THE WAITRESSES

'The Waitresses' were an experimental New Wave band in the early 1980s from Kent, Ohio,[1] United States. The group was led by Chris Butler, although lead vocals were performed by Patty Donahue, who died of lung cancer on 9 December 1996.

Contents

Career

Discography

Official albums

Singles

Principal band members

Trivia

External links

Career

They were best known for their song "I Know What Boys Like", featured on countless new wave compilation albums, the theme song to the cult TV show ''Square Pegs'', and their punk rock Christmas standard "Christmas Wrapping." The latter was originally available on the Ze Records original collection ''A Christmas Record'', and has been covered by Save Ferris and the Spice Girls.
Butler's diverse musical interests are apparent from the use of prepared piano on "No Guilt", microtonal background vocals on the chorus of "Wise Up", tape loops and short wave receiver on "Jimmy Tomorrow", and the title of "Make the Weather", taken from Hugo Ball's autobiography ''Flight out of Time''. Saxophonist and reed player Mars Williams had also worked as Anthony Braxton's copyist.
They released two albums: ''Wasn't Tomorrow Wonderful'' and ''Bruiseology''. Both titles have been out of print for many years and neither has ever been available on CD; but their music is now available on compilations. ''The Best of the Waitresses'' (Polydor 1990) is available on CD.

Discography

Official albums

Released	Title	Chart Positions Billboard 200	Label
1981	''I Could Rule The World If I Could Only Get The Parts''	128	Polydor
1982	''Wasn't Tomorrow Wonderful''	41	Polydor
1983	''Bruiseology''	155	Polydor
1983	''Make the Weather'' EP	-	Polydor
1990	''The Best of the Waitresses''	-	Polydor
1997	''King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents The Waitresses''	-	King Biscuit
2003	''20th Century Masters - The Best of the Waitresses''	-	Polydor

Singles

★ 1981 "Christmas Wrapping"

★ 1982 - "I Know What Boys Like" (#23 on Mainstream Rock Tracks, #62 on Billboard Hot 100)

Principal band members

★ Patty Donahue (lead vocals)

★ Chris Butler (guitars)

★ Mars Williams (saxophone, reed instruments)

★ Billy Ficca (drums)

★ Dan Klayman (keyboards)

★ Tracy Wormworth (bass, background vocals) (mid-1982-83)

★ David Hofstra (bass) (1981-82)

★ Ariel Warner (background vocals) (1981-82)

Trivia

★ In 2001, Colleen Fitzpatrick, better known as Vitamin C, re-recorded the song, "I Know What Boys Like" for her second album entitled, ''More''. The song is not only from The Waitresses' second album, but it was also their sixth track, just like it is for Vitamin C.

External links

★ Unofficial Biography of The Waitresses

★ The Waitresses at Trouser Press

★ Hard Rock Cafe

★ How They Made Their Mark in History