Pulling Mussels (From The Shell)
Encyclopedia
"Pulling Mussels" is a new wave
song by the band Squeeze. First released on the 1980 album Argybargy
, it received positive critical reviews, peaked at #44 on the UK Singles Chart
, and became one of Squeeze's most popular songs. The song is about one of the band members' experiences at a holiday camp.
and Glenn Tilbrook
. According to critic Chris Woodstra, it is an "observation of the British working class" and "offers a series of detailed snapshots of the different walks of life on a seaside holiday."
The lyrics are based on Difford's own experiences. Rob Sachs interviewed Difford and wrote that the song "is about a memory he has from his time spent at a British holiday camp, a budget resort type of place that includes basic accommodations, entertainment, and other facilities."
The lines "They do it down on Camber Sands
/ They do it at Waikiki
" refer to a sand dune system in East Sussex, England
, and the Honolulu beach, respectively. The phrase "pulling mussels" is British slang for sexual intercourse
.
The song features some swinging piano from keyboardist Jools Holland
.
The song has also been included on several of Squeeze's compilation albums, such as Singles – 45's and Under, Greatest Hits, and The Big Squeeze - The Very Best of Squeeze. It was re-recorded for the 2010 album Spot the Difference
. A live version was included on A Round and a Bout
.
described the song as "a vivid portrait of a seaside vacation where Difford's vignettes are made all the more vivid by Tilbrook's bright, invigorating pop." It is regarded as one of Squeeze's catchiest songs.
Though the song did not chart in the United States, it became a hit on the country's college radio stations and in new wave clubs.
on November 20, 1982. They played the song at concerts during the 1980s and early 1990s. In 2001, it was the finale of a Glenn Tilbrook show in Cambridge, Massachusetts
. Squeeze played "Pulling Mussels" last during concerts in 2010.
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
song by the band Squeeze. First released on the 1980 album Argybargy
Argybargy
Argybargy is a 1980 album by the British New Wave group Squeeze. It would be the last album featuring founding member Jools Holland until Squeeze's first reunion album, 1985's Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti....
, it received positive critical reviews, peaked at #44 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, and became one of Squeeze's most popular songs. The song is about one of the band members' experiences at a holiday camp.
Background
The song "Pulling Mussels" was written by band members Chris DiffordChris Difford
Chris Difford is a singer, musician, songwriter, and record producer....
and Glenn Tilbrook
Glenn Tilbrook
Glenn Martin Tilbrook is the lead singer and guitarist of the English band Squeeze, a band formed in the mid 1970s who broke through in the new wave era at the decade's end. He generally wrote the melody for Squeeze, while his writing partner, Chris Difford, wrote the lyrics...
. According to critic Chris Woodstra, it is an "observation of the British working class" and "offers a series of detailed snapshots of the different walks of life on a seaside holiday."
The lyrics are based on Difford's own experiences. Rob Sachs interviewed Difford and wrote that the song "is about a memory he has from his time spent at a British holiday camp, a budget resort type of place that includes basic accommodations, entertainment, and other facilities."
The lines "They do it down on Camber Sands
Camber Sands
For historical information on the area, see Camber articleCamber Sands is a beach at the village of Camber , East Sussex, England...
/ They do it at Waikiki
Waikiki
Waikiki is a neighborhood of Honolulu, in the City and County of Honolulu, on the south shore of the island of Oahu, in Hawaii. Waikiki Beach is the shoreline fronting Waikīkī....
" refer to a sand dune system in East Sussex, England
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
, and the Honolulu beach, respectively. The phrase "pulling mussels" is British slang for sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse, also known as copulation or coitus, commonly refers to the act in which a male's penis enters a female's vagina for the purposes of sexual pleasure or reproduction. The entities may be of opposite sexes, or they may be hermaphroditic, as is the case with snails...
.
The song features some swinging piano from keyboardist Jools Holland
Jools Holland
Julian Miles "Jools" Holland OBE, DL is an English pianist, bandleader, singer, composer, and television presenter. He was a founder of the band Squeeze and his work has involved him with many artists including Sting, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, The Who, David Gilmour and Bono.Holland is a...
.
Release
"Pulling Mussels" was released as the first track on Squeeze's album Argybargy in February 1980. The 7" single was released in April 1980 with the b-side "What the Butler Saw".The song has also been included on several of Squeeze's compilation albums, such as Singles – 45's and Under, Greatest Hits, and The Big Squeeze - The Very Best of Squeeze. It was re-recorded for the 2010 album Spot the Difference
Spot the difference
Spot the difference is a name given to a puzzle where two versions of an image are shown side by side, and the player has to find differences between them. Usually, the image on the left is the original, and the image on the right has the alternates...
. A live version was included on A Round and a Bout
A Round and a Bout
A Round and a Bout is a live record by New Wave group Squeeze, released in 1990. A concert video was released with the same title, and contained mostly the same performances from the LP.-CD:#"Footprints" – 5:33...
.
Critical reception
"Pulling Mussels" received positive reviews from music critics. It has been variously described as "a timeless cult classic", "a brilliant slice of pop genius", "a pop classic of the new wave era", and "a piece of pop mastery". In 2007, Anna Borg wrote, "The build up before the chorus always gets me, even 25 years later." Allmusic's Stephen Thomas ErlewineStephen Thomas Erlewine
Stephen Thomas Erlewine is a senior editor for Allmusic. He is the author of many artist biographies and record reviews for Allmusic, as well as a freelance writer, occasionally contributing liner notes. He is also frontman and guitarist for the Ann Arbor-based band Who Dat?Erlewine is the nephew...
described the song as "a vivid portrait of a seaside vacation where Difford's vignettes are made all the more vivid by Tilbrook's bright, invigorating pop." It is regarded as one of Squeeze's catchiest songs.
Chart performance
The single debuted on the UK chart at #52 on May 10, 1980. It stayed on the chart for six weeks, peaking at #44 on May 24.Though the song did not chart in the United States, it became a hit on the country's college radio stations and in new wave clubs.
Live performances
"Pulling Mussels" is a "crowd favorite" at Squeeze concerts. The band performed the song on Saturday Night LiveSaturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
on November 20, 1982. They played the song at concerts during the 1980s and early 1990s. In 2001, it was the finale of a Glenn Tilbrook show in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
. Squeeze played "Pulling Mussels" last during concerts in 2010.
Charts
| Chart (1980) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
44 |