- Audio CD (14 Jun 2004)
- Number of Discs: 3
- Format: Box set
- Label: Universal
- ASIN: B000244PQE
- Other Editions: Audio CD
- Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 175,180 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Be they hits or be they misses, Big Squeeze is yet another compilation of Squeeze's two-decade-plus contribution to the fine art of the praiseworthy pop single. And why not? Like all the other conceivably-inseparable Great British double acts--Morecambe and Wise, Keegan and Brooking, beans and toast--Squeeze's songwriting duopoly of Chris Difford (words) and Glen Tilbrook (music) were seemingly conjoined by God to fulfil a divine purpose for mankind. In this case, it was to provide amiably clever-clever popular music which struck the hearts, tickled the ribs, moistened the eyes and tapped the feet of both the bloke down the pub and the lady washing the dishes at home (hey, this was the late 1970s and early 1980s remember). Difford and Tilbrook were (and--although conspicuously absent from the airwaves these days--remain) indecently adept at narrating a good domestic yarn over a suitably pithy couplet.
It would be true to say that the working-class soap-operetta of "Up the Junction", Paul Carrack's candid tale of tormented infidelity on "Tempted" and even--thanks to the latter-day culture of laddishness--the comic-strip "Cool for Cats" remain unwrinkled by the passing of time. But so does everything else here. Good pop music, after all, doesn't have a sell-by-date.
The second CD focuses on that extinct concept "the B side" and is home not only to many more songs which could have been "A sides" for anyone else but also to all manner of lunchbreak lunacy. "Squabs on Forty Fab" brilliantly parodied the then (1981) fashionable medley single (as popularised by the likes of Stars on 45 and Hooked on Classics) by stitching together several Squeeze hit songs over a disco beat. "Trust" was a Burundi beat pastiche of Adam and the Ants. "Suites from Five Strangers" was a collage of madcap musical sketches from each individual band member. And so on. They could be fools for a day but, more often than not, they were kings. --Kevin Maidment
CD Description
Squeeze never had smash hits but they made some classic pop songs. Glenn Tilbrook's vocal's are unmistakable and paired with Chris Difford they couldn't go far wrong. Their fluctuating line-up included Jools Holland (Now a TV presenter) and Paul Carrack (Mike and the Mechanics). This is not Squeeze's first greatest hits album, it's their third! It reched No.8 in the UK album chart in 2002 (Previous two hits albums also went top ten). It contains all the old favorites plus 19 B sides.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
As greatest hits compilations go, it's superb. But as a lot of the tracks didn't in fact chart, why not bung ALL the singles on it i.e. Bang Bang, 853-5937, Waiting Game, Heartbreaking World etc etc and the B-sides from those tracks (BTW, why no Pretty Thing, Night Nurse - the A-sides ARE there!) Anyway, enough from this anorak wearing Squeeze fan - it's a must buy if you like real music and a reminder of how great they were.
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Even if you've got Singles 45(covers the late 70s and early 80s)or the Greatest Hits(covers up to the late 80s), you still need this as it covers their 90s material up to the very last album 'Domino' which was released on their own Quixotic label.You will not find a better collection of more diverse collection of quality of songs,make that new wave/intelligent pop/rock/power pop/country etc.Squeeze are one of the classic pop bands to grace this planet.Glenn Tillbrook is a master of melody and Chris Difford is a master for words. Together they create wonders and on this double cd are some of their finest examples. The second cd is the B side's story including some of their rare songs(but not all) from the 7' vinyl era and some more recent ones such as the beautiful Discipline-an extra track on the cd single of Some Fantastic Place. Listen and enjoy.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Just a quick word to add that this is not a DualDisc, but two CDs. A DualDisc is a single disc that has CD content on one side and DVD stuff on the other, where as this most definitely is two discs - one with the A sides and one with the B sides.
As to the album itself, it's Squeeze from 1978 to 1998 and is good stuff. There are small paragraphs about each track (this includes the B sides as well, which is much appreciated) in the booklet that comes with the discs.
Inventive, original, under-rated, good music. That sums up Squeeze.
As to the album itself, it's Squeeze from 1978 to 1998 and is good stuff. There are small paragraphs about each track (this includes the B sides as well, which is much appreciated) in the booklet that comes with the discs.
Inventive, original, under-rated, good music. That sums up Squeeze.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
What about the DVD?
The Product Description and the 11 reviews have all failed to mention the DVD.
You get 3 discs -
Disc 1 is a collection of A-sides of singles,
Disc 2 is a collection... Read more
You get 3 discs -
Disc 1 is a collection of A-sides of singles,
Disc 2 is a collection... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Noel Jealous
A benchmark for songwriting
Buying this was an exercise in rediscovery of something I knew I already liked, but had somehow inadvertantly left behind. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Mr. P. J. Blackwell
Direct From Depford Fun City : 6 stars if I could!!!
This is the definitive compilation covering everything from the late 70s to the 90s.
Forget Disc 2!! Read more
Forget Disc 2!! Read more
Published on 12 April 2009 by Mr. N. R. Banks
THE DEFINITIVE HITS AND MISSES PLUS 19 B-SIDES - BIG INDEED !
There have been a lot of Squeeze Compilations. It started with 'Singles 45 And Under' in 1982 and never stopped. Read more
Published on 17 Sep 2008 by Mr. Christopher J. Welch
A definite collection of Squeeze's A and B sides
Various compilations(Singles 45's and Under,Greatest Hits,Essential Squeeze) already exist of Squeeze material. This one is, however, in my opinion by far the most complete set. Read more
Published on 25 Mar 2006 by gnagfloW
A "must" for all squeeze fans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BIG SQUEEZE!!
And it is just that! If like me you have seen this band countless times live,well they were almost a cult band to see doing a live gig! Read more
And it is just that! If like me you have seen this band countless times live,well they were almost a cult band to see doing a live gig! Read more
Published on 4 Feb 2006 by Marcus Charles Howlett
Squeezed out some great tunes!
I first heard Squeeze when they released 'Cool for Cats', and I remember being struck by how original it was. Read more
Published on 12 Aug 2004 by michael_m
best cd ever made ? the big squeeze.
a true squeeze fan will have this album. and boy what a cd if you are thinking of buying this cd please do so as it is one of the best cd,s i have brought in a long time. Read more
Published on 2 Sep 2003 by liverpool-fan
Fantastic!
From their early days of "Slap and Tickle" to the more recent "This Summer" and more, Squeeze have been a group that has always been there in one shape or... Read more
Published on 10 Jun 2002
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