Annie Get Your Gun (song)

"Annie Get Your Gun"
Single by Squeeze
from the album Singles – 45's and Under
Released8 October 1982 (UK)
Recorded1982
GenreNew wave
Length3:22
LabelA&M
Songwriter(s)Chris Difford, Glenn Tilbrook
Producer(s)Alan Tarney
Squeeze singles chronology
"I've Returned"
(1982) 		"Annie Get Your Gun"
(1982) 		"Last Time Forever"
(1985)

"Annie Get Your Gun" is a single released by Squeeze in 1982. It was not featured on any studio album, but has been included on a number of compilations, including Singles – 45's and Under. "Annie Get Your Gun" (which borrows its title from a popular musical) was the last single released by the band before they broke up, though they reunited in 1985.

Background

After the failure of the band's previous album, Sweets from a Stranger, Squeeze's record company, A&M, asked them to make a new single.[1] Glenn Tilbrook already had put together two songs, "Action Speaks Faster" and "Annie Get Your Gun".[1] He then asked the rest of the band to pick the one to be recorded, resulting in "Annie Get Your Gun" being unanimously chosen.[1] The band was then sent to producer Alan Tarney, for whom Tilbrook played the song.[1] When the band was brought back by Tarney they found the producer had already completed the backing track to the song, only needing Tilbrook and Chris Difford's vocals.[1]

Glenn Tilbrook reflected on the song's recording, "It was like we were in The Monkees. Alan did a very good job, but it was devastating for us because we could all play so well, although I didn't mind as much as the others because I was singing the lead vocal."[1] Drummer Gilson Lavis, however, was insistent that he record a drum track.[1]

The song reached number 43 in the UK Singles Chart,[2] but the song later gained fame as part of Squeeze's live set.[1] The group performed "Annie Get Your Gun" on Saturday Night Live on 20 November 1982.[3]

Difford said that he did not know what the song was about and was "not sure [he] care[s] about it very much either". He concluded, "It's not a great song, but a good vocal performance".[4] The Los Angeles Times described the song as being "about the boisterous pleasures of rocking out".[5] Cash Box said that "it’s the devil-may-care rhyme schemes of masters Difford and Tilbrook that make this song.[6]

Track listing

  1. "Annie Get Your Gun" (3:22)
  2. "Spanish Guitar" (2:38)

Charts

Chart (1982–83) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[7] 52
United Kingdom (Official Charts Company) 43

Live version

"Annie Get Your Gun (live)"
Single by Squeeze
from the album A Round and a Bout
ReleasedApril 1990 (US)
Recorded?
GenreRock
Length3:24
LabelI.R.S. Records & Deptford Fun City Records
Songwriter(s)Chris Difford, Glenn Tilbrook
Producer(s)Steve Forward & Glenn Tilbrook
Squeeze singles chronology
"Love Circles"
(1990) 		"Annie Get Your Gun (live)"
(1990) 		"Sunday Street"
(1991)

"Annie Get Your Gun" (live) was released as a single in the US from Squeeze's live album, A Round and a Bout. The CD included the band's entire debut EP, Packet of Three, as bonus tracks.

Track listing

  1. "Annie Get Your Gun" (live) (3:24)
  2. "Is It Too Late" (live) (3:22)
  3. "Back Track" (2:21)
  4. "Night Ride" (3:03)
  5. "Cat on the Wall" (3:13)

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Tillbrook, Glenn; Difford, Chris; Drury, Jim. Squeeze: Song by Song. Sanctuary. pp. 87–89.
  2. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 522/3. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  3. ^ "Saturday NET". Prismnet.com. 1 April 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  4. ^ Jackson, Tom. "Chris Difford on his new memoir, and his memorable songs". Sandusky Register. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  5. ^ Boehm, Mike (27 July 1991). "POP MUSIC REVIEW : Difford, Tilbrook Squeeze Out the Hits : The singing and songwriting team that leads the British band offers a pleasing blend of killer singles and newer material". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  6. ^ "Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 8 January 1983. p. 8. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  7. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 316. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.