I don’t even know where to begin.
I always knew I Know What Boys Like, that song has always rocked, and I would get that song mixed up with Never Say Never by Romeo Void. So you know, I’m 48 years old as of the writing of this. In ’82 (when their first album was released) I would have been 14-ish, and heavily into Van Halen, AC/DC, Ozzy, and other rock – metal radio staples.
In 2006 my Aussie wife Alex and I took a month long trip to California to visit my family (Fresno, I apologize) and it was during Xmas time. That’s when you’d go in to any store and hear Xmas Wrapping and Cocteau Twins Frosty the Snowman. I had forgotten about both songs from living in Australia (as they don’t play those particular songs in stores and shit), so it was soooo good to hear them. Made my day and it was rad to see that Alex was diggin’ on it too.
Cut to a year ago or two ago. I found Xmas Wrapping on YouTube and lost my shit!! So I bought the single on Itunes, but for some odd reason couldn’t get it on my phone, whatever..
4 months ago, during lunchtime at work I was like, “I only know these two songs, let’s see what YouTube has..” So I played Jimmy Tomorrow..Fuck me..Long ass intro complete with Zappa style noise and vibe, a killer avant garde ska style, a great guitar motiff goin’ on..You’d have to be dead to not dig this!! I was pretty determined to get the whole catalog.
December (2016) rolled around, and seeing I’m 10 days older than Jesus, wife gave me some $$ to spend however I wanted. I quickly fired up laptop and thought, “get Waitresses discog..”No, I didn’t get Just Desserts (Currently being sent via the US as I type). I got the best of or some shit..has all of Wasn’t Tomorrow Wonderful plus Xmas Wrapping, Square Pegs, I Could Rule the World if I Could Only Get The Parts, and Bread and Butter (which is fucking GOLD).
Hell, just the other day I was like, “Well, I know I don’t have every single song, let’s open up YouTube and see what’s doin’…Luxury? Let’s see..GODDAMN!!! Funky Funky shit. The drum fills and the tightness between the rhythm section are THEE SHIT!! A lot of the funkiness I’ll attribute to the bass player Tracy Wormworth. She even commented on one of my comments praising her work on YouTube, which was rad..) Her bass lines are musical and funky as fuck, simply put. Drummer Billy Ficca is also a bad ass, and must be mentioned, whaddup Bill!! The whole band rips!! Listen to The Smartest Person I Know..FUCKING GOLD!!!!
It’s a great combination of great songwriting, great ensemble of musicians, great lyrics (a la Chris Butler), delivered by a great vocalist (Patty Donahue, RIP). People mention she can’t hit notes and is a bit of a talker, don’t bother me none. Totally fits the music.
So after hearing Luxury and buying the Just Desserts double CD, I feel like I want to know more about Patty Donahue. So I did online searching. Zero interviews and minimal good quality pics. I’ve read a few interviews with Chris Butler talking about Patty, but even that wasn’t enough for me.
Patty Donahue, fucking bad ass. RIP
So I thought, I could contact Chris Butler; he has a podcast, website, just email him with 100 questions regarding Patty. That’s TOO Easy. So here’s my plan…I’m going to make a YouTube clip called Patty Donahue Online Shrine. I want anyone who loves The Waitresses to post in the comments section, be it stories about how they got turned onto The Waitresses, or if you knew Patty and can tell us a bit about her, to share whatever thoughts you may have. I’m also thinking of making a Patty Donahue Friends and fans Facebook page or something like that.
There’s a few reasons I’m so obsessed. The biggest being is that Patty isn’t with us anymore. Died from lung cancer at 40 in ’96. Both her parents are also gone, and she has no brothers or sisters. I’d like to keep her memory alive through stories of people who knew her, band members who can share what it was like to be in a band with her, good and bad stories. All things Patty.
What I love about The Waitresses: ALL OF IT. “Awwww, Dougie!! You’re 48, don’t you feel like an idiot for just now getting into The Waitresses??” Not at all. It’s a gift!!! I have a new favorite band, that doesn’t happen often. My ears are sooo fucking happy. To me, this music is timeless. There’s bands that try and sound like this now.
I’m so into the waitresses I’ll now tell you what I think of every single song, ha ha..(If you have lasted this long, you must be a diehard fan: YES!!..)
No Guilt: I love the ska vibe, the Toronto line, and the lyrics. For whatever reason I find the talking at the end of the song sad, like she’s trying to tell herself that she’s fine when in reality, she is doing okay, but misses ex. Or am I fucked in the head?
Wise Up: Intro reminds me of Steely Dan or Huey Lewis..I like the dual vocals, I really like the fucked up robotic style “I know better now” backing vocals..good shit!!! Not a fave but I don’t skip it like I do Hanggover, ha ha.
Quit: My current fave, probably tied with Luxury. I love the funky vibe, Tracy never phones it in, ever. This song is very catchy, Patty has a lot of attitude in this song. I love her “No!!”‘s in the chorus. Sooo petulant, I really love it. I yell it at work and must look like an asssole. LOVE LOVE LOVE!!
It’s My Car: Not even a fave, but great little ska vibe. Still, a catchy song.
Wasn’t Tomorrow Wonderful: Catchy, happy song!! Love drum fill in beginning. Totally rad, dig the frayed cape lyric. Great song. I dig the frayed cape lyric.
I Know What Boys Like: Classic kick ass song. Total tease, I love it. I like the slightly chromatic vocal line, it’s kinda lazy….especially with the word like, it slightly sharpens. I dig it!!! Sucker, ha ha ha ha ha!! Sounds like Chris has chorus or really weak flanger on the guitar. Reminds me of Zappa. Patty’s voice double tracked?
Heat Night: Great intro, lovely verse, the vocal harmonies are real nice. For some reason this reminds of high school football. Is that what a heat night is? Forgive my dopiness. I like the song a lot. It gets me revved up no matter what it’s about. It’s pretty special for sure.
Redland: It’s okay. Catchy, I’d never skip it but not high on the love list, yet still a good song.
Pussy Strut: I like the funkiness of this one as well. I like the whole song, real good. Pussy strut, ha ha!
Go On: It’s okay, I love the chorus, Patty sounds soo goddamn cheeky when she says I’ll go on. Chorus is my favorite part for sure.
Jimmy Tomorrow: Done it up there somewheres. Love it.
Xmas Wrapping: Brings a tear to my fucking eye if I’m in the right mood.
Bread and Butter: Nice!! Lydian mode, no doubt. I love this song very much. It’s one of my faves. “Shuddup, not yet, don’t interrupt..” SOOOO great.
Square Pegs: Intro reminds me of Steely Dan. I like all the shit Patty says in the song. She has teenage angst DOWN. Good song.
The Smartest Person I Know: Great Zappa style intro, great lyrics, love the key change..One of my faves. There is a part of me that’s kicking myself that I didn’t find this shit earlier, but what can you do? I listen to it daily, so I’m making up for lost time. I cannot wait to get the double CD!!
That’ll do. I’ve had enough, ha ha…so the next thing I’ll have to do is create a FB Patty Donahue Friends and Fans group, do my little spiel on YouTube, and I think that should do it. NO!! I I’ll put the questions I have for The Waitresses band members below this and I’ll post their answers at the bottom of this page. So yeah, it looks like this page has the potential to be LONG AS FUCK.
If you can’t wait that long, email me your stories about Patty and I’ll add them to this blog: doug.steele@gmail.com
Doug Steele 
Love it! I too just discovered the Waitresses. Did you get a FB page set up?
Nah not yet, I still want to though..
I enjoyed your ranting. Haha. I’m a tad younger than you and before this year I knew two things about The Waitresses.
First, I vaguely remembered the song “Square Pegs” because I remembered the short lived tv show that the song used in its intro. Second, I knew “I Know What Boys Like” from heavy rotation on MTV back in the day. By the way, I’m pretty sure the band made an appearance as themselves on an episode of the aforementioned Square Pegs tv show, if you are interested.
I now work from home and use Spotify quite a bit. One day I started listening to New Wave radio on Spoitify and I heard something by The Waitresses. Sorry, I dont recall exactly which song. Wow, this group is different! It is kind of New Wave and jazzy, much like you compared them with Steely Dan. I also think of the group Yes.
Basically, let’s just say i love the Waitresses and was very sad to learn of the premature death of Patty, as well. I’ve read a good bit about the band and different members. I stumbled on your comments about it all and knew you were a brother!
Rock on, man. Rock on!