The Waitresses

The Waitresses
Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1978 in Akron, Ohio, United States
Founder	Chris Butler
Defunct	1983
Headquarters	Akron, Ohio, United States
Area served	United States
Key people	Chris Butler, Patty Donahue, Mars Williams, Billy Ficca, Dan Klayman, Dave Hofstra, Ariel Warner, Tracy Wormworth, Holly Beth Vincent
Products	Music albums and singles
Number of employees	9 (members)

The Waitresses were an American new wave group originating from Akron, Ohio, recognized for their hit singles "I Know What Boys Like" and "Christmas Wrapping." Their discography includes two studio albums, Wasn't Tomorrow Wonderful? and Bruiseology, along with one EP titled I Could Rule the World If I Could Only Get the Parts.

Fronted by guitarist and songwriter Chris Butler with Patty Donahue as the lead vocalist, The Waitresses played a notable role in the early 1980s new wave movement.

History

The band was initiated by Butler in 1978 as a side endeavor during his time with Tin Huey. Their first single, "I Know What Boys Like," featured guest vocals from Donahue and saxophone contributions by Ralph Carney. Although initially unreleased, Butler’s solo debut single, In "Short Stack", was issued in 1978 on Clone Records.

Following Butler’s move to New York City, he secured a contract with ZE Records in 1980 to release "I Know What Boys Like." The song gained underground popularity but did not enter the charts. Subsequently, Butler formed a complete band lineup including Donahue on vocals, saxophonist Mars Williams, drummer Billy Ficca, keyboardist Dan Klayman, bassist Dave Hofstra, and backing vocalist Ariel Warner. Their inaugural live performance took place on New Year’s Eve of 1980.

During the sessions for their debut album Wasn't Tomorrow Wonderful? in 1981, Warner exited the group due to stage fright. Dave Hofstra was replaced by Tracy Wormworth, who played bass on "Christmas Wrapping," a holiday track composed by Butler at the request of ZE Records.

The album Wasn't Tomorrow Wonderful?, released on January 11, 1982 through Polydor (under license from ZE), reached number 41 on the Billboard 200. The reissued single "I Know What Boys Like" attained No. 62 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 23 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, No. 14 on the Australian Singles Chart, and also charted in the UK. "Christmas Wrapping," initially part of ZE's A Christmas Record compilation in 1981, peaked at No. 45 on the UK charts in 1982.

The Waitresses performed the theme song for the television series Square Pegs (1982–1983), which starred Sarah Jessica Parker and Amy Linker. Polydor released this track as a single in 1982 and included it on their EP I Could Rule the World If I Could Only Get the Parts, which also featured "Christmas Wrapping."

Their sophomore album, Bruiseology, was launched by Polydor in May 1983. During that summer, Donahue briefly left the group and was temporarily replaced by Holly Beth Vincent, who departed after two weeks, leading to Donahue’s return. The band ultimately dissolved later that same year.

Post-breakup and legacy

Following the band's dissolution, Butler transitioned into production work and partnered with several musicians, including Richard Lloyd. Ficca became a member of Gods and Monsters and later reunited with Television for their 1991 comeback. Williams collaborated with groups such as the Psychedelic Furs and Ken Vandermark before his death from ampullary cancer in November 2023. Since 1992, Wormworth has served as the bassist for the B-52's.

Donahue succumbed to lung cancer at the age of 40 in December 1996. A live recording from their 1982 show at My Father's Place was issued in 1997 by King Biscuit Flower Hour. Polydor released compilation albums including The Best of the Waitresses (1990) and 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of The Waitresses (2003). In 2013, Omnivore Recordings brought out Just Desserts: The Complete Waitresses, which features nearly all of their Polydor tracks, while ZE Records made available a digital compilation of their ZE label releases.

The track "Christmas Wrapping" was interpreted by the Spice Girls as a B-side to their UK chart-topping single "Goodbye" (1998). Shampoo’s rendition of "I Know What Boys Like" achieved No. 42 on the UK Singles Chart in 1996. Moreover, this song’s impact extended to Chris Brown’s debut hit "Run It!", which reached number one worldwide and was recognized by VH1 as one of the greatest one-hit wonders.

Personnel

Chris Butler – guitar, backing vocals (1978–1983)
Patty Donahue – lead vocals (1980–1983, died 1996)
David Hofstra – bass guitar (1980–1982)
Billy Ficca – drums (1980–1983)
Dan Klayman – keyboards, organ (1980–1983)
Ariel Warner – backing vocals (1980–1982)
Mars Williams – saxophone, reed instruments (1980–1983, died 2023)
Tracy Wormworth – bass guitar, backing vocals (1982–1983)
Holly Beth Vincent – lead vocals (1983)

Studio albums

Year	Title	Peak chart positions		Label
Year	Title	US	AUS	Label
1982	Wasn't Tomorrow Wonderful?	41	84	Polydor
1983	Bruiseology	155	—	Polydor

EPs

Year	Title	US	Label
1982	I Could Rule the World If I Could Only Get the Parts	128	Polydor

Singles

Year	Title	Highest chart rankings			Certifications	Album
Year	Title	US	AUS	UK	Certifications	Album
1978	In "Short Stack" ("Slide" / "Clones")	—	—	—		Non-album singles
1980	"I Know What Boys Like" / "No Guilt"	—	—	—		Non-album singles
1981	"Christmas Wrapping"	—	—	45	BPI: Platinum	A Christmas Record
1982	"I Know What Boys Like"	62	14	—		"Wasn't Tomorrow Wonderful?"
1982	"Square Pegs"	—	—	—		"I Could Rule the World If I Could Only Get the Parts"
1983	"Make the Weather"	—	—	—		"Bruiseology"

Live albums

Release Year	Album Title	Record Label
1997	King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents the Waitresses	King Biscuit Flower Hour

Compilation albums

Release Year	Album Title	Record Label
1990	The Best of the Waitresses	Polydor
2003	20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of The Waitresses	Polydor
2013	Just Desserts: The Complete Waitresses	Omnivore Recordings
2013	Deluxe Special: ZE Complete Recordings	ZE Records

External links