Skweeze Me Pleeze Me
Encyclopedia
"Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me" is a popular song in the UK by Slade
.
Written by Noddy Holder
and Jim Lea
and produced by Chas Chandler
, Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me was the band's fifth number one single in the United Kingdom, and their second to debut at the top spot immediately, spending three weeks at the top in July 1973. Typical of Slade's releases at the time, it fared less well in the US where it failed to reach the Billboard Hot 100
but also peaked at #1 in Ireland.
For the Record and Radio Mirror poll results of 1974, the single peaked at #9 on the top ten list of best British singles.
"Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me" also features in the BBC series Blackpool
.
The single sold 300,000 copies in the first week of release.
The single was certified UK Silver by BPI in July 1973.
The single peaked at #174 for 1973 on rateyourmusic.
The single was recorded whilst the band were touring in America, originally being titled "You Know How To Squeeze Me".
Reportedly, the band only recorded the song as a joke, not intending for it to be released at all. After promoting the song upon release, the band soon disowned the song, never performing it live again.
No official promotional video was created due to Powell's injuries.
In reference to the single, Slade t-shirts with the song's title were made available, used on the Top of the Pops video and seen in the Sun newspaper of the time.
The song was voted #1 of the top three Slade songs that fans would most want to hear live in the Slade Fan Club Poll of 1979.
NME magazine wrote "A place in the top three for Slade's "Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me". The start is fussy, and those "whoa-whoa's" in the chorus are a drag. The beat's strong and the words in the verses are the best yet, but all around this doesn't beat "Mama Weer All Crazee Now
" or "Gudbuy T' Jane
", and it looks like time for Noddy to slow down and show the world what a good singer he is."
Slade
Slade are an English rock band from Wolverhampton, who rose to prominence during the glam rock era of the early 1970s. With 17 consecutive Top 20 hits and six number ones, the British Hit Singles & Albums names them as the most successful British group of the 1970s based on sales of singles...
.
Written by Noddy Holder
Noddy Holder
Neville John "Noddy" Holder MBE is an English musician and actor. He was the lead vocalist and guitarist with the rock band Slade....
and Jim Lea
Jim Lea
Jim Lea , is an English musician, most notable for playing bass guitar, keyboards, violin, guitar, and singing backing vocals in Slade.-Career:...
and produced by Chas Chandler
Chas Chandler
Bryan James "Chas" Chandler was an English musician, record producer and manager of several successful music acts....
, Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me was the band's fifth number one single in the United Kingdom, and their second to debut at the top spot immediately, spending three weeks at the top in July 1973. Typical of Slade's releases at the time, it fared less well in the US where it failed to reach the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
but also peaked at #1 in Ireland.
For the Record and Radio Mirror poll results of 1974, the single peaked at #9 on the top ten list of best British singles.
"Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me" also features in the BBC series Blackpool
Blackpool (TV serial)
Blackpool is a British television musical comedy drama serial, produced in-house by the BBC. It was screened on BBC One as six one-hour episodes on Thursday nights at 9pm from 11 November to 16 December 2004...
.
The single sold 300,000 copies in the first week of release.
The single was certified UK Silver by BPI in July 1973.
The single peaked at #174 for 1973 on rateyourmusic.
Background
Lea got the idea of the track at the Trumpet pub in Bilston where local pianist Reg Kierle was playing piano. At the time of the release, drummer Don Powell suffered serious injuries in a car crash and the producers of Top of the Pops would not allow Slade to perform as a 3 piece band. Dancers were shown instead. The b-side was briefly considered as a novelty single but the idea was scratched after Powell's accident.The single was recorded whilst the band were touring in America, originally being titled "You Know How To Squeeze Me".
Reportedly, the band only recorded the song as a joke, not intending for it to be released at all. After promoting the song upon release, the band soon disowned the song, never performing it live again.
No official promotional video was created due to Powell's injuries.
In reference to the single, Slade t-shirts with the song's title were made available, used on the Top of the Pops video and seen in the Sun newspaper of the time.
The song was voted #1 of the top three Slade songs that fans would most want to hear live in the Slade Fan Club Poll of 1979.
Track listing
7" Single- "Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me" - 3:27
- "Kill 'Em At The Hot Club Tonite" - 3:20
Critical reception
Record Mirror magazine reviewed the single upon release, "One-third of the big three up for review this week - those delicately framed arbiters of immaculate taste, Slade. This Noddy-Jim song gives old leather-lungs a satisfactory showcase. They don't change much, but why should they? They go for smash and grab tactics - nipping one by the whatsits. That rolling rhythm pushes the whole thing along with alarming verve and gusto. You WILL get with it, the lads insist in their charmingly courteous way. You WILL, from the first crashing-smashing phrase kindly take notice, they demand. And you do. But don't ignore the flip side here - it's a drastic change of style, putting them back into hotchama-chotcha days, with violin swinging amiably. What a grate groop! - chart certain."NME magazine wrote "A place in the top three for Slade's "Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me". The start is fussy, and those "whoa-whoa's" in the chorus are a drag. The beat's strong and the words in the verses are the best yet, but all around this doesn't beat "Mama Weer All Crazee Now
Mama Weer All Crazee Now
"Mama Weer All Crazee Now" is a popular song originally recorded by the British Glam rock band Slade on their album Slayed?.Written by Jim Lea and Noddy Holder and produced by Chas Chandler, it was the band's third number-one single in the United Kingdom. The single entered the charts on its first...
" or "Gudbuy T' Jane
Gudbuy T' Jane
"Gudbuy T' Jane" is a hit single from glam rock band Slade released in 1972. It was written by lead singer Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea and appeared on their album Slayed?. The single peaked at #2 in the UK, losing the number one spot to Chuck Berry's single My Ding-A-Ling. It did however, peak...
", and it looks like time for Noddy to slow down and show the world what a good singer he is."
Chart performance
| Chart (1973) | Peak position |
Total weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart | 25 | 6 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 12 | 8 |
| Belgian Singles Chart | 7 | 7 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 6 | 5 |
| French Singles Chart | 35 | 17 |
| German Singles Chart | 3 | 15 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 1 | 6 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart | 25 | ? |
| Norwegian Singles Chart | 3 | 14 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 4 | 8 |
| UK Singles Chart | 1 | 10 |
Cover versions
- In 1973, Finnish singer Muska recorded a version of the song for her self-titled album. The song is titled 'Sä Oot Pliisu'.
- In 1973, German composer and big band leader James Last recorded an instrumental orchestrated version of the song for the album "Non Stop Dancing 1974".
- In 1998, tribute band Glam Rock All-Stars recorded a medley track along with other Slade songs Cum On Feel the NoizeCum on Feel the Noize"Cum On Feel the Noize" is a rock song originally released by Slade in 1973.Written by Jim Lea and Noddy Holder and produced by Chas Chandler, "Cum On Feel the Noize" was Slade's fourth number-one single in the UK and their first to enter straight at number one...
, Mama Weer All Crazee NowMama Weer All Crazee Now"Mama Weer All Crazee Now" is a popular song originally recorded by the British Glam rock band Slade on their album Slayed?.Written by Jim Lea and Noddy Holder and produced by Chas Chandler, it was the band's third number-one single in the United Kingdom. The single entered the charts on its first...
and Gudbuy T' JaneGudbuy T' Jane"Gudbuy T' Jane" is a hit single from glam rock band Slade released in 1972. It was written by lead singer Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea and appeared on their album Slayed?. The single peaked at #2 in the UK, losing the number one spot to Chuck Berry's single My Ding-A-Ling. It did however, peak...
for the album Glam Rock Party Supermix. - In 2001, Scottish rock vocalist Doogie WhiteDoogie WhiteDoogie White , is a Scottish rock vocalist, who has sung for Midnight Blue, Rainbow, Cornerstone, Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force, Praying Mantis and Rata Blanca...
recored a version of the track for the tribute album Slade Remade.
Personnel
- Noddy Holder: Lead vocals and guitar
- Jim Lea: Bass guitar and backing vocals
- Dave Hill: Lead guitar and backing vocals
- Don Powell: Drums