Babylon and On
Squeeze's seventh album, featuring their biggest US hit.
It became the band's highest-charting studio album in the UK at the time, peaking at number 14. The album also produced their biggest US hit single, "Hourglass."
Quick Facts
- Artist
- Squeeze
- Released
- 7 September 1987
- Recorded
- July 1986 – June 1987
- Genre
- New wave, pop rock
- Length
- 42:05
- Label
- A&M
- Producer
- Eric "ET" Thorngren; Glenn Tilbrook
Facts from the source article.
History
For this album, Eric "ET" Thorngren shared production duties with Glenn Tilbrook. The band became a sextet by adding Andy Metcalfe, formerly of the Soft Boys, where he played bass. Here, however, Metcalfe worked as a second keyboardist alongside Jools Holland. Although the album’s packaging and promotional materials presented him as a full member, the detailed musician credits show he contributed to just three tracks: "Tough Love," "The Prisoner," and "Some Americans." Metcalfe departed Squeeze before their next record, though he later collaborated with Tilbrook on solo projects.
Release
Chris Difford attributed this success largely to the music video, noting that fans often complimented the video rather than the album. The second UK single, "Trust Me to Open My Mouth," reached number 72 in the UK Singles Chart. That song originated from an answering machine jingle using Glenn Tilbrook's actual phone number. Despite its commercial performance, both Tilbrook and Difford have expressed dislike for the song, with Difford calling it "a very lame song" and noting they changed their minds about it. The music video features black and white clips and the band performing inside what appears to be a telephone, surrounded by oversized electronics and circuitry; bassist Keith Wilkinson plays an Ormston fretless bass in the video.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Babylon and On released?
Babylon and On was released on 7 September 1987.
What genre is Babylon and On?
Babylon and On is classified as new wave and pop rock.
More in A&M Records Albums
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