Dumb Waiters

''Dumb Waiters'' is the second studio album by English New wave music pop fusion band the Korgis. It was released on Rialto Records in the UK in 1980.

The album peaked #40 at UK chart and includes the singles "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime", UK #5, US #18, Australia #18; " If It's Alright with You Baby" UK #56; "Dumb Waiters" and "Rover's Return".

''Dumb Waiters'' was re-issued on CD by Edsel Records in 1999 but is currently out of print.

Background

Following the release of their self-titled debut album in 1979, the Korgis quickly began working on their second album with producer David Lord. Originally a duo with James Warren and Andy Davis, the Korgis became a four-piece line-up with the joining of Phil Harrison and Stuart Gordon. The album took about five months to record. Upon its completion, Davis departed the band to pursue different musical ventures. Speaking of the album, Warren told ''Melody Maker'' in 1980, "Essentially the second album was a continuation of the first, in that we still wanted to try and write good three minute songs, and also to be quite meticulous in the recording of hem"

Critical reception

Upon its release, Simon Ludgate of ''Record Mirror'' described ''Dumb Waiters'' as being full of "wistful, romantic pop songs" and concluded, "Although definitely a case of filing under 'easy listening', this album is of sound body and mind." Ian Cranna of ''Smash Hits'' noted that "skilful borrowing" of "elements as varied as the Regents, old film songs, disco and electronics" have been "blended into this simple, very tuneful and very appealing album". He continued, "Add a bright, modernised feel, the distinctive soft shoe vocal delivery behind that massive string synthesiser, some quirky humour plus a large, unabashed streak and you get the Korgis' intelligent candyfloss for sentimental types." James Belsey of the ''Bristol Evening Post'' called it a "delicious album". He picked the "near-Giorgio Moroder" "Drawn and Quartered" as "particularly strong" and described "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime" as "beautiful".

Peter Trollope of the ''Liverpool Echo'' gave the album "ten out of ten for effort" and commented that the Korgis had successfully produced "an album of singles" to match the standard of "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime". He wrote, "Some of the songs, like the new single, are superb, while others almost reach perfection. The lyrics are, sometimes, a bit too twee and tacky, while at other times, they are just right. Even if you don't like the Korgis, you'll find it hard not to like ''Dumb Waiters''." Paul Screeton of the '' Hartlepool Mail'' called it a "good pop album with thought behind it and commerciality oozing from it". He continued, "The Korgis have a knack for musical subtlety and understatement and a craftsmanlike approach to songwriting." Jim Whiteford of the '' Kilmarnock Standard'' considered it a "worthwhile follow-up" to the band's debut album and noted their "sweet melodic approach".

Aberdeen's '' Press and Journal'' praised "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime", but believed some of the other tracks "sound a little overproduced and too 'busy'", with the Korgis "sound ngbest with a fairly sparse backing". Peter Kinghorn of Newcastle's '' The Journal'' commented that "inevitable comparisons with heirexcellent debut album produce disappointment". He stated, "Slow numbers have meandering melodies, like 'Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime' whose success astounded me, while more uptempo songs lack meat."

Track listing

Charts

Personnel

* James Warren - lead vocals, background vocals, bass guitar, electric guitar, keyboards
* Stuart Gordon - acoustic guitar, violin
* Andy Davis - electric guitar, keyboards, drums, percussion, background vocals
* Phil Harrison - keyboards, percussion

Additional personnel

* David Lord - percussion
* Stephen Paine - programming
* Jo Mullet - background vocals
* Ali Cohn - background vocals

Production

* The Korgis - producers
* David Lord - producer, sound engineer
* Nick Heath - direction
* Tim Heath - direction
* Jeffery Edwards - cover painting
* Tim Simmons - photography
* Nick Heath, George Rowbottom - art direction
* Julian Balme - art direction
* Recorded at Crescent Studios, Bath, Somerset, England from October 1979 to March 1980.

Release history

* 1980 LP Rialto Records TENOR 104 (UK)
* 1980 LP Asylum Records 290 (US)
* 1999 CD Edsel Records EDCD 622

Single releases

''Format: 7" unless otherwise noted''
* "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime" / "Dirty Postcards" (Rialto TREB 115, April 1980)
* " If It's Alright with You Baby" / "Love Ain't Too Far Away" (TREB 118, July 1980)
* "If It's Alright with You Baby" (Remix) - 3:46 / "Love Ain't Too Far Away" (12" TREBL 118, July 1980)
* "Dumb Waiters" / "Perfect Hostess" (TREB 122, October 1980)
* "Rovers Return" / "Wish You a Merry Christmas" (non-album track) (Warren/Harrison) - 2:53 (TREB 131, December 1980)

References

{{Authority control

1980 albums
The Korgis albums
Asylum Records albums