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{{Infobox song | name = Is That Love | cover = Squeeze is that love cover.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Squeeze | album = East Side Story | released = 1981 | recorded = 1980 | studio = | venue = | genre = Rock, new wave | length = 2:34 | label = A&M | writer = Chris Difford, Glenn Tilbrook | producer = Roger Bechirian, Elvis Costello | prev_title = Farfisa Beat | prev_year = 1980 | next_title = Tempted | next_year = 1981 }}
"'''Is That Love'''" is a new wave song by Squeeze that was released in 1981 on the band's fourth album, ''East Side Story''. Written by Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford, the song features lyrics about Difford's marriage and features a quick tempo with a piano-based ending.
Released as the first single from the album, the song saw commercial success in the UK. It has since become a live favorite for the band and has seen positive reception from critics.
==Background== "Is That Love" was inspired by Squeeze lyricist Chris Difford's then-recent marriage; he explained, "This was written around the time I got married. I remember being in the bathroom and seeing Cindy's wedding ring next to the soap, which inspired me to write the lyric. I don't think it was particularly about our marriage, but it started off a sequence of ideas in my head."<ref name=songbysong>{{cite book|last1=Tilbrook|first1=Glenn|last2=Difford|first2=Chris|last3=Drury|first3=Jim|title=Squeeze: Song by Song|publisher=Sanctuary|pages=87–89}}</ref> Difford also went on to say, "I'm not strapped to the song emotionally but it was a great live number and sums up being on the road and having fun. It's a comfortable pair of jeans as a song."<ref name=songbysong />
Glenn Tilbrook stated that the track was originally recorded in mid-tempo but was not coming together, "so we sped it up and it made more sense like that[.]"<ref name=songbysong /> Tilbrook also said, "I was influenced quite consiously <!--sic?-->by The Beatles here."<ref name=songbysong /> Tilbrook noted that the "ending was [Elvis Costello's] idea, and he played the piano part accompanying it."<ref name=songbysong />
==Reception==
===Critical reception=== ''AllMusic'' critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine said that Squeeze's "barbed, bouncy pop" is "best heard on the single 'Is That Love{{'"}} and he cited the track as a highlight from ''East Side Story''.<ref name=allmusic>{{cite web|last1=Erlewine|first1=Steven Thomas|title=East Side Story|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/east-side-story-mw0000191951|website=allmusic.com}}</ref> Tom Jackson of the ''Sandusky Register'' praised the song's "zingers", such as "Beat me up with your letters, your walk out note" and "My assets froze while yours have dropped".<ref name="sandusky register">{{cite web |last1=Jackson |first1=Tom |title=Chris Difford on his new memoir, and his memorable songs |url=http://www.sanduskyregister.com/story/201802210031 |publisher=Sandusky Register |access-date=10 November 2019}}</ref> Lyndsey Parker of ''Yahoo Music'' named the song as one of Squeeze's tracks that are "as clever, tuneful, and instant-classic as anything recorded by the Beatles".<ref name="yahoo">{{cite web |last1=Parker |first1=Lyndsey |title=Two side story: Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook reflect on 45 years of Squeeze |date=9 September 2019 |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/two-side-story-chris-difford-and-glen-tilbrook-reflect-on-45-years-of-squeeze-190344154.html |publisher=Yahoo Music |access-date=10 November 2019 |archive-date=5 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905200250/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/two-side-story-chris-difford-and-glen-tilbrook-reflect-on-45-years-of-squeeze-190344154.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Difford himself was complimentary of the song, saying, "Yes I love this one, great song, wonderful melody and attack, a band on its hind legs".<ref name="sandusky register" />
===Chart performance=== When the song was released as a single, it peaked at number 35 on the UK Singles Chart,<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book | first= David | last= Roberts | year= 2006 | title= British Hit Singles & Albums | edition= 19th | publisher= Guinness World Records Limited | location= London | isbn= 1-904994-10-5 | pages= 522/3}}</ref> as well as 25 in Ireland. The song also became Squeeze's only number one single, as it topped the charts in Israel.<ref name=songbysong />
==Covers== In 2007, Scottish group Travis covered the song on their single "Selfish Jean".
==Track listing== # "Is That Love" (2:34) # "Trust" (1:45)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20050816200821/http://www.squeezenet.co.uk/ Squeeze discography at Squeezenet]
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Category:1980 songs Category:1981 singles Category:Squeeze (band) songs Category:Songs written by Glenn Tilbrook Category:Songs written by Chris Difford Category:A&M Records singles Category:Song recordings produced by Elvis Costello
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