Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me (1973)
Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me is a non-album single, released by Polydor on 22 June 1973. It reached No. 1 in the UK, giving the band their fifth number one single, and remained in the charts for ten weeks. The song received a Silver certification by BPI in July 1973. In the United States, it was released in September 1973 by Reprise Records. The song was written by Noddy Holder and Jim Lea, and produced by Chas Chandler.
Background
Earlier in 1973, Slade had achieved their fourth number one "Cum On Feel the Noize", which was also the band's first single to enter number one in its first week. This achievement had not been seen since The Beatles' "Get Back" in 1969. While on tour in America, the band entered A&M Studios in Los Angeles to record the follow-up single "Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me". Released in June 1973, the song also reached the top spot in its first week. It remained at No. 1 for three consecutive weeks and sold 300,000 copies in its first week of release.
Lea originally got the idea for the chorus of "Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me" at the band's regular pub, The Trumpet in Bilston, after listening to local pianist Reg Kierle performing there. The song had the working title of "You Know How to Squeeze Me". During the release of the song, Don Powell was involved in a near-fatal car crash in July, briefly throwing the band's existence into doubt. Despite his critical condition, Powell was able to make a recovery and the band soon entered the studio to record material for their next album Old New Borrowed and Blue.
Release
"Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me" was released on 7" vinyl by Polydor Records in the UK, Ireland, across Europe, Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Israel, Argentina and Japan. In America, it was released by Reprise Records. The B-side, "Kill 'Em at the Hot Club Tonite", was exclusive to the single and would later appear on the band's 2007 compilation B-Sides. The band had briefly considered releasing the B-Side as a novelty single, however Powell's car crash caused the idea to be scrapped. In America, the B-side was the Old New Borrowed and Blue album track "My Town". For release as a single, the full-length version of the song was edited down. For the American release, the song was edited down even further, with a length of just under three minutes.
Promotion
Due to Powell's car crash, no music video was filmed to promote the single. The band appeared twice on the UK music show Top of the Pops prior to Powell's crash. Afterwards, the producers of the show would not allow Slade to perform as a three-piece band. Instead, a video of a studio audience dancing to the song was broadcast. Prior to Powell's crash, the band also performed the song, along with its B-Side, on the UK TV show Lift off with Ayesha. The performance has not been seen since its original broadcast. Footage of the band performing the song at their Earls Court concert in London, has surfaced. The sold-out show took place three days before Powell's crash.
Critical reception
Contemporary reviews
Retrospective reviews
Chart performance
Australian Singles Chart: #25
Austrian Singles Chart: #12
Belgian Ultratop 50 Flanders Chart: #11
Belgian Ultratop 50 Wallonia Chart: #16
Dutch Top 40 Chart: #11
Dutch Single Top 100: #6
French Singles Chart: #35
German Singles Chart: #3
Irish Singles Chart: #1
New Zealand Singles Chart: #25
Norwegian Singles Chart: #3
Swiss Singles Chart: #4
UK Singles Chart: #1
Formats
7" single
Personnel
Slade
Additional personnel
Cover versions
Background
Earlier in 1973, Slade had achieved their fourth number one "Cum On Feel the Noize", which was also the band's first single to enter number one in its first week. This achievement had not been seen since The Beatles' "Get Back" in 1969. While on tour in America, the band entered A&M Studios in Los Angeles to record the follow-up single "Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me". Released in June 1973, the song also reached the top spot in its first week. It remained at No. 1 for three consecutive weeks and sold 300,000 copies in its first week of release.
Lea originally got the idea for the chorus of "Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me" at the band's regular pub, The Trumpet in Bilston, after listening to local pianist Reg Kierle performing there. The song had the working title of "You Know How to Squeeze Me". During the release of the song, Don Powell was involved in a near-fatal car crash in July, briefly throwing the band's existence into doubt. Despite his critical condition, Powell was able to make a recovery and the band soon entered the studio to record material for their next album Old New Borrowed and Blue.
Release
"Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me" was released on 7" vinyl by Polydor Records in the UK, Ireland, across Europe, Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Israel, Argentina and Japan. In America, it was released by Reprise Records. The B-side, "Kill 'Em at the Hot Club Tonite", was exclusive to the single and would later appear on the band's 2007 compilation B-Sides. The band had briefly considered releasing the B-Side as a novelty single, however Powell's car crash caused the idea to be scrapped. In America, the B-side was the Old New Borrowed and Blue album track "My Town". For release as a single, the full-length version of the song was edited down. For the American release, the song was edited down even further, with a length of just under three minutes.
Promotion
Due to Powell's car crash, no music video was filmed to promote the single. The band appeared twice on the UK music show Top of the Pops prior to Powell's crash. Afterwards, the producers of the show would not allow Slade to perform as a three-piece band. Instead, a video of a studio audience dancing to the song was broadcast. Prior to Powell's crash, the band also performed the song, along with its B-Side, on the UK TV show Lift off with Ayesha. The performance has not been seen since its original broadcast. Footage of the band performing the song at their Earls Court concert in London, has surfaced. The sold-out show took place three days before Powell's crash.
Critical reception
Contemporary reviews
- Record Mirror said: "One-third of the big three up for review this week - those delicately framed arbiters of immaculate taste, Slade. This Noddy-Jim song gives old leather-lungs a satisfactory showcase. They don't change much, but why should they? They go for smash and grab tactics - nipping one by the whatsits. That rolling rhythm pushes the whole thing along with alarming verve and gusto. You WILL get with it, the lads insist in their charmingly courteous way. You WILL, from the first crashing-smashing phrase kindly take notice, they demand. And you do. But don't ignore the flip side here - it's a drastic change of style, putting them back into hotchama-chotcha days, with violin swinging amiably. What a grate groop! - chart certain." In the Record Mirror poll results for 1973, the single reached No. 9 on the list of top ten best British singles.
- New Musical Express said: "A place in the top three for Slade's "Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me". The start is fussy, and those "whoa-whoa's" in the chorus are a drag. The beat's strong and the words in the verses are the best yet, but all around this doesn't beat "Mama Weer All Crazee Now" or "Gudbuy T'Jane", and it looks like time for Noddy to slow down and show the world what a good singer he is."
- Bob Stanton of Coventry Evening Telegraph wrote: "It's about the same format as before - a frantic, crashing foot-stomper that doesn't let up from beginning to end. Noddy Holder merrily screams away and the rest of the boys go "Wo-oh" on the choruses. It's not exactly my idea of pop music at its best, but Slade are giving the fans just what they want."
- American magazine Cash Box listed the single as one of their "picks of the week" during November 1973. They wrote: "Usual hard driving fare from this top British foursome will give them their first major Stateside hit. The mystery as to why this band has not yet broken will be cleared up immediately. Stations will be picking up here in droves. Listener response is a natural follow up. It's long past due that America got itself "Slade" anyway."
Retrospective reviews
- In a 1979 fan club poll, Slade fans voted the song at No. 1 of the top three Slade songs fans most want to hear live. In another fan club poll in 1986, the song ranked at No. 3 for the same category.
- In 2010, Classic Rock listed the song as one of 14 Slade songs that belong on an "Essential Playlist".
Chart performance
Australian Singles Chart: #25
Austrian Singles Chart: #12
Belgian Ultratop 50 Flanders Chart: #11
Belgian Ultratop 50 Wallonia Chart: #16
Dutch Top 40 Chart: #11
Dutch Single Top 100: #6
French Singles Chart: #35
German Singles Chart: #3
Irish Singles Chart: #1
New Zealand Singles Chart: #25
Norwegian Singles Chart: #3
Swiss Singles Chart: #4
UK Singles Chart: #1
Formats
7" single
- "Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me" - 3:31
- "Kill 'Em at the Hot Club Tonite" - 3:20
- "Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me" - 2:55
- "My Town" - 3:07
- "Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me" - 2:55
- "Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me" - 2:55
Personnel
Slade
- Noddy Holder - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- Dave Hill - lead guitar, backing vocals
- Jim Lea - bass, backing vocals
- Don Powell - drums
Additional personnel
- Chas Chandler - producer
Cover versions
- In 1973, Finnish singer Muska recorded a version of the song for her self-titled album. The song is titled "Sä Oot Pliisu".
- In 1973, German composer and big band leader James Last recorded an instrumental orchestrated version of the song for the album Non Stop Dancing 1974.
- In 1998, tribute band Glam Rock All-Stars recorded a medley track along with other Slade songs "Cum On Feel the Noize", "Mama Weer All Crazee Now" and "Gudbuy T'Jane" for the album Glam Rock Party Supermix.
- In 2001, Scottish rock vocalist Doogie White (ex-member of Rainbow) recorded a version of the track for the tribute album Slade Remade.