release date: May 15, 1981
format: vinyl (AMLH 64854) / cd (2021 remaster)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,84]
producer: Elvis Costello & Roger Bechirian
label: A&M Records - nationality: England, UK
Track highlights: 1. "In Quintessence" (4 / 5) (live) - 2. "Someone Else's Heart" (video) - 3. "Tempted" (official video) - 4. "Picadilly" - 6. "Heaven" - 7. "Woman's World" (video) - 8. "Is That Love" (TV-performance) - 10. "Labelled With Love" (TV-performance) - 11. "Someone Else's Bell" - 12. "Mumbo Jumbo"
4th studio album by British quintet Squeeze produced by Elvis Costello and Roger Bechirian except track #1, which is produced by Dave Edmunds. Jools Holland left the band after the release of Argybargy (1980) and he is here replaced by Paul Carrack. Other credited band members are: Glenn Tilbrook as lead vocalist, on lead guitar and on keyboard, Chris Difford on rhythm guitar and backing vocals (lead vocals on "Someone Else's Heart" and "Heaven"), Paul Carrack on keyboards and backing vocals (lead vocal on "Tempted"), John Bentley on bass and backing vocals, and with Gilson Lavis on drums.
In the same year, Jools Holland released his solo debut Jools Holland and His Millionaires - he should return to to Squeeze in '85, but then left again in 1990 - and was later to become host on various English TV-shows, before settling as host on the BBC-show "Later.... with Jools Holland" from '92.
East Side Story pretty much continues where Argybargy ended only packed with even more truly fine compositions in tight and balanced arrangements.
The front cover shows us the new line-up from left to right: John Bentley, Gilson Lavis, Chris Difford, Glenn Tilbrook, and Paul Carrack.
This album is no less than the absolute best by Squeeze.
[ allmusic.com 5 / 5, Rolling Stone 4 / 5 stars]
