On October 11th, the highly-rated, quintessential London band Squeeze return with ‘Spot The Difference’ a collection of 14 of their best-loved hits, re-recorded by the band as faithfully to the original versions as possible (whilst challenging their fans to spot the difference!) The result is no mere set of re-masters, more an affirmation that Squeeze are the masters of accessible guitar-pop.
Formed in South London in 1973, and armed with Glenn Tilbrook’s winning melodies and Chris Difford’s pithy lyrics, songs such as ‘Cool For Cats’, ‘Pulling Mussels (From The Shell)’ and the classic ‘Up The
Junction’ established Squeeze as one of the UK’s finest pop acts. Yet they have also been one of its greatest exports, their bittersweet tales of London life and love proving universal enough to strike a
chord in the USA. It was while on tour across the pond in 2007 that ‘Spot The Difference’ began to take shape – the band found that learning to play together was indeed like learning to ride a bicycle and their easy chemistry led to a desire to record again. The final catalyst was retreating to their hotel room and seeing yet another of their songs used in a TV commercial without their approval or knowledge, and the band decided to take action in the form of regaining ownership of their catalogue.
Back in Glenn’s studio, the band – fleshed out by long-time bassist John Bentley, plus newer members Simon Hanson on drums and Stephen Large on keys – set about re-recording the songs. Being something of an equipment hoarder, Glenn found he already had a lot of the old instruments, amps and mixers that the band had used first time round and former keyboard player and vocalist Paul Carrack was able to come back to lend his unmistakeable vocals to the new version of ‘Tempted’.
A massive influence on the likes of Lily Allen, Mark Ronson, The Feeling, Broken Bells and Andy Burrows (Razorlight, I Am Arrows), ‘Spot The Difference’ only reaffirms that Squeeze are refreshed and
renewed and very much a contemporary band who are constantly looking to the future – a recent US TV performance of ‘Pulling Mussels (From The Shell)’ on ‘Late Night with Jimmy Fallon’ saw the keyboard solo played on an Apple iPad! On top of this, Glenn and Chris have put their Ivor Novello winning partnership back into gear and started writing the first new Squeeze material in over 10 years, although there is no set date to record anything just yet.
In the meantime, to herald the new album Squeeze have chosen ‘Loving You Tonight’ as its first single. Originally sung by Carrack and never released as a single in the UK, the re-record has vocals by Glenn and is immediately recognisable as a brand new recording, yet is produced with the energy and vigour of a band in their twenties. Additionally, a ‘Deluxe Edition’ of the album will be made available, which comes with a live recording of the band’s recent set at the illustrious Fillmore.
Squeeze are all set to end a triumphant year – which has seen them undertake a 5 week sold out tour the US and have the site of their first ever gig awarded with a PRS for Music Heritage Plaque – with a
22-date tour of the UK, reuniting with another familiar face in former keyboard man Steve Nieve and finishing up with 4 dates at 3 different London venues.
14th O2 Academy, Bournemouth
15th Hexagon, Reading
16th Colston Hall, Bristol
18th St David's Hall, Cardiff
19th Royal Centre, Nottingham
20th O2 Academy, Sheffield
22nd Music Hall, Aberdeen
23rd O2 Academy, Glasgow
25th City Hall, Newcastle
26th O2 Academy, Leeds
27th Apollo, Manchester
29th Philharmonic, Liverpool
30th Symphony Hall, Birmingham
December 2010
2nd Corn Exchange, Cambridge
3rd UEA, Norwich
4th Pavilions, Plymouth
6th Guildhall, Southampton
7th Brighton, Dome
9th Indigo2, London
10th HMV Forum, London
11th O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London
12th O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London
Tickets for Squeeze are onsale now priced at £33.50 for regional shows and £35 for the London show.
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