Sweets from a Stranger

2024-05-06T20:03:12Z

24.105.230.116: /* Bonus tracks (2008 reissue only) */ link to Annie…

{{For|the Italian film|Sweets from a Stranger (film)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2014}}
{{more citations needed|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Sweets from a Stranger
| type = studio
| artist = [[Squeeze (band)|Squeeze]]
| cover = Sweetsfromastranger.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{start date|1982|4|df=yes}}
| recorded = 1981–1982
| studio = [[Ramport Studios|Ramport]], London
| genre = [[New wave music|New wave]], [[power pop]], [[post-punk]]
| length = 46:24
| label = [[A&M Records|A&M]]
| producer =
* Squeeze
* [[Phil McDonald]]
| prev_title = [[East Side Story (Squeeze album)|East Side Story]]
| prev_year = 1981
| next_title = [[Singles – 45's and Under]]
| next_year = 1982
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Sweets from a Stranger
| type = studio
| single1 = [[Black Coffee in Bed]]
| single1date = 9 April 1982
| single2 = [[When the Hangover Strikes]]
| single2date = July 1982
| single3 = [[I've Returned]]
| single3date = 1982 (Netherlands only)
}}
}}
'''''Sweets from a Stranger''''' is the fifth [[studio album]] by the British [[New wave music|new wave]] group [[Squeeze (band)|Squeeze]], released April 30, 1982 through [[A&M Records|A&M]]. The album peaked at number 20 in the [[UK Albums Chart]].<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book |first=David |last=Roberts |year=2006 |title=[[British Hit Singles & Albums]] |edition=19th |publisher=Guinness World Records Limited |location=London |isbn=1-904994-10-5 |pages=522–23}}</ref> 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 (album)|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.<ref name="ReferenceA">David Bailey, CD notes for expanded edition of "Sweets For A Stranger" 2008</ref>

== Background and recording ==

''Sweets from a Stranger'' was recorded during a period of tumult for the band, with tensions exacerbated by the band's continued touring and the pressures on the [[Chris Difford|Difford]]–[[Glenn Tilbrook|Tilbrook]] songwriting team from being compared to [[Lennon–McCartney]]. Tilbrook explained, "The band was not in a happy place on the year from [[East Side Story (Squeeze album)|''East Side Story'']] to ''Sweets from a Stranger''. There were some great songs on ''Sweets from a Stranger'', but the band itself did not feel great; there was dark cloud above us. It was just hard work being on the road then, and it was an odd time. Really, when you're having that sort of success, no manager is going to say, 'You need to stop for a while.' And no one did, so we had to."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-10 |title=Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook on 50 years of Squeeze and why being compared to Lennon and McCartney was 'unfortunately not great' |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/50-years-of-squeeze-being-compared-to-lennon-mccartney-233534123.html |access-date=2023-10-11 |website=Yahoo Entertainment |language=en-US}}</ref>

[[Paul Carrack]] had left the band to work on his solo career and work as a studio musician. He was replaced by [[Don Snow]]. Snow would later appear with [[Procol Harum]] and [[Tina Turner]] on their respective albums and tours. Snow would later change his name to Jonn Savannah.

Within a year after the release of this album, Squeeze broke up. Difford and Tilbrook carried on releasing an album under both of their names before reforming Squeeze with the band's original drummer [[Gilson Lavis]] and keyboardist [[Jools Holland]]. [[Keith Wilkinson (musician)|Keith Wilkinson]] who had toured with [[Difford & Tilbrook|Difford and Tilbrook]] replaced [[John Bentley (musician)|John Bentley]] for the reunion album ''[[Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti]]''.

In 1997, the CD was released in the UK with two bonus tracks, as part of the ''[[Six of One...]]'' box set. The set included the band's first six studio albums, each digitally remastered. These CDs were made available for individual purchase in 1998.

A 2008 reissue included the two 1997 bonus tracks, and added a further seven tracks.

== Music ==
Detailing the stylistic direction of ''Sweets from a Stranger'',<ref name="Erlewine" /> [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] opined that Squeeze "wound up largely ditching the [[Pop music|pop]] classicism of ''[[East Side Story (Squeeze album)|East Side Story]]'' for a gangly [[New wave music|new wave]] experimentalism".<ref name="Erlewine" /> "I've Returned" has been likened to [[Bruce Springsteen]] in sound,<ref name="song by song">{{cite book |last1=Tillbrook |first1=Glenn |last2=Difford |first2=Chris |last3=Drury |first3=Jim |title=Squeeze: Song by Song |publisher=Sanctuary}}</ref> while Erlewine detailed "Onto the Dance Floor" to be "wannabe [[David Bowie|Bowie]]".<ref name="Erlewine" />

== Reception ==
=== Critical reception ===
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}<ref name="Erlewine">{{cite web |last1=Erlewine |first1=Stephen Thomas |title=Sweets from a Stranger - Squeeze - Songs, Reviews, Credits |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/sweets-from-a-stranger-mw0000193270 |website=AllMusic |access-date=4 January 2021}}</ref>
|rev2 = [[Robert Christgau]]
|rev2score = B+<ref name="RC">{{cite web |title=Squeeze |url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Squeeze |website=Robert Christgau |access-date=13 July 2023}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Tucker |first1=Ken |title=Squeeze Sweets from a Stranger |magazine=Rolling Stone |issue=371 |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/squeeze/albums/album/105936/review/5943384/sweets_from_a_stranger|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821003402/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/squeeze/albums/album/105936/review/5943384/sweets_from_a_stranger |archive-date=21 August 2008 }}</ref>
}}
''[[Trouser Press]]'' wrote that "I've Returned" "soars on the strength of ringing guitars and an exuberant Tilbrook vocal."<ref>{{cite web |title=Squeeze |url=https://trouserpress.com/reviews/squeeze/ |website=Trouser Press |access-date=13 July 2023}}</ref>

[[AllMusic]]'s [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] gave a mixed and predominantly critical summary of ''Sweets from a Stranger''.<ref name="Erlewine" /> Despite noting "connections" to the band's acclaimed ''East Side Story'' and speaking positively of songs including "[[I've Returned]]" and the "sublime" peak "[[Black Coffee in Bed]]",<ref name="Erlewine" /> Erlewine wrote-off much of the effort as "[[New wave music|new wave]] clatter".<ref name="Erlewine" />

=== Artist's reflection ===
In retrospect both composers were critical of the album stating feeling that the songwriting and the production weren't up to par compared to what they did before.<ref>David Bailey, CD Notes "Sweets For A Stranger", 2008</ref> The American edition of the album featured praise for Difford and Tilbrook songs which both felt created additional pressure to create a classic with every single song. Difford commented "You just write to please yourself first of all...if other people like it, that's a bonus."<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

==Track listing==
All songs written by [[Chris Difford]] and [[Glenn Tilbrook]].
# "Out of Touch" – 3:50
# "I Can't Hold On" – 3:34
# "Points of View" – 4:12
# "Stranger Than the Stranger on the Shore" – 3:19
# "Onto the Dance Floor" – 3:37
# "[[When the Hangover Strikes]]" – 4:29
# "[[Black Coffee in Bed]]" – 6:12
# "[[I've Returned]]" – 2:34
# "Tongue Like a Knife" – 4:10
# "His House Her Home" – 3:23
# "The Very First Dance" – 3:17
# "[[The Elephant Ride]]" – 3:22

===Bonus tracks (1997 & 2008 reissues)===
#<li value=13>"I Can't Get Up Anymore" – 3:55
# "When Love Goes to Sleep" – 3:44

===Bonus tracks (2008 reissue only)===
# <li value=15>"[[Annie Get Your Gun (song)|Annie Get Your Gun]]" – 3:25
# "I'm At Home Tonight" – 3:23
# "Elephant Girl" – 3:38
# "Spanish Guitar" – 2:46
# "Tomorrow's World (His House Her Home)" (Glenn Tilbrook Demo) – 3:09
# "Whenever We Meet" (Demo Version) – 2:58
# "Last Call For Love" – 3:28

== Personnel ==
'''Squeeze'''
* [[Chris Difford]] – rhythm guitars, backing vocals, lead vocals on "His House Her Home"
* [[Glenn Tilbrook]] – lead guitars, keyboards, lead and backing vocals
* [[Don Snow]] – keyboards, backing vocals
* [[John Bentley (musician)|John Bentley]] – bass guitar, backing vocals
* [[Gilson Lavis]] – drums

'''Additional personnel'''
* [[Del Newman]] – string arrangements
* [[Elvis Costello]] – backing vocals on "Black Coffee in Bed"
* [[Paul Young]] – backing vocals on "Black Coffee in Bed"

'''Production'''
* Squeeze – producers, cover design
* Phil McDonald – producer, engineer
* Butch Yates – assistant engineer
* Frank DeLuna – mastering at [[A&M Studios|A&M Mastering Studios]] (Hollywood, California, US)
* Simon Ryan – cover design
* Michael Putland – cover photography

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040803141124/http://www.mp3.com/albums/15159/summary.html Album summary]

{{Squeeze}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Squeeze (band) albums]]
[[Category:1982 albums]]
[[Category:A&M Records albums]]

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Sweets from a Stranger