Is Squeeze ever going to re-release the good albums?

However, they are not the only good Squeeze albums. In fact, their 90s output was just as good, only less commercially successful.

Absolutely brimming over with wrongability, there.

1. Argybargy
2. Cool For Cats
3. Play
4. East Side Story
5. Ricidulous
6. Some Fantastic Place
7. Frank
8. Babylon And On
9. Domino
10.Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti
11.Sweets From a Stranger
12.Squeeze

My list:
1. Cool For Cats
2. Argybargy
3. East Side Story
4. UK Squeeze
5. Sweets From a Stranger
6. Ricidulous
7. Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti
8. Babylon And On

(I have only these 8)
I always thought that Squeeze album were classics only before 1982, after that just only two-three good songs per album. Should I get Play then?

"Now, some 35 years later, Squeeze have re-recorded 14 of their classic tracks for Spot the Difference, an album of all their classic hits re-recorded in a way so painstakingly faithful to the originals that they challenge you to spot the difference"

Just had a listen on Spotify (it came up on the main page when I logged in and I had a feeling it might be something like the above) so, basically why?

Whats odd is they really have gone out of the way to make them sound just like the originals. Doing that to retain the publishing or recording rights to your back catalogue (why else?) is kinda bad enough but making them exact carbon copies is weird, gauche and a bit of a dick move.

FTR, I don't really mind Squeeze, not a huge fan beyond having the 'best of' but I'm listenng to this now and it's freaking me out, even the weird drum breakdown in the middle of Cool For Cats is the same.

HuffPo had an interview with Diff over the summer, because it is sort of mind-boggling, conceptually.

Chris Difford: Well, Squeeze has never owned our own copyrights because, obviously, they're owned by a major record label. We thought it might be fun to re-record our songs to make it possible for us to own a little bit more of our own history. So, Glenn went in the studio, and did most of the work. I have to bow down to his achievements as a producer because he's done a great job of making them sound pretty much like the originals.

Was actually poring over it this weekend, really does live up to the titular challenge. And inspired a 36-hour binge on the Costello-backed chromatic descent "OUT WITH HER FREEEEEEEEEEENZ".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-8TDHXPlSQ

I don't begrudge them clawing some money back from THE MAN, it's just so weirdly autistic, I bet it was anything but FUN too.

He - here's the whole piece - he does get into a few other points, chiefly wanting to improve the quality of his vocals for the above track, which, in comparison, are much smoother. The original is sort of honky.

a few ppl have done this - http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703735804575536462998562460.html

Yep, it's pretty common now, it's just the adherance to the sound of the original recordings that blows my mind grapes.

I see they haven't gone for If I Didn't Love You

Those interviews make it sound like they had fun doing it and kind of relished the challenge of the whole process. I've been listening to Spot The Difference a lot and I enjoy it, partly because I generally enjoy Squeeze in a 'hits' context -- I have Argybargy and East Side Story and want to love them as albums but to be honest they've always felt a bit hit and miss to me. And it's always bummed me out when I put on "Pulling Mussels" in a mix CD or in iTunes shuffle and it sounds kind of distant and flat, the new recording is close to identical but much punchier.

How great is the intro to "Hourglass", before it becomes Adult Pop Music 1987.

The best band ever, that's Squeeze

I see they haven't gone for If I Didn't Love You

It wasn't a single in the UK, only in the US. The UK Singles: 45s and Under drops it and adds "Labelled with Love" instead, which I assume was a hit with grannies.

How great is the intro to "Hourglass"

Love the song, but can't help thinking how much better it would have been if they'd used real horns.

but the thing is that aside from Goodbye Girl and Up The Junction and maybe even not aside those two it is their best song, and one of the most astonishing songs I've ever heard

Oh, and they started a reissue campaign in 2008 with Argybargy, Sweets from a Stranger, Frank and Ridiculous. For the most part, they've got all the relevant b-sides and outtakes, except one of the Sweets b-sides and all 8 Ridiculous b-sides are missing. Plus they never came out in the US and there's been no talk of further reissues. Wankers.

"Up the Junction" really is tough to beat.

Never liked the idea of re-recording old hits. If Squeeze are getting together again, Glen and Chris should rather get together and write some new material. It worked perfectly whenever they did as late as the 90s.

As for the re-releases plea in the original post, "Argybargy" and "Play" have been reissued in Deluxe editions now, and hopefully the rest will follow.

I was listening to Spot the Difference today. I love Squeeze!