My 100 Favorite Charted Pop Songs: Tempted

Tweet

Thanks for the well wishes, everyone. I’m fine, honestly. That’s my second panic attack ER visit this year, which is about normal. Let’s get back to the important stuff: music!!! Yesterday we had a pop classic from the 50s. Today, it’s 80s super music. Tempted - Squeeze Why this band was never a roaring success in America is beyond me. I love their witty lyrics (“I fumble for the clock, alarmed by the seduction”) and their happy sounds. They even brought in a ringer, Paul Carrack, for the vocals! Carrack was the lead vocalist on Ace’s hit “How Long,” Mike + the Mechanics’ “The Living Years,” his own hit “Don’t Shed a Tear,” and on the Roger Waters Radio KAOS album. Oh, and he co-wrote the Eagles’ “Love Will Keep Us Alive.” He did two of the three verses on this song (with usual Squeeze lead vocalist Glenn Tilbrook doing the middle verse) as well. The magic didn’t hit here, with the song stopping short of the top 40. Despite that, it’s been covered a few hundred times and has been featured in a number of commercials (sorry, but the use of it doesn’t make me personally “Tempted” to eat at Burger King ). It remains one of Squeeze’s most popular songs (despite the fact that two other songs of theirs, “Hourglass” and “853-5937,” did make the US top 40). I love Squeeze, and I love this song. Tempted Written by Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford Recorded by Squeeze From East Side Story, 1981 Peak chart position: #49 Today’s country song: “The Three Bells” It’s not my conscience that hates to be untrue: