Ridiculous is an album by the British new wave group Squeeze. It was the band's eleventh studio album, and it introduced their latest drummer Kevin Wilkinson (no relation to bassist Keith Wilkinson). As on the previous album, Some Fantastic Place, the band recorded one song penned by Keith Wilkinson. This time, however, Wilkinson did not perform the lead vocals. That song, "Got to Me", is the last Wilkinson would write with Squeeze. Chris Difford sang lead on two songs, "Long Face" and "Fingertips". He had not performed lead on an album cut since "Slaughtered, Gutted and Heartbroken" and "Love Circles" on the 1989 album Frank. This record was produced by Glenn Tilbrook and Peter Smith.

The album spent one week at number 50 in the UK Albums Chart.

Music

A clear distinction, noted by Stephen Thomas Erlewine, between Ridiculous and predecessors such as Play and Some Fantastic Place was a "stripped-down, matter of fact production", The Independent stated the song was "an odd reverse homage which seeks to reclaim Squeeze's rightful place in the Cockney Brit-pop hierarchy", but also "the best track here". Newsday stated the single "is tailor-made for pop radio".

Release

To promoted the album, the band released their first single, "This Summer", on 21 August 1995. Two versions of the single were released, each with entirely different B-sides. Disc 1 contained a live cover of Britpop group Blur's song "End of a Century". The single peaked at number 36 in the UK Singles Chart in September 1995.

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic gave a primarily praising summary of Ridiculous,

Track listing

All songs written by Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook except as indicated.

  1. "Electric Trains" – 4:03
  2. "Heaven Knows" – 4:34
  3. "Grouch of the Day" – 3:27
  4. "Walk Away" – 4:43
  5. "This Summer" – 3:39
  6. "Got to Me" (Keith Wilkinson) – 3:45
  7. "Long Face" – 4:31
  8. "I Want You" – 4:03
  9. "Daphne" – 3:44
  10. "Lost for Words" – 1:59
  11. "Great Escape" – 3:27
  12. "Temptation for Love" – 3:37
  13. "Sound Asleep" – 4:38
  14. "Fingertips" – 5:40
  15. "This Road" – 3:09 *
  16. "This Summer", remix – 3:33 *
  17. "Cappuccino Lips (Fingertips)" – 4:06 *
  18. "Electric Trains", live acoustic – 3:37 *
  19. "I Want You", live acoustic – 3:41 *
  20. "Grouch Of The Day", live acoustic – 3:10 *

Tracks 15–20 are bonus tracks on the 2007 Expanded Edition

Personnel

Squeeze

  • Chris Difford – guitars, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Long Face" and "Fingertips"
  • Glenn Tilbrook – keyboards, guitars, lead and backing vocals
  • Keith Wilkinson – bass, backing vocals
  • Kevin Wilkinson – drums, cymbals

with:

  • Chris Braide – backing vocals
  • Cathy Dennis – co-lead vocals on "Temptation for Love"
  • Jon Savannah – keyboards on "Walk Away"

Production

  • Glenn Tilbrook – producer
  • Peter Smith – producer, arrangements
  • Squeeze – arrangements
  • Barry Hammond – engineer
  • Ben Darlow – assistant engineer
  • Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing
  • Alan Douglas – mix assistant
  • Jegs – mix assistant
  • Kevin Shaw – design

References

  • Album summary