Labelled With Like: "Trixies," A Good, Not Great Squeeze Album

 

I have listened to "Trixies," the new old record from Squeeze, four times, giving it an old school spin on the last go around, holding the inner sleeve with the lyrics, and reading along like the grand old days. My feeling on all four spins has not changed. It's a good record. It's not great.

"Trixies," without an apostrophe, is a concept album written by Difford & Tilbrook when they were teenagers, I believe three or four years before Squeeze's debut. To my ears, it's the least Squeeze sounding album in the catalogue and I can't decide if that's due to the material pre-dating when they became a band or due to the legendary duo getting older.

One problem for me and what makes "Trixies" good and not great, is Side Two. After a strong start, the record seems to fizzle out, especially with the three songs that close the record. "The Jaguars" is a simple nothing of a rock and roll song. The title track, in two parts, has little going for it. The song right before that trifecta, is a song written solely by Chris Difford called "It's Over," which is a lovely bit of music that sounds more like Richard Hawley than Squeeze. Reading along and following the "story," the record should have ended bigger. Though, maybe Chris and Glenn thought it did.

Most of my pleasure came from Side One which has the type of melodies and wordplay that made me love this band in the first place, though there is one bright spot on Side Two, a song called "Why Don't You," the one track that is most reminiscent of the band in their prime. 

A friend was telling me that he heard Glenn Tilbrook mention on a podcast that this might be the last Squeeze record. There had been a new record already in the works while finishing up the "Trixies" project, but as Tilbrook explained, people don't care about or buy new music anymore, so why bother completing the project. I hope he changes his mind. The last two Squeeze records "Cradle To The Grave" and "The Knowledge" were both excellent, and going out with "Trixies," without an apostrophe, just ain't fittin'.

 

 

"You're Getting Married"

 

 

First released as a bonus track on the 2008 reissue of "Stink," and then again, buried deep on 2021's deluxe boxed set of "Sorry Ma, Forgot To Take Out The Trash," Paul Westerberg's solo demo "You're Getting Married" is an intense piece of work. This popped up while my iPod was doing the shuffle a few weeks ago and it left me frozen in my subway seat as I made my way into the Manhattan.

The rest of the band hated it, with Bob Stinson telling Paul to "save it for your solo album." But listening to it a few more times since it first surprised me on that train made me realize two things- Westerberg doesn't get talked about enough when discussing songwriters and I miss him.

 

You're like a guitar in the hands
Of a man that just can't play
You're like an inmate countin' off the days
You're like a student on vacation
That's waitin' for school to resume
Like a flower in the dark,
Never gonna bloom

You're getting married
You're getting married
You're getting married--oh no...

Well, you say that you'll both be real happy
You forgot to tell your eyes
You're like a bird in a cage
Watchin' the flock fly on by
You're like a student who's on vacation
Just waitin' for school to start
I don't know what's in it for you,
But it ain't in your heart...

You're getting married
You're getting married
You're getting married--oh no.oh no...

You're like a guitar in the hands
Of some fool that just can't play
You're like an inmate countin' off the days
Well, you say that you'll both be happy
Hey, you forgot to tell your eyes
You're like a bird in a cage
Watchin' the flock fly on by

You're like a student on vacation
Just waitin' for school to resume
You're like a flower in the dark,
You ain't never gonna bloom
If you get married
If you get married
Don't you get married
No, no, no no...

The Bestacle Of Spectacle

 

Elvis Costello's "Spectacle" lasted for only two seasons. In a perfect world, we would still be watching today. Big name artists and music obsessives sat together on the stage, discussing their influences, telling stories and singing together. Levon Helm, Allen Toussaint, Bono, Richard Thompson, James Taylor, Rosanne Cash, Lou Reed, Bruce Springsteen and co-producer Elton John, were just some of the legends that shared their time with Elvis.

I hadn't thought about the show in years, but sharing the Norah Jones song last week reminded me that I had some audio. 

So here is something I put together for your listening pleasure. If memory serves, all of the guests were backed by The Imposters.

TRACKLIST:

Ballad Of A Well Known Gun- Elvis Costello & The Imposters
Seven Year Ache- Rosanne Cash & Norah Jones
Tennessee Jed- Allen Toussaint, Nick Lowe, Richard Thompson, Levon Helm, Larry Campbell & E.C.
Everyday I Write The Book- Ron Sexsmith, Jesse Winchester, Sheryl Crow & E.C.
Crying In The Rain- James Taylor & E.C.
Show Biz Kids- E.C.
Straight To Hell- Jakob Dylan & E.C.
Sham-A-Ling- Dong-Ding- Jesse Winchester
The Longest Days- John Mellencamp
Don't Forget Me- Neko Case
How Many Times Have You Broken My Heart- Norah Jones & E.C.
Shoot Out The Lights- Richard Thompson & E.C.
Border Song- Allen Toussaint & E.C.
April 5th- E.C. , Rosanne Cash, & Kris Kristofferson
Ring Them Bells- Ron Sexsmith, Sheryl Crow & E.C.
Perfect Day- Lou Reed- & E.C.
Sunday Morning Coming Down- Kris Kristofferson
Down River- Elton John & E.C.

zip 

 

ICYMI- Pete

 

Songs Of The Week, 2026: 2/28-3/6

 

Rasta Army- Wingless Angels
Who Was That- Deee-Lite
Twisted Track- Nucleus
I Ain't Coming Back- The Orlons
How Many Times Have You Broken My Heart- Norah Jones
Sit Down Servant- Staple Singers
Blast Off- The Hi-Risers 

zip 

Rasta Army- Wingless Angels
(Legendary reggae artist Justin Hinds and some of the best nyabinghi musicians in Jamaica gathered together in Keith Richards living room in Ocho Rios and played beautiful, spiritual music together, with Keef on acoustic guitar and backing vocals. Gorgeous.)

Who Was That- Deee-Lite
("World Clique" has really held up. Hard to believe it's 35 years old.)

Twisted Track- Nucleus
(From the 1970 Vertigo release "Elastic Rock," here's a Chris Spedding tune that stood out from that great record.)

I Ain't Coming Back- The Orlons
(An amazing b-side and a Northern soul cult classic.)

How Many Times Have You Broken My Heart- Norah Jones
(First time I heard this was when Norah Jones performed it live on Elvis Costello's "Spectacle." It knocked me out hearing Jones, Rosanne Cash, Kris Kristofferson and EC harmonize on this unreleased Hank Williams tune. Studio version felt like a disappointment when it was released, but I'm over it. This is a killer track.)

Sit Down Servant- Staple Singers
(Bob Dylan's favorite.)

Blast Off- The Hi-Risers 
(Thanks to our friend Jeff K, I got to hear The Hi-Risers for the first time. This is more fun than a barrel of Fruit Loops.)

Records For Sale

 

Hi,

I know many of you find it offputting when I hawk my wares or ask for donations, but the bottom line is, I could use the business. I am practically giving records away and sadly, too many remain unsold. So, I dropped prices again, a March Madness Sale, if you will.

Please take a look at my modest but potent inventory at this link. There's something for everyone. And if vinyl isn't your thing, please consider dropping a bit in the bucket. As I mentioned earlier, in order to keep the mixes coming here and over at Now Playing, I have to shell out monthly. If the record business was better, I wouldn't care. But a few people close to me, long time readers and supporters of this blog, encouraged me to ask. So I am asking.

Thanks for your indulgence, and apologies if I offended anyone. 

Rock 4 Syd

 

About 25 years ago, NYCD had put together a modest but potent power pop and psych section in the shop. We were ordering from Not Lame, a label you might have heard of, on a regular basis, and we had a decent amount of customers who would take chances on relatively obscure CDs by bands like Wanderlust, Tubetop, and Rockfour, an Israeli rock and psych band, among many others.

I had not thought about Rockfour since their 2000 release "Supermarket," but thanks to my Todd Rundgren group, I was sent a copy of their new record, "Rockfour Playing Syd Barrett."  

It's only March, but this record will be at the top of my list of year's best.

Two things:

It's not just a covers record. These are not note for note replicas.

And... 

I don't believe you need to be a Syd Barrett fan to dig what's going on here. As a matter of fact, I believe if you're not a Syd Barrett fan, you will become one after one pass of this very exciting collection of tunes.