fange
god
Listening to long jazz tracks
Posts: 4,554
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Post by fange on Jan 11, 2024 2:45:06 GMT
What do you make of the band's 1981 single?
Written by Difford/Tillbrook but sung by keyboardist Paul Carrack, it was a significant departure from what the band had released before but has gone on to be a much-loved pop song and a 'classic' of the period. Elvis Costello has his fingerprints on it too.
I heard it in M&S yesterday as i went in to buy some groceries.
So, what do you think?
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Post by davey on Jan 11, 2024 4:46:04 GMT
Completely undeniable.
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Post by Sneelock on Jan 11, 2024 6:31:18 GMT
I like it better when Difford sings it so I vote in between.
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Post by adamcoan on Jan 11, 2024 7:08:13 GMT
Its the kind of music they play in M&S stores when you are buying groceries.
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Post by Mr. FOLLARD on Jan 11, 2024 7:26:49 GMT
Is it supposed to be well known or something? this is the first time I've heard it.
It's terribly boring.
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fange
god
Listening to long jazz tracks
Posts: 4,554
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Post by fange on Jan 11, 2024 8:12:13 GMT
Yeah, at the time of release i don't think it made much of an impression on the charts, but it seems to have become an absolute staple of classic 80s pop-rock radio and playlists since. People seem to have really taken to its Motown/Temptations-lite style structure and vocal delivery, and keep playing it 40 years later.
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fange
god
Listening to long jazz tracks
Posts: 4,554
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Post by fange on Jan 11, 2024 8:13:20 GMT
Its the kind of music they play in M&S stores when you are buying groceries. :lol: I know what you mean.
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Post by Half Machine Lipschitz on Jan 11, 2024 11:58:22 GMT
It's not shit, but it's certainly not a tune that's ever excited me overmuch.
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Post by Stacy Heydon on Jan 11, 2024 12:08:16 GMT
it's from that period when Squeeze moved from their quirky power pop/new wave, to a smoother, sophisticated Americanised sound (Black Coffee was their other big hit from this period), not that far from yacht rock really. It worked for them commercially, but quite a lot of character was lost. I don't mind it, it's melodic enough to have some appeal, but it's not particularly interesting or something i need to hear. I voted in between.
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loveless
god
Bringing ballet to the masses. Sticking to the funk.
Posts: 2,787
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Post by loveless on Jan 11, 2024 12:36:25 GMT
I don't love it (or them), but...it absolutely fucking works. Does that make sense?
It's unlikely in all sorts of ways(the sort of "Dance to the Music" styled vocal arrangement, first and foremost).
Something about the timbre of Carrack's voice and delivery here made me think it was Foreigner the first time I heard it.
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Post by DarknessFish on Jan 11, 2024 12:57:20 GMT
It captures all the excitement and energy of a slightly manky astroturf lawn in front of a small terraced house.
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Post by fearlessfreap on Jan 11, 2024 12:57:29 GMT
It's ok - retro for the time. It sounds like 1974. I voted in between
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Post by fearlessfreap on Jan 11, 2024 13:02:59 GMT
Elvis Costello has his fingerprints on it too. Fumbled by the clock, alarmed by That has the stink of Costello all over it. (I enjoy his first four, but he got too clever by half and pretty damn annoying quickly)
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Post by Sneelock on Jan 11, 2024 16:54:44 GMT
(Black Coffee was their other big hit from this period) I like "Black Coffee in Bed" 5 times as much simply by virtue of Tilbrook's voice. I've gone hot & cold on Squeeze any number of times but I've always liked that guy's singing voice. I find it completely engaging.
then there's that weird Half-Octive trick he does with Chris Difford where they sing a few lines with T's fine voice soured by Difford's.Godley & Creme do the same sort of thing.if it's a gimmick then it's a gimmick I love. IMO they get a LOT of mileage out of it.
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loveless
god
Bringing ballet to the masses. Sticking to the funk.
Posts: 2,787
|
Post by loveless on Jan 11, 2024 17:00:14 GMT
Elvis Costello has his fingerprints on it too. Fumbled by the clock, alarmed by That has the stink of Costello all over it. (I enjoy his first four, but he got too clever by half and pretty damn annoying quickly) He is not a benign influence on people who already suffer from terminal cleverness.
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