Squeeze, 17 September 2024

Very few bands in the pantheon of British pop music have had the staying power and consistent quality that Squeeze have displayed. Formed in the mid-Seventies, Squeeze quickly distinguished themselves with their witty lyrics and catchy melodies that readily yielded songs identifiably connected with everyday life. They have stood the test of changes in the music business, changes in their music itself, changes in their lineup, and changes in their audience tastes for decades and still stand just as relevant today as at the time of their biggest glory. This papers identifies the history of Squeeze, their musical evolution, their impact on the music industry, and the legacy that continues to be made.

The Formation and Early Years

Squeeze was formed in London in 1974 by songwriters Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook. Their partnership has been likened to that of Lennon and McCartney. As such, Difford mostly would write the lyrics, while Tilbrook provided the music. The two were brought together by an ad Difford placed in a sweet shop window, seeking musicians for a band. Also joining shortly after were Jools Holland on keyboards, Gilson Lavis on drums, and Harry Kakoulli on bass: this was the classic Squeeze lineup.
Their early years were noted for the unprecedented talent of blending punk's energy with pop's savoir-faire. Their self-titled debut of 1978, Squeeze, received critical acclaim, however, only selling in moderate numbers. Still, it campaigned they could write wily, tart pop songs, with single "Take Me I'm Yours" certainly offering a glimpse of what awaited around the corner in the not-so-distant future.

Breakthrough and the Golden Era

Squeeze's lucky break came through their sophomore album, Cool for Cats (1979), which yielded two hit singles in the UK, breaking into the top 10: the title track and "Up the Junction". Both songs showcased the elements of Squeeze that set them apart from the rest and became the signature qualities of the band; these included colorful, story-telling-driven lyrics with irrepressible tunes. Whereas "Up the Junction, " with its tale of a relationship that moves from the first night to the divorce court in a series of discrete scenes but no chorus, was particularly singled out for its story-telling technique.
The success of Cool for Cats was equalled then bettered by Argybargy, 1980, and East Side Story, 1981, the latter of which is, according to many, the band's finest album. Argybargy contained the smash "Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)," a song that wedded British everydayness to hard-won catchiness. East Side Story was even more highly conceptualised with Elvis Costello producing. The feel was one of country, rockabilly, and Motown. The first single, "Tempted," also counted as one of Squeeze's most immortal compositions, although its chart success hardly moved into double figures in the UK and the US.
Despite all of this, the early '80s were not a time of stability for Squeeze. Increasing friction among its members and weariness from incessant touring meant that 1981 was the year that last boasted Jools Holland, who left for a solo career that would see him achieve considerable TV success as a presenter. The band just had to let him go and carried on with the album Sweets from a Stranger, released in 1982 and featuring the hit "Black Coffee in Bed." The last straw came in the same year when Squeeze disbanded.
The split didn't last. Difford and Tilbrook continued writing together, releasing an eponymous album in 1984 under their own names. This record was very well received, but was also too devoid of the spark that Difford and Tilbrook actually had as Squeeze, so the band reformed in 1985, with Jools Holland briefly returning. The albums Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti (1985) and Babylon and On (1987) marked the band's return, the latter making US hits out of "Hourglass" and "853-5937.

THE 1990s: REINVENTION

The 1990s were the years of the band's reinvention. The continued instability of the band's lineup due to the second periodic departure of Holland and Lavis led to a number of new members coming and going. Nevertheless, as always, Difford and Tilbrook kept the core of ideas and creativity intact, producing material for a string of critically acclaimed - if not in a commercial sense succeeded - albums. Of these, Some Fantastic Place was the best received in 1993, its title track a tribute to a fallen friend and an example of the band's new found ability for integrating melancholy into its melodies.
During this time frame, Squeeze's sound took on the burgeoning Britpop, but the band kept their stamp on it. Their sound turned more introspective, the themes more about middle age, regret, and the inevitability of age. Songs such as "This Summer" from the album Ridiculous (1995) showed that even if Squeeze could still turn in a perfect pop song, their days of ruling the charts were behind them.

Legacy and Influence

Therefore, Squeeze exerted a colossal influence on British pop music. Their ability to write musically sophisticated songs with lyrics filled with wit in equal measure seems to be an inspiration to many bands—from new wave acts of the 1980s to Britpop groups of the 1990s and beyond. Elvis Costello, Blur, and The Arctic Monkeys have cited Squeeze as an influence, pointing to both band's songwriting storytelling skills and how easily they craft interesting, memorable tunes.
This is also evidenced by the band's ongoing popularity. Squeeze has made several reunions since the first breakup in 1982, and every time they got back onto the stage, the excitement was as vivacious as it used to be. Their live performances are still fresh and good; the team of Difford and Tilbrook has not lost its energy after all these years. The back catalog of the band received numerous remittances that helped to introduce the band's music to subsequent generations.

Squeeze Today

In fact, Squeeze has undergone something of a renaissance in recent times. They recorded an album of re-recorded versions of their classic hits, Spot the Difference, in 2010, toured, and followed it with their first album of new material in 17 years, Cradle to the Grave, in 2015. The latter was received warmly by critics, who felt it aptly meshed nostalgia with things that are relevant for today. The title song became the theme song for the full series of Cradle to Grave by the BBC, making the place of this band in the British pop culture long established.
In 2017, Squeeze released The Knowledge to continued critical acclaim, demonstrating that the band was far from past it. Topics on the album run the gamut from the personal — "interruption and reflection" — to social commentary. For example, "Please Be Upstanding" wades into the waters of male impotence with the band's typical wit and compassion.
Squeeze still tours regularly, its live shows attracting fans both old and new. Yet the ability to evolve while never losing sight of their roots has assured them of an ongoing career for Squeeze. And Squeeze has been part of the British musical landscape for a long time.

Squeeze has stood the test of time from the pubs of London to international fame, which is a testament to the perennial power of great songwriting. Over those years, Difford and Tilbrook had built a body of work that was both timeless and profoundly personal, capturing life's highs and lows with wit, insight, and melody. Even where their commercial acclaim was perhaps not parallel to that of some of their contemporaries, their influence on British pop music has been indelible. As long as they keep cranking out great songs, capturing them and playing them live, Squeeze's reputation as one of Britain's finest pop bands is in the bag.