
6. Donkey Talk
7. Sleeping With A Friend
8. Without You Here
9. In The Morning
10. Moving Story, A
11. Little King
12. Short Break

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #140838 in Music
• Released on: 1998-11-17
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

The album the band came to regret
Squeeze have produced some terrific albums in the 500 years they've been with us, from the punchy "Cool For Cats" to the beautiful "Play". Sadly, this really isn't one of them.

I read a couple of interviews Difford and Tilbrook gave after the release of "Ridiculous", their previous (and infinitely better) recording. They had a theme in common - branching out, doing something different, maybe even a little daring. What they ended up giving us in fact was a tired-sounding re-hash of an earlier style (it reminded me in parts of "Sweets From A Stranger"). They'd also given the impression in these interviews that they were frustrated at not making more of an impact on the charts. "Domino" offered nothing that would have got close to a top-twenty hit (although "Bonkers" and the title track could have done decently enough with a lot more work and a bit of sparkle; although "Donkey Talk" reveals a band suffering from a complete lack of passion).

After a string of superb studio albums including "Play", "Some Fantastic Place" and "Ridiculous", I was disappointed to see that the last thing they produced before splitting up and saying 'never again' was one of their worst. In the book "Squeeze: Song By Song" both Glenn and Chris said basically the same thing. This album shouldn't have been made; or should have been made better.

I was actually a little saddened that instead of choosing to carry on and redeem themselves with far superior material, or choosing to go out on a real high note such as "Ridiculous", one of the best bands ever to brighten our airwaves gave us something mediocre to try to forget rather than remember them by, and dissolved into in-fighting after a creative low.

I'll remember Squeeze by all the wonderful singles I bought, I'll remember them by those fantastic albums they gave us, and I'll remember them from going to half a dozen of their live shows, and loving them. I just worry that an album that would normally be branded 'forgettable' will linger on in the memory for longer than I, my friends, and the band themselves would want it to.

ALL SQUEEZED OUT
Cast adrift by record label A&M, after the poor selling Ridiculous, the embattled Squeeze decided to regroup and release an independent album. Another line-up change saw the surprise departure of long term bassist Keith Wilkinson and the arrival of Jools Holland's younger brother Chris and former Del Amitri drummer Ash Soan.
The band decamped to Glenn Tilbrook's studio, 45 RPM, with a limited budget and a strict time limit (imposed by a jaded and reluctant Chris Difford).
Many of the songs that found their way onto Domino were left overs from Ridiculous or hastily written for inclusion on the album. Not the best way to create a classic record !
Both Difford and Tilbrook have subsequently voiced their dislike for many of the albums songs - Difford being especially hostile - but amongst the poorly realised arrangements, buried vocals and muddy production there is some gold to be found.
The title track 'Domino' swings with panache and a great lyric, 'Play On' is a fine pop song and the rocky 'Sleeping With A Friend' is full of playful lines and a great Tilbrook guitar performance. The bizarre 'Bonkers' features one of Difford's finest vocals and the druggy 'Donkey Talk' has a certain lethargic appeal and groove. Without the backing of a major label and minimal media interest the patchy record, and subsequently lack lustre tour, signaled the end for Squeeze.
Don't get me wrong - i think Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook are amongst the finest song writers the UK has ever produced. Their run of 80's singles and 90's albums is near faultless.
Despite Tilbrook's very best efforts Domino wasn't a great swangsong for Squeeze.
Aparently there is a strong chance of a new album from the newly reactivated band in 2009. Fingers crossed that the magic is still there.

The Forgotten Album
I always considered myself a massive Squeeze fan but after seeing them live for the umpteenth time in 96, and enjoying "Ridiculous" I kinda missed out on "Domino" for no apparent reason. It brought no single success, was not fanfared, and signalled the end of the band so I kinda fell out of love with the album before buying it or hearing it. So 6 years on I got a copy and listened with awe.
Had this been marketed properly 3 songs would have surely charted - Little King, Play On and If You Were Here. Domino has an awesome bass line. Short Break is one of the most adventurous songs they've attempted and it works for me. For real Squeeze fans Moving Story is a must listen - a kind of sequel to Up The Junction.
It's not their best album but for me it is right up there on the next rung below East Side Story and Babylon and On.
It's well worth buying, believe me.