Overview

A treat for fans of one of Britain’s most distinctive song writing voices Waxing Lyrical brings together the complete lyrics from Chris Difford’s acclaimed solo albums: I Didn’t Get Where I Am, The Last Temptation of Chris, Cashmere If You Can, Fancy Pants, Let’s Be Combe Avenue, and What Happened. Best known as co-founder of Squeeze and co-writer of timeless classics such as Up The Junction, Cool For Cats and Tempted, Difford has also carved out a rich solo career. His lyrics—wry, poignant, and deeply human—reveal the same eye for detail and gift for storytelling that have made his songs endure across generations. Waxing Lyrical offers an intimate journey through Difford’s solo work, showcasing his sharp wit, tender observations, and ability to find poetry in the everyday. Essential reading for Squeeze devotees and lovers of great song writing alike.

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9781789635683

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Chris Difford is a Grammy nominated and double Ivor Novello Award winning lyricist who has brought us characters and sketches from everyday life, and has successfully turned the mundane into the beautiful, the urbane into the exquisite, for over 40 years. Chris has co-written some of the most enduring and best-loved songs of our time such as ‘Up The Junction’, ‘Cool For Cats’ and ‘Labelled With Love’, ‘Tempted’ and many others. Squeeze returned with two new albums in recent years ‘Cradle to the Grave’ in 2015 and ‘The Knowledge’ in 2017, followed by extensive world-wide touring supporting Hall and Oates in the US and Madness in the UK. The band has never sounded better. Chris hosts songwriting retreats and has done so for over 30 years, some in Prisons, some in Rehabs, but mostly in Somerset with the Buddy Holly Foundation and The Cutting Edge Group at Pennard House Somerset. He is one of the country’s most respected songwriters and has co-written with a host of musicians and performers that reads like a veritable who’s who of the music industry. His autobiography ‘Some Fantastic Place’ was released in 2017 and found some wonderful praise in the UK press and with fans around the World who recognised his journey into recovery while touring with his friends in Squeeze. The book continues to be part of his solo touring story and became the focus of his sell out two week run at the Edinburgh Festival. A stand up show with a bit of sit down. In 2024 Squeeze have been writing and recording new songs and have completed a successful tour of the USA with Boy George, followed by a sell-out 7 week tour in the UK as part of a celebration of 50 years on stage. In total 80 shows including the opening of the Glastonbury Festival on the Pyramid stage, a treasured memory. Chris is an ambassador for Help Musicians and Music Minds Mater, two charities close to his heart. He also works alongside Broadway Lodge a rehab in the West Country and often plays shows there for his recovering friends. Planned for 2025 series 5 of his ‘I Never Thought it Would Happen Podcast for Help Musicians plus a musical Podcast of his own telling the story of his South London upbringing. Then there is the release of ‘Trixies’ a record of songs written in 1974 and produced by Owen Biddle. A Squeeze album that will surprise and delight. More summer shows are on the cards with the band as well as a touring dates with his chum Jools Holland which will be fun and enjoyable. More writing and more stand up, but will he sit still? I hope not.

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