BOSTON - by Kristine McKenna

Clean and cozy, Boston is a collegiate burg with a large student population that makes the city an important music market. The music fans there pride themselves on being one step ahead of the masses — and those fans love Squeeze.
When the British pop quintet turned up for an autograph session at Strawberries, a local supermarket-sized record store, hundreds of people lined up around the block.
Some kids, clutching Squeeze albums, chattered about the complexity and intelligence of the group's music, while others admired the band members' good looks.
Not surprisingly, most of the attention focused on Squeeze's songwriting team of Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook, but the other three musicians held their own.
Snappily attired bassist John Bentley exuded an urbane, debonair oiliness that cast him as the group gigolo; drummer Gilson Lavis came off as the boisterous party boy; and keyboardist Paul Carrack, a newcomer, was the resident cynical wit.
As the crowd bombarded the band with questions and eagerly sought autographs, the members responded in a friendly, appreciative manner. And why not? After three years of critical praise, Squeeze finally seems to be building a sizable audience in the U.S.
And they're mighty glad.
 

Review of Signing Session:

I don’t think it really counts, but I ‘met’ them, too (like hundreds others) at their in-store appearance at Strawberries Record Shop. Man, I thought I was going to shit my pants and puke simultaneously while waiting in line. I brought my East Side Story album cover and a separate 8 x 10 of Glenn to be signed. First there was Gilson, who struck me as possibly the nicest of the group, though we only exchanged a smile and a “Hi.” Then Mr Difford, looking the least happy of the bunch: I brought along a lyric sheet of “Piccadilly” that I knew had to be wrong and thought he might get a chuckle out of it. He took it expressionless. “Where’d you get this then?” “I listened under headphones at home, but I really don’t think they’re right.” He continued to read, expressionless. I got nervous. Finally he says, “I’ll correct you... later,” (making eye contact here).??!! Damned if I know what he meant. Next, the gorgeous Glenn. Hey, has his hair always been that blonde? He photographs dark, even in the enclosed. In person, he looked vaguely like Harpo Marx! John was apparently perturbed that I didn’t bring him a glossy to sign cos he missed signing my album, so I had to go round again (embarrassing) - Ha! Paul was insignificant. But my friend  said - on her trip up - a girl asked if she could kiss Paul, and he obliged, cracking himself and the band up.” - Carol