Album review: SQUEEZE – The Knowledge

SQUEEZE - The Knowledge

Love Records [Release date 13.10.17]

‘The Knowledge’ is Squeeze’s third album since they reunited back in 2007 and 2015′s ‘Cradle To The Grave’ received rave reviews, plus saw the band gain more exposure as the album formed the soundtrack to the TV series of the same name based on Danny Baker’s early life story.

The main engine room of Squeeze is still present, namely Glen Tilbrook and Chris Difford (who has a recently published memoir out which is well worth a read), who are joined by long standing band members drummer Simon Hanson and keyboards player Stephen Large. These are joined by two new recruits, bass player Yolanda Charles and Dirty Vegas frontman Steve Smith on percussion/backing vocals.

Never ones to shy away from giving their take on the current state of the nation, we have ‘A&E’ looking at the plight of the NHS and how the staff keep on keeping on despite cutbacks, and on ‘Rough Ride’ the line ‘Austerity, austerity is that all you have to give to me?’, gives a damning verdict on society now. But in typical Squeeze fashion both are wrapped in sweet and memorable melodies. ‘Rough Ride’ is a musical tour de force with an operatic vocal, the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS choir and a children’s choir.

The band’s humour is present as well as ‘Please Be Upstanding’ is a jolly ditty about erectile dysfunction and ‘Albatross’ looks at the record collector trying to recapture lost youth through vinyl. ‘Departure Lounge’ should be the next single, a wonderful melody and a mellotron is used to recreate the departure lounger tannoy and taking off.

Squeeze are continuing their purple patch they started on ‘Cradle To The Grave’ and ‘The Knowledge’ will delight fans new and old. Pop with a message and memorable melodies doesn’t get much better than this. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie


Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Josh Taerk Sunday Sessions 2024

Latest session: Sunday 25 February
Next session: Sunday 14 April

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 3 March 2024.


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 5 March 2024.

How to Listen Live?

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

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

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 again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com


Power Plays w/c 18 March 2024

GYPSY’S KISS We’ve Come To Play
FM Out Of The Blue (Frontiers)
SHOTGUN MISTRESS Shot Down (indie)
ATTIC THEORY Violent Delight (indie)
FLOYA Yume (FiXT)
SAHAJI Tell Me All Your Feelings (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 18 March 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 LEAVES’ EYES Myths Of Fate (AFM Records)
14:00-16:00 HOLLY LERSKI Sweet Decline (indie)


To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account



Popular (last 10 days)


This entry was posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS and tagged , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply