Dumb Waiters (song)

"Dumb Waiters"
Single by The Psychedelic Furs
from the album Talk Talk Talk
Released	1981
Genre	Post-punk
Length	3:35
Label	Columbia
Writer(s)	John Ashton, Tim Butler, Richard Butler, Vince Ely, Duncan Kilburn, Roger Morris
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 band The Psychedelic Furs from the band's 1981 album Talk Talk Talk. Written by the band and produced by Steve Lillywhite, it was released as a single in April. The 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".

Release

To help promote the band's Talk Talk Talk album, the UK single for "Dumb Waiters" was packaged in an embossed plastic sleeve, playable at 33-1/3 rpm on a turntable, which contains 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 opens 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 number 59.^[2] It also reached number 27 on the U.S. Dance Music/Club Play Singles chart.^[3]

Critical reception

Allmusic writer Dave Thompson said 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]

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
U.S. Dance Music/Club Play Singles[3]	27

References

1. Rosen, Craig (1997-08-09). "Re-discussion". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.) 109 (32): 65. ISSN 0006-2510.
2. "Chart Stats - The Psychedelic Furs". Chart Stats. Retrieved 2010-01-31.
3. "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.