Song · Squeeze
“Is That Love?” by Squeeze
From the album East Side Story (1981)
“Is That Love?” by Squeeze appears on 12 radio countdowns from 2 stations between 1999 and 2010. It was first released in 1981 on the album East Side Story. Its best result is #670 on the Fred XM Top 2044 Songs of All-Time (July 2003). In the combined RockLists rankings it is #2,208 alternative song of all time.
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"Is That Love?" kicked off the campaign for East Side Story, the fourth Squeeze album, going out on A&M as its first single in 1981. Glenn Tilbrook wrote the tune and sings it; Chris Difford wrote the words, and the spark was his own recent wedding, though he has said the song wandered off from there rather than staying a portrait of his marriage.
Elvis Costello co-produced with Roger Bechirian, and they keep it quick and wiry: Gilson Lavis snapping out the beat, John Bentley's bass bouncing underneath, Difford and Bentley filling in the backing vocals, Paul Carrack on keyboards, and the whole thing tumbling out on a rolling piano coda. It did solid business in Britain, won over the critics and settled in as a favorite at the band's shows, a song Difford ties as much to good times on the road as to anything at home.
Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.
RockLists rankings
Alternative & Modern Rock
All Rock Formats
All-time and decade countdowns
| Year | # | Station | Countdown | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 1114 | CD101 | CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) | 2000 |
| 2000 | 1116 | CD101 | CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000) | 2001 |
| 2001 | 1122 | CD101 | CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001) | 2002 |
| 2002 | 1121 | CD101 | CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002) | 2003 |
| 2003 | 1106 | CD101 | CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003) | 2004 |
| 2003 | 670 | Fred (XM 44) | Fred XM Top 2044 Songs of All-Time (July 2003) | 2044 |
| 2004 | 1106 | CD101 | CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004) | 2005 |
| 2005 | 1106 | CD101 | CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005) | 1994 |
| 2007 | 1903 | CD101 | CD101 Top 2008 Songs of All-Time (December 2007) | 2008 |
| 2008 | 1885 | CD101 | CD101 Top 2009 Songs of All-Time (December 2008) | 2009 |
| 2009 | 1925 | CD101 | CD101 Top 2010 Songs of All-Time (December 2009) | 2010 |
| 2010 | 1977 | CD101 | CD101 Top 2011 Songs of All-Time (December 2010) | 2011 |
Also listed as: Is that Love; Is That Love.
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