Cool for Cats (album)

Last updated

Cool for Cats
Coolforcats.jpg
Studio album by
Released4 April 1979 (1979-04-04)
Recorded1978 and 1979
Studio Olympic Studios, Britannia Row Studios and Sound Techniques (London, UK)
Genre
Length38:12
Label A&M
Producer John Wood and Squeeze
Squeeze chronology
Squeeze
(1978)
Cool for Cats
(1979)
Argybargy
(1980)
Singles from Cool for Cats
  1. "Goodbye Girl"
    Released: 2 November 1978
  2. "Cool for Cats"
    Released: 9 March 1979
  3. "Up the Junction"
    Released: 18 May 1979
  4. "Slap and Tickle"
    Released: 31 August 1979

Cool for Cats is the second studio album by the English new wave group Squeeze, released in 1979. Cool for Cats contains four UK hit singles, [3] more than any other album the band has issued. The album peaked at number 45 in the UK Albums Chart, spending 11 weeks in that listing. [3]

Contents

Its 1997 CD release, as part of the Six of One... box set contained two bonus tracks. This collection included the band's first six studio albums, each digitally remastered. In 1998 the six CDs were released individually. In 2007, the album was digitally remastered and released with 5 bonus tracks exclusively in Japan. Each of the 5 tracks came from B-sides from the singles released from the album.

Content

Billboard said Cool for Cats was a "hard-rocking" album with "hard-edged power pop". [2] Alluding to the record, Steven Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic described Cool for Cats as "the work of a rock & roll band [...] that lathered on the keyboards and herky-jerky rhythms". [4]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [1]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [6]
Smash Hits 9/10 [7]
Uncut 9/10 [8]
The Village Voice B [9]

In 1979, Billboard selected Cool for Cats as one of its "recommended LPs" and cited "Slap and Tickle", "Hop, Skip & Jump", "Up the Junction", and "It's So Dirty" as the album's "best cuts". [2]

Reviewing the album in Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies (1981), Robert Christgau wrote: "Power poppers (remember them?) suck this stuff up, and I understand why—not only does its songcraft surpass that of the band's debut, but it also isn't quite as sophomoric. It's sophomoric enough, though, and like so many such records makes you wonder where the power is. Not in the vision, that's for sure. And not in the beat. Great song: 'Up the Junction.'" [10]

In 1995, Chris Woodstra proclaimed Cool for Cats to be a "pure pop masterpiece" in the All Music Guide to Rock. [11]

Track listing

All songs written by Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook except "Hop, Skip & Jump", by Difford and Jools Holland. [12]

  1. "Slap and Tickle" – 4:00
  2. "Revue" – 2:30
  3. "Touching Me Touching You" – 2:25
  4. "It's Not Cricket" – 2:35
  5. "It's So Dirty" – 3:11
  6. "The Knack" – 4:34
  7. "Hop, Skip & Jump" – 2:46
  8. "Up the Junction" – 3:12
  9. "Hard to Find" – 3:37
  10. "Slightly Drunk" – 2:41
  11. "Goodbye Girl" – 3:08
  12. "Cool for Cats" – 3:39

Bonus tracks (1997 reissue)

  1. "I Must Go" – 2:16
  2. "Ain't It Sad" – 3:29

Bonus tracks (2007 Japanese remaster)

(Note: These bonus tracks precede the 1997 bonus tracks on the album.)

  1. "Saints Alive" – 2:30
  2. "All's Well" – 2:27
  3. "Christmas Day" – 3:53
  4. "Going Crazy" – 3:53
  5. "Blood and Guts" – 5:01

Personnel

Squeeze

Production and Technical

Charts

Chart performance for Cool for Cats
Chart (1979)Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) [13] 18
UK Albums (Official Charts Company) [3] 45

Certifications

Certifications for Cool for Cats
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [14] Gold20,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [15] Silver60,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Squeeze (band)</span> British rock band

Squeeze are an English pop rock band that came to prominence in the United Kingdom during the new wave period of the late 1970s, and continued recording in the 1980s, 1990s and 2010s. In the UK, their singles "Cool for Cats", "Up the Junction", and "Labelled with Love" were top-ten chart hits. Though not as commercially successful in the United States, Squeeze had American hits with "Tempted", "Black Coffee in Bed", and "Hourglass", and were considered a part of the Second British Invasion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Difford</span> Musical artist

Christopher Henry Difford is an English musician. He is a founding member and songwriter of the rock group Squeeze.

<i>East Side Story</i> (Squeeze album) 1981 studio album by Squeeze

East Side Story is the fourth studio album by new wave group Squeeze. The album peaked at number 19 in the UK Albums Chart, spending 26 weeks in the listing.

<i>Frank</i> (Squeeze album) 1989 studio album by Squeeze

Frank is a studio album by new wave group Squeeze, released in 1989. The album sold poorly, and Squeeze was dropped by A&M Records while on tour. Forced to take offers from different major labels for the first time in their career, the band soon signed with Reprise Records and began working on their next studio album, Play.

<i>Sweets from a Stranger</i> 1982 studio album by Squeeze

Sweets from a Stranger is the fifth studio album by the British new wave group Squeeze, released in September 1982 through A&M. The album peaked at number 20 in the UK Albums Chart. The band split up soon after a world tour for the record, and the two main songwriters went on to record 1984's Difford & Tilbrook. Squeeze reunited and released Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti in 1985. As with all Squeeze albums, Chris Difford wrote the words first and Glenn Tilbrook would write the music afterwards often editing Difford's material to create a streamlined narrative. Tilbrook would record a demo afterwards and play it for Difford.

<i>Squeeze</i> (Squeeze album) 1978 studio album by Squeeze

Squeeze is the debut studio album released by English group Squeeze. The album title was simply Squeeze in the United Kingdom, but in the United States, Canada, Australia and other countries the album, like the band, was marketed under the name U.K. Squeeze to avoid confusion with similarly-named American and Australian groups.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glenn Tilbrook</span> English musician (born 1957)

Glenn Martin Tilbrook is an English singer, songwriter and guitarist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the English new wave band Squeeze, a band formed in the mid-1970s who broke through in the new wave era at the decade's end. He generally writes the music for Squeeze's songs, while his writing partner, Chris Difford, writes the lyrics. In addition to his songwriting skills, Tilbrook is respected both as a singer and an accomplished guitarist.

<i>Argybargy</i> 1980 studio album by Squeeze

Argybargy is the third studio album by the English new wave band Squeeze. Written and recorded after the band's successful sophomore release, Cool for Cats, the album's lyrics were written by Chris Difford while living with his wife in New York City. The band reunited with Cool for Cats producer John Wood and, after Glenn Tilbrook composed music for Difford's new lyrics, recorded the album in late 1979.

<i>Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti</i> 1985 studio album by Squeeze

Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti is a 1985 album by the British new wave group Squeeze. It is the band's sixth album, and the first recorded since their breakup in 1982. It reunited songwriters Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford with drummer Gilson Lavis and keyboardist Jools Holland. Keith Wilkinson, who played bass on the 1984 Difford & Tilbrook album, joined Squeeze for the first time. He would stay with the band for over a decade, making him the longest-lasting bassist in Squeeze's history. Laurie Latham produced the album. The album peaked at number 31 on the UK Albums Chart.

<i>Babylon and On</i> 1987 studio album by Squeeze

Babylon and On is the seventh album released in September 1987 by the British new wave group Squeeze.

<i>Some Fantastic Place</i> 1993 studio album by Squeeze

Some Fantastic Place is the tenth studio album by the British new wave group Squeeze, released in 1993 by A&M Records. Their first album since the departure of original Squeeze drummer Gilson Lavis, it features Pete Thomas and the brief return of keyboardist/vocalist Paul Carrack, who had previously appeared on East Side Story (1981). "Loving You Tonight" became only the second Squeeze song cut in thirteen years to feature Carrack singing a lead part. Additionally, bassist Keith Wilkinson wrote and sang "True Colours ", the first song on a Squeeze album not written by Glenn Tilbrook, Chris Difford, Jools Holland, or any combination of those three.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cool for Cats (song)</span> 1979 single by Squeeze

"Cool for Cats" is a song by English rock band Squeeze, released as the second single from their album of the same name. The song features a rare lead vocal performance from cockney-accented Squeeze lyricist Chris Difford, one of the only two occasions he sang lead on a Squeeze single A-side. The song, slightly edited from the album track, peaked at No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart in 1979, making "Cool for Cats" one of the band's biggest hits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slap and Tickle</span> 1979 single by Squeeze

"Slap And Tickle" was the fourth and final single released from Squeeze's second album, Cool for Cats. Co-written by Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook, the song took influence lyrically from the crowd that the band had been associating with at the time. Its synth-heavy arrangement was inspired by Kraftwerk and Giorgio Moroder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Another Nail in My Heart</span> 1980 single by Squeeze

"Another Nail in My Heart" is a 1980 song by new wave band Squeeze. Written by Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook, it was released on the album Argybargy. Notable for Tilbrook's guitar solo right after the first verse, the song features marimba in its opening at the suggestion of newly acquired bassist John Bentley. Difford has expressed disappointment with his lyrics on the song, though he praised Tilbrook's solo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pulling Mussels (from the Shell)</span> 1980 single by Squeeze

"Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)" is a song by the band Squeeze. First released on the 1980 album Argybargy, it received positive critical reviews, peaked at No. 44 on the UK Singles Chart, and became one of Squeeze's most popular songs. The song is about singer and guitarist Chris Difford's experiences at a holiday camp.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Messed Around</span> 1981 single by Squeeze

"Messed Around" is a US single released from Squeeze's fourth album, East Side Story.

<i>Singles – 45s and Under</i> 1982 compilation album by Squeeze

Singles – 45's and Under is a compilation album by Squeeze, released on the A&M Records label on 22 October 1982. The album consisted of all their singles from 1978 to 1982 in chronological order, with the exception of "Bang Bang", "Christmas Day" and "When the Hangover Strikes", and included a new song, "Annie Get Your Gun", which was released as a single ahead of the album. It was the band's biggest selling album, having been certified platinum in both the UK and the US.

<i>Spot the Difference</i> 2010 studio album / Greatest hits album by Squeeze

Spot the Difference is a 2010 album by the British new wave group Squeeze. It is the band's thirteenth studio album and consists entirely of new recordings of older Squeeze songs. The songs are arranged as similarly as possible to the original recordings, being done in such a way to invite the listener to 'spot the difference'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">If I Didn't Love You (Squeeze song)</span> 1980 single by Squeeze

"If I Didn't Love You" is the ninth track from Squeeze's album, Argybargy. The song, written by Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford, features lyrics about the early stages of a relationship and the insecurity that comes with it. The song has vocals and a slide guitar solo by Tilbrook.

References

  1. 1 2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Cool for Cats – Squeeze". AllMusic . Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "Squeeze: Cool for Cats". Billboard . Vol. 91, no. 16. 21 April 1979. p. 62. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 522/3. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  4. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Argybargy – Squeeze". AllMusic . Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  5. Larkin, Colin (2011). "Squeeze". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN   978-0-85712-595-8.
  6. Considine, J. D. (2004). "Squeeze". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp.  773–74. ISBN   0-7432-0169-8.
  7. Starr, Red (22 March – 4 April 1979). "Albums". Smash Hits . Vol. 1, no. 8. p. 31.
  8. Watts, Peter (October 2015). "How to Buy". Uncut . No. 221. p. 59.
  9. Christgau, Robert (30 July 1979). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice . Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  10. Christgau, Robert (1981). "S". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor and Fields. ISBN   0-89919-026-X . Retrieved 13 March 2019 via robertchristgau.com.
  11. Woodstra, Chris; Bogdanov, Vladimir; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas, eds. (2002). All Music Guide to Rock (3rd illustrated ed.). Backbeat Books. ISBN   9780879306533.
  12. "Squeeze (2) - Cool For Cats". discogs. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  13. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 316. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  14. "Squeezing the Gold". Cash Box . 2 February 1980. p. 37. Retrieved 3 December 2021 via World Radio History.
  15. "British album certifications – Squeeze – Cool for Cats". British Phonographic Industry.