Squeeze's Resurgence: The Story of Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti

Squeeze's Resurgence: The Story of Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti

Squeeze surprised fans when they announced their breakup after the tour for their 1982 album, Sweets From a Stranger. Despite the commercial disappointment of the album, the band felt they had unfinished business. The constant cycle of touring and recording took a toll on the band's songwriters, Chris Difford and Glen Tilbrook, who struggled to find inspiration for new material. The comparisons to legendary songwriting duos like Lennon and McCartney weighed heavily on them, leading to the decision to disband.

Following the breakup, Difford and Tilbrook released a self-titled album in 1984 but failed to make a lasting impact. The idea of reuniting Squeeze came up after a chance encounter with the band's former keyboard player, Jools Holland. With renewed enthusiasm, the band decided to give it another shot and entered the studio to record new material. The resulting album, Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti, was released in 1985 to mixed commercial success but received positive reviews from critics.

Despite the lack of hit singles, Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti marked a new beginning for Squeeze in the mid-'80s. The album's intricate arrangements and clever lyrics were praised by critics, with some calling it the band's best work to date. The album's release set the stage for the band's future success, leading to their biggest U.S. hit with the 1987 album Babylon and On. While the road ahead was not without its challenges, Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti was the record that reignited Squeeze's creative spark and paved the way for their continued success in the music industry.