Tempted (song)

This article is about the Squeeze song. For other songs with the same title, see Tempted.

"Tempted"
Single by Squeeze
from the album East Side Story
Released	10 July 1981 (UK)
Format	7" vinyl
Recorded	1981
Genre	Pop rock
Length	4:04 (album version) 3:53 (US single edit) 4:07 (Tempted '94)
Label	A&M
Writer(s)	Glenn Tilbrook, Chris Difford
Producer	Roger Bechirian & Elvis Costello
Squeeze singles chronology
"Is That Love" (1981) "Tempted" (1981) "Labelled With Love" (1981)

"Tempted" was the second single released from Squeeze's fourth album, East Side Story. Though it failed to crack the Top 40 in any country it was released (UK #41, Canada #45, US #49, Australia #90), over the years "Tempted" has become one of Squeeze's most well known songs, especially in North America, thanks to its use in various TV commercials and in modern video games such as Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. Unlike other Squeeze songs, which are usually sung by guitarist/songwriter Glenn Tilbrook or less offen guitarist/lyricist Chris Difford, the song's lead vocal is mainly by keyboardist Paul Carrack, though Tilbrook and producer Elvis Costello also trade a few lines in the second verse (in the video and during live performances Difford sings the Costello parts). Costello and Paul Young also sing backup vocals. The song was written by Squeeze members Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook.

Tilbrook considers this one of his favorite songs. He told Songfacts: “It was our first song. It was when we grew up, really, as a band. When we finished it I couldn't quite believe it was us.”

Tempted has been covered numerous times, including versions by Sting, Richard Thompson, Joe Cocker, The Georgetown Chimes, and Rockapella. Jools Holland also covered this song on his album Lift The Lid, which was a nod to Jools' history with the band.

In 1993, Squeeze remixed and overdubbed the original recording to create a 'new' version of the song for the soundtrack to the film Reality Bites. This version received some radio airplay and was dubbed "Tempted '94."

In 2002, the song reached a new audience as part of the Grand Theft Auto: Vice City soundtrack, and in 2008 as downloadable content for the music video game series Rock Band.

In 2010, the song appeared in re-recorded form on Spot the Difference, a retrospective of Squeeze hits performed by many of the original artists.

In May 2011 the song was released by American Idol Finalist Sanjaya Malakar as a download on iTunes, Amazon.com and on Malakar's site www.sanjayamalakar.com. This version was produced by Billy Joel's former bass player, Larry Russell (Muzikjakit.com)

Track listing

7"

1. "Tempted" (4:04)
2. "Yap Yap Yap" (4:13)

7" (US release)

1. "Tempted" (3:53)
2. "Trust" (1:45)