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

"Messed Around"
Single by Squeeze
from the album East Side Story
Released1981 (US)
Recorded1980
GenreRock, new wave
Length2:40
LabelA&M
Songwriter(s)Chris Difford, Glenn Tilbrook
Producer(s)Roger Bechirian, Elvis Costello
Squeeze singles chronology
"Labelled With Love"
(1981)
"Messed Around"
(1981)
"Black Coffee in Bed"
(1982)

Background edit

Author Jim Drury posed that the song was one which ex-Squeeze member Jools Holland may have enjoyed playing on, to which Glenn Tilbrook said, "Yeah. There was definitely a feeling of 'See what you're missing out on, Jools. Look at all the fun you could be having.' Paul [Carrack] did a great job on it and we recorded it virtually live in the studio."[1] Tillbrook also said that the "song showed what a great band we had at the time, one of Squeeze's strongest line-ups."[1]

Chris Difford said "it actually sounds like Jools [Holland] playing on it. It's a breathtaking solo by Paul. Piano playing does not get any better than that. When we recorded this I felt as though I'd finally arrived, that I was in a proper band with real men. Glenn's guitar sounds very Scotty Moore, with a distant amplifier. It's reminiscent of one of Glenn's earlier solos from when we were younger and a great way to end an album."[1]

Tilbrook also claimed that the song was inspired by the Stray Cats.[2]

Record World said that "Glenn Tilbrook's ultra-cool rockabilly inflections are supported by the band's tasteful piano sprinkles and guitar licks, creating an authentic late-'50s sound."[3]

Track listing edit

  1. "Messed Around" (2:40)
  2. "Yap Yap Yap" (4:13)

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Tillbrook, Glenn; Difford, Chris; Drury, Jim. Squeeze: Song by Song. Sanctuary.
  2. ^ Fanelli, Damian (May 2012). "Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze Talks Gear, Guitar Solos and Future Plans". Guitar World. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  3. ^ "Single Picks" (PDF). Record World. 3 October 1981. p. 10. Retrieved 1 March 2023.

External links edit