Squeeze – Cool for Cats (1979)

Formed by main songwriters Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook the band broke on the scene in the late Seventies.  They were NOT punk but had a DIY sort of sound, raw and real rock and roll and then there were those lyrics.   They were from Deptford, East London and sung unfashionably in London Accents and their songs were famously about ordinary working-class life in what was then the poor East End.  A completely original sound and quite successful at the time, squeezed between punk and the New Romantics.  They had Jools Holland in the band for a few years too.   Hit singles from this album were ‘Up The Junction’ and ‘Cool For Cats’ which both reached number 2.   This was actually their second album but the first to break through really.  My favourite tracks are ‘Up The Junction’, ‘Goodbye Girl’ and ‘Slap and Tickle’ which was great social commentary.  As usual it was the incredible songs which made both this record and the group the success they were.