Album review: SQUEEZE – Cradle To The Grave

[Release date 02.10.15]

Squeeze return with their first album of new songs since 1998. The impetus for this has come from radio and TV veteran Danny Baker’s memoir being made into a TV series. Squeeze have provided a soundtrack of songs to go with the period the series is set, namely the mid-late 1970′s and taking the book as their cue for most of the song’s themes.

Squeeze mainstays Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford, are joined by drummer Simon Hanson, keyboards player Stephen Large and relative newcomer Lucy Shaw sharing bass duties with John Bentley, who has now left the band. There are a few guests including a couple of Nine Below Zero band members in Mark Feltham and Dennis Greaves.

Being a Squeeze album there is plenty of jaunty, upbeat pop from the title track through to the 70′s disco beat with strings on ‘Nirvana’ (which has a piano intro lifted straight from a Boomtown Rats classic!). ‘Happy Days’ has been released as the single and it is the most instant song on here, although to be fair Difford and Tilbrook don’t pen songs that lack appeal.

‘Beautiful Game’ is a misty eyed look at the football from the 50′s and 60′s. As Danny Baker is a Millwall fan, so unlikely they ever had any glory days and only got misty eyed when running from away fans.

‘Sunny’ is a lovely mix of ELO-approved strings and some 70′s musical sounds, on a song that recalls the sunnier side of living through the 1970′s. ‘Honeytrap’ deserves to be another single with an ice cream van riff, okay it is most probably a keyboard but it does sound like an ice cream van! The harmonica playing of Mark Feltham gives the song a real kick midway through.

The good thing about this album is that although the majority of the songs form a soundtrack to a TV series, the songs stand fine on their own. Yes there is a heavy nostalgia and love-in with the 1970′s; however this is where Squeeze come into their own detailing the small parts of everyday life and creating perfect pearls of pop. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions,

Check out radio stream repeat on Tuesday 8th (16:00 GMT) and Thursday 10th April (21:00 GMT)
Next Session: Sunday 4 May

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 6 April 2025.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast on 8 April 2025

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen live or listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 21 April 2025

THE DEVIL WEARS NADA Late Night Talking (Eonian Records)
DROWNING POOL Madness (SBG Records)
PARKER BARROW Make It (indie)
REDIKIN Nailed It (Wormholedeath)
PENNY FOUNTAIN Euphoria (indie)
CRY FOR MERCY Saving Grace (indie)
VIGILANTES Life In The Fast Brain (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 21 April 2025

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Singer Songwriter)

Our occasional Newsletter signposts latest additions to the website(s). We also include a selection of recent top albums, based on GRTR! reviewer ratings. The newsletter is sent out a few times a year.

If you’d like to register to receive this occasional mailing please complete the form:

If using a smartphone/tablet please tap here or re-orientate your device

(Note that this registration is separate from site registration which allows you to leave comments and receive daily emails about new content. If you wish to register for this – in addition or separately – please click or tap here – for more information – the form is at the foot of each page. Please read our privacy policy when opting-in to receive emails.