Squeeze

Squeeze take their cues from ’60s British rock bands driven by observant songwriting and a wry outlook on life—as evidenced by the beleaguered narrator of “Up the Junction,” who drives his partner away with his drinking, or the unfaithful protagonist of “Tempted,” who rues being caught cheating. Formed in South London in 1973 by the core duo of vocalists/guitarists Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford—who contribute music and lyrics, respectively—Squeeze orbited the punk and pub-rock scenes with the 1977 John Cale-produced EP Packet of Three and the motormouthed 1979 hit “Cool for Cats.” Albums such as 1981’s East Side Story and its brisk jangle-pop gem “Is That Love” further established the band in nervy New Wave circles. However, Squeeze’s love of R&B and Motown surfaced on singles such as 1982’s “Black Coffee In Bed” and led to their biggest U.S. success in 1987 with Babylon and On, which spawned the jaunty Top 40 hit “Hourglass.” Although the band have taken breaks and changed lineups across the decades, Difford, Tilbrook, and a rotating cadre of musicians continue to tour and record as Squeeze—leading to eclectic, ornate studio albums such as 2017’s The Knowledge and exuberant live shows.