I was looking at some videos when I ran across this live,
impromptu version of the old Squeeze hit "Tempted". Glenn Tillbrook
was backstage, getting ready to perform in New York City when he did this for
an interviewer from "Culture Catch!" What an impressive vocal performance; with no
special acoustics provided; simply a guitar and an incredibly clear voice. But
then again, he and Jools Holland always did amaze me with their vocals; as well
as their writing.
I was in the Middle East for the entire year in 1981. I
only made it home for a month in April and then again in late November. I used
to miss out on a lot of new music while at sea. There was no satellite radio,
VCR's etc. to keep us abreast of the new music, or even the news. Actually,
when I think about it, it was pretty cool to not be bothered by the daily blitz
of what's going on.
But, when we did get to a port we devoured everything we
could find. I found Squeeze on a bootlegged cassette tape in an Arab souk in
Alexandria. The guy had a whole cart full of every type of music you can
imagine. And I mean a cart; as in horse drawn.
The whole market was strung with bare white light bulbs,
like a state fair. There was music coming from the numerous boom boxes; which
were for sale; and the music was a cacophony of sound from everywhere
imaginable. There were African drums, Muslim calls to Prayer, Pop music like
Squeeze, Symphonies and even Gregorian Chants; all available on these
bootlegged tapes.
Food was another commodity which all sailors were eager
to sample ashore. We ate well aboard ship, but steak and eggs; lobster and all
the western foods paled beside the mysteries of something new. Spices filled
the air and smoke from all the cooking fires made the night a bit hazy; the
bare lights notwithstanding.
To this day, whenever I hear a song by Squeeze, I am
instantly transported back to the time and place where I first heard their music. The cassette tape I bought that night became one of my favorites.
I'm
not sure, but I think it has a lot to do with the fact that
"Argybargy"; the album I had purchased; was largely about the Middle
East and the Mediterranean coast; which is exactly where I was working at the
time. The album was probably already over a year old. Sometimes being the last
one to learn about something new can be very timely.
To compare the quality of Mr. Tillbrook's voice in the
studio with his performance above, hit this link;
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