Dumb Waiters (song)

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"Dumb Waiters"
The Psychedelic Furs - Dumb Waiters.jpeg
Single by The Psychedelic Furs
from the album Talk Talk Talk
ReleasedApril 1981
GenrePost-punk
Length3:35
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Steve Lillywhite
The Psychedelic Furs singles chronology
"Mr. Jones"
(1980) 		"Dumb Waiters"
(1981) 		"Pretty in Pink"
(1981)

"Dumb Waiters" is a song by English rock band the Psychedelic Furs, released as a single in April 1981 by Columbia Records. Written by the band and produced by Steve Lillywhite, it was included on the band's 1981 album Talk Talk Talk.

Release[]

To help promote Talk Talk Talk, the UK single for "Dumb Waiters" was packaged in an embossed plastic sleeve, playable at 33⅓ RPM on a turntable, which contained a track with excerpts from the songs "Into You Like a Train", "I Wanna Sleep With You" and "Pretty in Pink".[1] Singer Richard Butler opened the track by saying, "This is a Psychedelic Furs commercial. Buy Talk Talk Talk".[1] "Dumb Waiters" was the first Psychedelic Furs single to chart in the UK, peaking at No. 59.[2] It also reached No. 27 on the U.S. National Disco Action Top 80 chart.[3]

Critical reception[]

AllMusic writer Dave Thompson said that the song "captures the band at its most frenzied, a state of mind which subsequent live versions only amplified".[4] AllMusic's Ned Raggett called the song "especially striking. . .with its queasy, slow-paced arrangement that allows both [Duncan] Kilburn's sax and [John] Ashton's guitar to go wild".[5]

Cover versions[]

New York City dance-punk band the Rapture recorded a cover of the song, which was included on the B-side of their 1998 debut single, "The Chair That Squeaks".

Track listing[]

7" vinyl
  1. "Dumb Waiters" - 3:35
  2. "Dash" - 3:06
  • Playable sleeve contains "A Psychedelic Furs Commercial" - 4:39

Chart performance[]

Chart (1981) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart[2] 59
US National Disco Action Top 80[3] 27

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Rosen, Craig (1997-08-09). "Re-discussion". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 109 (32): 65. ISSN 0006-2510.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "The Official Charts Company - The Psychedelic Furs". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2010-01-31.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b "The Psychedelic Furs - Charts & Awards - Billboard Singles". AllMusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 2010-01-31.
  4. ^ Thompson, Dave. "'Dumb Waiters' - Song Review". AllMusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 2010-01-31.
  5. ^ Raggett, Ned. "Talk Talk Talk - Overview". AllMusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 2010-01-31.
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