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The
unmistakable golden voice of Squeeze, Glenn Tilbrook, is
back with his
debut solo album, The Incomplete Glenn Tilbrook. Incomplete, full
of catchy
hooks and pop melodies, is the logical progression from Squeeze,
which he
co-founded with Chris Difford in 1973 and subsequently released
13 albums.
Their first hit single, "Take Me I'm Yours," came in 1978
and was followed
by a steady stream of hits, many of which have entered the canon
of pop
folklore, including, "Black Coffee in Bed," "Pulling
Mussels (From The
Shell)" and "Tempted." Along the way Tilbrook and
Squeeze have become
identified with a particularly London-oriented style of high quality
pop
song that bears comparison with the classic works of the Beatles
and The
Kinks.
Born in Woolwich, Southeast London, Tilbrook has been smitten with
music
ever since his Mum took him to see Cliff Richard in the film "Summer
Holiday". As he describes it: "Any ideas I may have had
of pursuing the
more traditional career options of a five year old, such as a policeman
or
fireman, went out of the window. Being in a band, travelling around
in a double-decker bus, stopping at a beach somewhere and being
surrounded
by adoring fans as you played a tune or two, looked too good to
me to
consider anything else. Fortunately, I never changed my mind."
Growing up in the 60s with an older brother who was a keen fan of
the
Rolling Stones, The Who and Small Faces, the young Tilbrook had
to take a
different position and so favoured the Monkees and the Beatles.
Later there
was some common ground with the American soul and blues artists
on the Motown and Stax labels. Undoubtedly, the music that Tilbrook
absorbed throughout this
most fertile period in pop history has served as his biggest influence
as a
songwriter.
Glenn has recorded with countless legends over the years, among
them Elvis
Costello, Robyn Hitchcock, Aimee Mann and Mark Knopfler. Additionally,
numerous Squeeze songs have been afforded the ultimate tribute?being
covered
by other artists, such as Joe Cocker and Sting. Tilbrook has also
demonstrated his musical talents behind the mixing board
as he produced Nick Harper1s Smithereens album in 1997. It was later
released on Tilbrook's newly formed Quixotic Records label.
Now Tilbrook has finally decided the time is right to release his
own solo
record. Of course, Incomplete is anything but?rather it is an album
of
beautiful harmonies wrapped in classic Tilbrook pop. Incomplete
is a well
crafted masterpiece that is undeniably fresh and completely Glenn
Tilbrook.
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