European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 14, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Entertainment changes put squeeze Back on its feet by David Bauder the associated press it was during an initial meeting with squeeze to discuss who was going to produce the group s new album that Warner Bros executive Tim Carr knew he faced some problems. Quot i want Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis Quot said Singer Clenn Tilbrook of the production duo that won a grammy award for their Sharp rhythm and blues work with Janet Jackson. Quot i want t Bone Burnett a said lyricist Chris Difford Tilbrook s songwriting partner of the Low key country Rock artist. Quot i realized we were in a wide world Here Quot Carr said. The record company s struggle to give direction to the Veteran English band whose career had foundered in the late 1980s resulted in the More adult Rock oriented sound of the recently released play. But it was t easy. Squeeze emerged in the late 70s and hit its stride with the 1981 up East Side Story. Difford and Tilbrook were compared critically to John Lennon and Paul Mccartney. But reality never matched the Promise. The band broke up for a few years re formed but faced dwindling interest from both the Public and its record company a amp a. The group was dropped from the Label after the failure of its 1989 album Frank. Quot it s a very personal thing music so i d be lying if i said it did t hurl me. It did Hurt me Quot Tilbrook said. Quot it just made me feel determined to prove anyone who thought that we were done for was  Difford and Tilbrook talk bitterly about the record company s failure in their eyes to properly promote Frank. It was Carr s Job to make band members recognize their part in what went wrong. Squeeze was accustomed to writing recording and delivering completed albums to its record company Carr said. It s an arrangement Headstrong artists often enjoy and occasionally thrive on but in this Case squeeze suffered from having Little outside input in the songs it chose or musk1 it performed he said. Quot they were always very helpful in letting us do what we wanted to do which h was probably our and their downfall in the relationship Quot Difford said. Quot when we said we wanted to have a picture of a Tortoise on the album sleeve they said of. Now if i were the head of a record company i would have said i think you should think about this Guys Quot Carr was determined to hold a tighter rein on the band when squeeze signed to Warner s reprise records subsidiary. The first step was simply giving the quartet a focus that was obviously missing As the dispute Between its leaders about producers showed. They settled on producer Tony Berg whom the band songwriters Clenn Tilbrook left and Chris Difford Are pleased with squeeze s new direction. File admired for his work on Michael Penn s debut album. That fit Carr s profile of an activist producer. He noticed the band s most successful work came when the producer was a Collaborator like Elvis costello on East Side Story instead of a passive Knob twiddle. Difford and Tilbrook wrote 1 7 songs the record company said it liked eight of them and sent them away to write More. Carr said he kept pressing Tilbrook who he Calls an underrated guitar player to keep putting More guitars in the songs. A during a discussion of the song sunday Street Carr was struck by How the 37-year-old Difford and 34-year-old Tilbrook both recent fathers were writing about loafing on sunday afternoon rather than partying on Friday night. Quot it was t that they or anybody at the record company consciously said let s make a record by and for adults Quot he said. Quot it became apparent that that s what  resulting record is slower in Tempo and subdued in tone. The Bright pop melodies for which squeeze is known can take several listens to unearth. A in another first for the band the Choice of what songs went on the record were largely left up to Berg and reprise. Quot the selection was a bit different than what we would have come up with Quot Tilbrook said. Quot but i think it s Good for that. It s interesting to have someone else s perception of what you should be doing. There were some More upbeat songs a in Tempo and lyrics a that i would have chosen at the time of  the record also satisfied his partner. Quot i think this album shows a maturity that the others did to Quot Difford said. Quot i happen to think it s a Good selection of songs that were chosen for this album. I like them All. It s the first squeeze album i happen to play on my Walkman to myself without skipping  squeeze is now Down to four members after pianist Jools Holland ended his second stint with the band. Bass player Keith Wilkinson and drummer Gilson Lavis Complete the quartet. For dates and venues of squeeze s current european tour Check the on stage listing on pages 14-15. Hart pop a singles 1 Cream Punco and the new Power generation 2 can t Siop this thing we started Bryan Adams 3 when a Man loves a woman Michael Bolton 4 it s so Oahu to say goodbye to yesterday boy ii Mon 5 set adrift on memory Bliss p m Dawn 6 set the night to music Roberta Flack with Maxi priest 7 o p p naughty by nature 8 that s what love is for Amy grand 9 romantic Karyn while 10. Don t cry guns n Rose Stop a albums 1 Robin the wind Garth Brooks 2 death certificate ice cube 3 too legit to quit Hammer 4 use your illusion ii guns n roses 5 Metallica Metallica 6 diamonds amp pearls Prince and the new Power generation 7 use your illusion i guns n roses 8 emotions Manah Carey 9. Never mind nirvana 10  Boyz i country a singles 1. Shameless Garth Brooks 2 brotherly love kerch Whilley Earl Thomas Conley 3. Someday Alan Jackson 4 anymore Travis Tritt 5. Hurt me bad in a real Good Way a Patty Loveless 6. Like we never had a broken heart a Trisha Yearwood 7 forever together Randy Travis 6. Then again Alabama 9 the chill of an Early fall George Strait 10. You Don t count the Cost Billy Dean amp by singles 1 forever my lady Jodeci 2 tender kisses Tracie Spencer 3. Right Down to it a Damian Dame 4. House Call Shabba ranks Maxi priest 5. Are you lonely for me rude boys 6 i la take you there Bebe amp Cece mans Mavis Staples 7 feels like another one Patti Labelle 8. Private line Gerald Levert 9. Giving you All my love Chris Walker 10 put me in your mix Barry White compiled by billboard 10 stripes Magazine november 14, 1991