“Tempted” (Squeeze)

This week’s final classic early ’80s song of the day is “Tempted” by Squeeze. Released in July of 1981, this one was a bigger hit in the UK than the U.S., hitting #41 on the Brit charts and #49 on the Billboard Hot 100.

“Tempted” was written by head Squeezers Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook. Difford described how the song came to him as he was riding yet another taxi to yet another airport for yet another tour:

“The original story behind ‘Tempted’ is we’re going on another American tour. I got on a taxi and I started writing down what I saw lyrically. I don’t know the course of time of how long it took, but then I gave Glenn the lyrics and then Glenn put the music to it. It’s an extraordinary song. It’s one of the most played songs that we have in our catalog.”

The song has a definite Motown/Temptations feel, and that was deliberate, down to the rotating vocals in the second verse. Elvis Costello produced it and helped select the band’s then-keyboardist Paul Carrack to sing lead. (Normally Tilbrook would’ve had lead vocal duties.) That was a winning combination; Carrack’s voice has a soulful quality that matches his R&B influenced keyboard skills. (You probably know Paul Carrack as the lead singer for Ace’s “How Long,” Mike + The Mechanics’ “The Living Years,” and his own “Don’t Shed a Tear.”)

Difford and Tilbrook were hailed by some as the next Lennon and McCartney. They weren’t, but they were still wrote a ton of really good songs. Not all were hits in the U.S. (they were bigger at home), but boy, the guys could sure write a catchy tune. If you’re a fan, you what I’m talking about, songs like “Take Me, I’m Yours,” “Cool for Cats,” “Up the Junction,” “Pulling Mussels from the Shell,” “Black Coffee in Bed,” “Another Nail in My Heart,” “Labelled with Love.” and lots more. If you don’t know their work, go out and get their Singles—45s and Under, one of the best greatest hits albums ever. It’s chock full of catchy tunes that sound as fresh today as they did forty years ago.

And here’s your daily bonus video of the day, the original Temptations-influenced music video for “Tempted.” It’s not quite as polished as the one you might remember, but it has its charms.