Rob riffs on the first compilation album from Squeeze entitled “SIngles - 45's and Under” from October 1982 (Tempted / Up the Junction / Pulling Mussels (from the Shell) / Black Coffee in Bed). ENTERTAINMENT TRACK: Main Theme from the television series “St. Elsewhere" STAFF PICKS: “Jack & Diane” by John Cougar — Brian. “Abracadabra” by the Steve Miller Band — Bill Cook. “Somebody's Baby” by Jackson Browne — Todd Hendricks. “When the War Is Over” by Australian band, Cold Chisel — Rob. INSTRUMENTAL TRACK: “Spunky”- Bob James. **(NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.)
Squeeze came out of the mid-70's New Wave scene in the UK, but would cross genres into Rockabilly, R&B, and Psychedelia by the early 80's. In 1982 they released Singles - 45's and Under as a compilation album of their biggest hits. Squeeze was led by two singer songwriters, Chris Dilford (rhythm guitar and vocals) and Glenn Tilbrook (keyboards, lead guitar, vocals) who composed most of their material. At the time of the release of this “greatest hits” album, the band had broken up, leaving only Dilford and Tilbrook as a duet. The pair would normally work with Dilford writing the lyrics and Tilbrook writing and singing the music.
Squeeze was inspired by the Kinks, the Beatles, David Bowie, and Elvis Costello (who co-produced their breakthrough album, East Side Stories). They started when Dilford stole money from his mom's pocketbook to place an ad for a guitarist "for his band," which didn't exist. Tilbrook was the only one who responded, and the rest, as they say, was history.
The group wove stories with their songs, usually lighthearted, with a healthy sense of humor.
While Wayne and Bruce are away, friends of the show Todd Hendricks and Bill Cook join Rob and Brian for this album feature.
Tempted
The first commercial breakthrough comes from their fourth studio album, “East Side Story.” It is unusual because it features Paul Carrack on lead vocals rather than Glenn Tilbrook or Chris Dilford. The sound was inspired by The Temptations, and the lyrics were inspired from Dilford's experiences in touring North America.
Up the Junction
This deeper cut was originally released in 1979 on their second album "Cool for Cats." Glenn Tilbrook takes on his normal role as lead singer. This is a little bit of working class humor about a man living with a woman who becomes pregnant. The song is unusual in that it doesn't have a chorus, but tells the story in a "stream of consciousness" style.
Pulling Mussels (from the Shell)
Originally released on their third studio album, Argybargy, this track is an audio snapshot of a British budget holiday camp by the sea. It did not hit the US charts, but got airplay on College radio stations. "Pulling Mussels" is British slang for sex. There are lots of humorous lyrics in this story.
Black Coffee in Bed
The first single from the fifth Squeeze album, "Sweets from a Stranger," and was a hit on the US Mainstream Chart - the only song to chart from that album. Elvis Costello and Paul Young sing backing vocals on this track about a lost love.
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
Main Theme from the television series "St. Elsewhere”
This hospital-centered show debuted in October 1982. The stories centered around a Catholic hospital named Saint Eligius. Howie Mandel would get his big break as a member of this cast.
STAFF PICKS:
Jack & Diane by John Cougar
Brian brings us a famous “little ditty” about high school romance by John Cougar before he took on his real last name. Though some thought it was autobiographical, John Mellencamp has said that it is a story about what he observed in small town America. Mellencamp didn't like the song at first and didn't want to release it, but was fortunately convinced to do so by others.
Abracadabra by the Steve Miller Band
Bill Cook (aka “Lil‘ Wayne”) features a hit from Miller's 12th studio album. Though we're not convinced that this is Miller's best work (and the video is horrible), the “breathy synthesizer” and pop sensibilities gave it significant airplay on both pop and rock stations. The lyrics were inspired by Diana Ross.
Somebody's Baby by Jackson Browne
Special guest Todd Hendricks' staff pick was the last Jackson Browne song to chart. It didn't appear on any Browne album until years later on a "Greatest Hits" album. It was released on the soundtrack from "Fast Times at Ridgemont High." Browne was originally known as a songwriter before he rolled out his solo work.
When the War Is Over by Cold Chisel
Rob's closes out the staff picks with a track recommended by Mark Whyte, a friend of the show from Australia. Cold Chisel is a very popular band in Australia, but is not well known in the United States. This is off their 1982 album, "Circus Animals" and features multiple singers taking turns on lead vocals.
INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:
Spunky by Bob James
This week's podcast closes out with a jazz instrumental from James' 1982 album "Hands Down."