Search - Squeeze :: Argybargy (Dlx)

One of the band's masterpieces gets deluxe treatment on CD

Wayne Klein | My Little Blue Window, USA | 08/08/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One of Squeeze's best albums gets the deluxe treatment including a second disc from the band's pivotal Hammersmith Odeon show from 3/9/80.



The original album is on the first disc and is supplemented by nine bonus tracks including the two from the 1997 reissue/remaster plus "Pretty One", "Farfisa Beat", "Going Crazy", Library Girl", an early version of "Someone Else's Heart" produced by EC and RB and that when retooled ended up on the EC/RB produced "East Side Story" and an early working version of "If I Didn't Love You". As far as the sound goes this remaster goes good and isn't any louder/compressed than the 1997 reissue remastered by Roger Wake and Glenn Tilbrook. The dynamic range isn't quite as wide as the first CD issue but it sounds like better tapes were used for this edition and remastering engineer Frank DeLuna does a good job for a modern remaster.



The second disc features a live concert plus the Argy Bargy Radio Commercial that played in the United States (there wasn't one in the UK I guess or they couldn't locate it for this release)done by Jools Holland. It's quite amusing.



After that the concert begins and we get what appears to be the entire show minus any brief breaks between songs. We get everything from "Slap and Tickle" to their latest hits (at the time)"Pulling Mussels (From a Shell)" and the curious U.S. single choice of "If I Didn't Love You". The band covers the highlights of their previous two albums plus there's a new cover song "Mess Around" a song that Ray Charles performed.



We also get a deluxe booklet with an essay, lots of photos of memoriabilia, the complete lyrics for the original album tracks, pix of 45 sleeves, etc. I have to give credit to UMC for doing a marvelous job on the packaging.



It's a pity that all the back catalog Squeeze albums didn't get the deluxe treatment like this. Still, the reissues of "Sweets from a Stranger", "Frank" and "Ridiculous" do have a lot of bonus tracks and are an improvement over the 1997 remasters which only had two bonus tracks each.



If you're a fan of Squeeze and this album in particularly it's well worth upgrading to get the bonus tracks and the concert. Recommended."

Cocoa Mugs Sit Side By Side...

Pasko1 | Bergen County, the jewel of NJ | 08/18/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As a 14-year-old in the summer of 1980, I was surrounded by pubescent stoners in Grateful Dead t-shirts. This album, along with Blondie's Parallel Lines, The Cars Candy-O, Graham Parker's Squeezing Out Sparks, and others stood out as beacons in the wilderness -- literate, tuneful, well-crafted power-pop gems. While most radio stations were playing Sweet Home Alabama fourteen times a day, the local new wave station pumped out Squeeze, Polecats, Rockats, Stray Cats, Josie Cotton, The Knack, Devo, The Kings...



Somewhere around 1986, a lot of these bands disbanded or evolved and hair-metal became all the rage. While you would be hard-pressed to find a lot of Kerrang magazine stuff at this point, classic albums like Argybargy endure. Sometimes, record companies can actually get it right and come out with a great product like this one. Not only has the classic album never sounded better, especially compared to my 1987-vintage grey-spine CD, but the additional material is well worth the extra cost. In fact, disc 2 can very well stand alone as a live album which ought to be released individually. I was lucky enough to see Squeeze live in the mid-80's on their Cosi Fan Tutti-Frutti tour. This disc captures every ounce of the energy and musicianship of their live performance.



Another nice touch is including the lyrics, which I haven't seen since my original vinyl LP copy of the album. Difford and Tilbrook are rightly considered tunesmiths on par with Cole Porter. "Cocoa mugs sit side by side" (from If I Didn't Love You). How many bands can come up with lyrics like this?



A true classic, presented in fine form. Highly recommended."

A superb reissue with a great live 2nd disc

James F. Mcdermott | Brooklyn NY United States | 06/16/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you thought the original album was great, you'll love this deluxe edition. The remastered sound is crisp, dynamic and uncompressed, it sounds as good as vinyl. But it's the live 2nd disc that takes the cake, the band has so much energy, they are super tight and sound like they're having a great time playing together.



If you're a Squeeze fan, this is a must purchase. NOT for completists only!"