My Top 1000 Songs #142: Tempted
The song also had a secret weapon in short-lived member Paul Carrack, who'd earned his journeyman blue-eyed soul credentials in British pub-rock band Ace (whose 1974 hit "How Long" I knew well from classic rock radio by that time). He joined Squeeze as keyboardist for East Side (and later briefly rejoined for 1993's Some Fantastic Place), and Costello pushed the band to let him take the mic on the track. I personally love frontman Glenn Tilbrook (who wrote the song's music, with co-leader Chris Difford writing the lyrics), and I like the song perfectly fine when he sings it; but there's no question that Carrack gives it the soulful heft that makes it stand out. (I'm also a sucker for the bit in the second verse where Tilbrook, Elvis, and Difford trade lines.)
Of course, enjoying Carrack's vocal contribution doesn't detract from the song's showcase for Difford/Tilbrook's well-earned Lennon/McCartney comparisons. The melody is a wonder, with a chorus to die for; as are plenty of Carrack's simple yet evocative observational couplets ("I said to my my reflection let's get out of this place" is an all-timer for me).
Difford & Tilbrook duetting earlier this year:
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