In the early 1980s, Squeeze was not alone in its crafting of smart, image-driven tunes. [16], Though the song did not chart in the United States, it became a hit on the country's college radio stations and in new wave clubs. This is not a place to be come fall. Pulling Mussels (from the Shell) This song is by Squeeze and appears… on the 2008 reissue of the album Argybargy (1980) on the compilation album Singles 45's and Under (1982) on the live album A Round and a Bout (1990) on the compilation album Greatest Hits (1992) on the compilation album Essential Squeeze (2007) on the live album Five Live: On Tour in America (2007) View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1980 Red Vinyl release of Pulling Mussels (From The Shell) on Discogs. Longtime pop rock band, Squeeze, is known for their catchy, organ-drenched classic, “Tempted.” “Tempted” enjoys airplay on a variety of radio formats, including alternative. [17], "Pulling Mussels" is a "crowd favourite" at Squeeze concerts. Her research interests include popular music and culture, 1920s jazz, and blues, confessional poetry, and the rhetoric of fiction. [15][18] In 2001, it was the finale of a Glenn Tilbrook show in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Watch This: “25th Hour” provides an acting showcase for Edward Norton... Watch This: “Trainspotting” defied cinematic norms and defined a generation, Phoebe Bridgers’ style is contemporary and intimate, Rediscovering Res and the sublime beauty of “Let Love”. Squeeze packs a great deal of imagery into “Pulling Mussels from a Shell.” The soundscape with its bass-driven pop illustrates tension and shifting mood easily. [6] The phrase "pulling mussels" is British slang for sexual intercourse, mainly used in England. [20][21], Last edited on 2 September 2020, at 11:46, "British band squeezed past glories into fast set", "Chris Difford on his new memoir, and his memorable songs", "Official Charts Company – Squeeze – Pulling Mussels", "Squeeze still a sharp blast from the past in L.A.", "Squeeze, Hard Rock Café, London, review", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pulling_Mussels_(from_the_Shell)&oldid=976335686, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 2 September 2020, at 11:46. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. Her creative works have appeared in Tenth Muse, Apostrophe, The Flying Island, Scavenger's Newsletter and elsewhere. [7], The song features piano playing by keyboardist Jools Holland. “Pulling Mussels from a Shell” does just that. [5], The lines "They do it down on Camber Sands / They do it at Waikiki" refer to a sand dune system in East Sussex, England, and the Honolulu, Hawaii beach, respectively. 44 on 24 May. The bookish, observed quality of the song’s world was a hallmark of sorts in the realms of Music Television and college rock. [8], "Pulling Mussels" was the first track on Squeeze's album Argybargy, released in February 1980. "Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)" is a song by the band Squeeze. [6] They played the song at concerts during the 1980s and early 1990s. Pulling mussels from a shell Shrinking in the sea so cold Topless ladies look away A he-man in a sudden shower Shelters from the rain You wish you had a motor boat To pose around the harbour bar And when the sun goes off to bed You hook it up behind the car Two fat ladies window shop The surface materialism is a stand-in for all the things young people think will help them keep up appearances. However, their single, “Pulling Mussels from a Shell,” shows a side of the band that is at once deep and funny. [15], The single debuted on the UK chart at No. But the song is replete with character sketches and vivid, if embarrassing, images. Learn how your comment data is processed. The perhaps less obvious idea at work in “Pulling Mussels” is that the individual has his or her own desires for material things–a motorboat, to look cool, that clash with the perspective of other people who don’t think the individual is cool or desirable. Blue water sparkles in the background, seaside bars and shops dot the area. So he's not going behind the chalet to have a wank - boys wank anywhere, the place rarely matters and certainly won't be remembered years later in any lyric-worthy light. "[14] It is regarded as one of Squeeze's catchiest songs. Label: A&M Records - AMS 7523 • Format: Vinyl 7 Squeeze - Pulling Mussels (From The Shell) (1980, Red, Vinyl) | Discogs For those interested in knowing exactly what is meant, an analysis of lyrics provides ready answers. As summer winds down, sometimes there is nothing better than to hear songs about other people having to wrap up their carefree season. With carefully drawn scenes that might have been out of a series of short stories, the song shows what various groups of people are doing in a seaside resort. Like other thought-pop bands, Squeeze is clever enough to avoid coming out and saying what polite society won’t want to hear. Utah mayor shrugs off attacks, wins GOP primary for US House, Charlottesville to mourn woman killed at rally in memorial, Today in Music History: “Hit the Road Jack” becomes a hit, Johnny Nash, pioneering non-Jamaican reggae artist, has died at age 80, Megan Thee Stallion provokes on new season of “Saturday Night Live”. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Squeeze uses British slang to detail what the teenage boy narrator has accomplished. When the lyrical content is unpacked, it is clear that the title is about a certain kind of carnal pleasure. [9] It was re-recorded for the 2010 album Spot the Difference. "Pulling mussels" is Cockney slang for actually gaining access to someone's ladyparts, in much the same way someone might refer to cunnilingus as 'clam diving'. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. "[3], The lyrics are based on Difford's own experiences. 44 on the UK Singles Chart, and became one of Squeeze's most popular songs. Thanks for reading at LemonWire.com, Your email address will not be published. [3][9][11][12] In 2007, Anna Borg wrote, "The build up before the chorus always gets me, even 25 years later. First released on the 1980 album Argybargy, it received positive critical reviews, peaked at No. It might require a couple listens to get everything “Pulling Mussels from a Shell” has to offer, but the patient listener will be rewarded with a dose of 1980s humor. Say goodbye to summer: “Pulling Mussels from a Shell” by Squeeze. She has won university-based awards for creative work and literary criticism. [18] The band performed the song on Saturday Night Live on 20 November 1982. Dodie Miller-Gould is a native of Fort Wayne, Indiana who lives in New York City where she studies creative nonfiction at Columbia University. British slang for sexual intercourse. While Squeeze might have fit in with other alternative pop bands, the quirky lyrics and sometimes off-kilter instrumentation set Squeeze and bands like them apart from heavy metal, hard rock and rap, which were also growing at the time. The world created is a summer one. The singing seems without affectation. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. The song is timeless as it fits every year another group of people on vacation say goodbye to summer and innocence. The lyrics and tone are exasperated, disappointed, and somewhat hopeful despite it all. Taken further, this could be a song about the fleeting nature of youth. The Talking Heads was another band given to producing intelligent songs. "Hey Jim what where you doing with Molly the other night" "Nothing mate, just pulling mussels." "Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)" is a song by the band Squeeze. First released on the 1980 album Argybargy, it received positive critical reviews, peaked at No. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. [9], "Pulling Mussels" received positive reviews from music critics. His most persistent wish is to be successful in this way. Pulling mussels from a shell Pulling mussels from a shell Shrinking in the sea so cold, topless ladies look away A he-man in a sudden shower shelters from the rain You wish you had a motorboat to pose around the harbor bar And when the sun goes off to bed, you hook it up behind the car But behind the chalet, my holiday's complete The song "Pulling Mussels" was written by band members Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook. She has BA and MA degrees in English from Indiana University-Purdue University, Fort Wayne, and an MFA in Fiction from Minnesota State University, Mankato. The lyrics are not deep, but they are unusual. 52 on 10 May 1980. "[4] Difford came up with the song title "one fine day writing the words in a New York apartment". The lead vocals in Squeeze are higher-pitched and male. Always a pleasure to hear Squeeze on the radio.Pulling Mussels got time on the airwaves,but Squeeze have a catalog of hits that never got on the radio.One DJ at 91X in San Diego said it well,he said “Squeeze doesnt write songs,they write 3 minute movies.I think any fan of this band would agree. "[13] Allmusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine described the song as "a vivid portrait of a seaside vacation where Difford's vignettes are made all the more vivid by Tilbrook's bright, invigorating pop. [19] Squeeze played "Pulling Mussels" last during concerts in 2010. Rob Sachs interviewed Difford and wrote that the song "is about a memory he has from his time spent at a British holiday camp in, a budget resort type of place that includes basic accommodations, entertainment, and other facilities. It might require a couple listens to get everything “Pulling Mussels from a Shell” has to offer, but the patient listener will be rewarded with a dose of 1980s humor. 44 on the UK Singles Chart, and became one of Squeeze's most popular songs.The song is about one of the band members' experiences at a … It stayed on the chart for six weeks, peaking at No. [2] According to critic Chris Woodstra, it is an "observation of the British working class" and "offers a series of detailed snapshots of the different walks of life on a seaside holiday in Leysdown-on-Sea. Yes, I think that’s accurate! [10] A live version was included on A Round and a Bout. The setting is sun-drenched. And I feel like William Tell Maid Marian on her tiptoed feet Pulling Mussels from a shell -Squeeze Lyrics. Your email address will not be published. The 7" single was released in April 1980 with the B-side "What the Butler Saw". The song is about one of the band members' experiences at a holiday camp. The effect is never plaintive or whiny. It has been variously described as "a timeless cult classic", "a brilliant slice of pop genius", "a pop classic of the new wave era", and "a piece of pop mastery". She has presented at numerous conferences in rhetoric and composition, and creative writing. First released on the 1980 album Argybargy, it received positive critical reviews, peaked at No. 44 on the UK Singles Chart, and became one of Squeeze's most popular songs.The song is about one of the band members' experiences at a … "Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)" is a song by the band Squeeze. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. [9], The song has also been included on several of Squeeze's compilation albums, such as Singles – 45's and Under, Greatest Hits, and The Big Squeeze – The Very Best of Squeeze.