LP Review: 'Wasn't Tomorrow Wonderful?' - Polydor Records 1981
Mixing the pop sensibilities of 60's girl-groups such as the Shangri-Las with new wave looked on paper to be a successful prospect.  Indeed, opener 'No Guilt' is a fine example of the Waitresses sassy humour, drawled over well produced guitar pop with a steady beat and a hint of ska.  As the album continues, it becomes clear that their main shortcoming was a lack of diversity, but you could argue 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'.  As well as the obvious Blondie references, there are hints of Ian Dury & the Blockheads, Snatch (from the late 70's if anyone else is familiar with them), and even The Beat.  Despite their obvious New York outlook and vocal styles, the Waitresses chose a sound that borrowed heavily from the British new wave and ska scenes.

It is easy to see why 90's powerpop girl group Shampoo chose to cover 'I Know What Boys Like', with it's teasing lyric about frustrating the advances of young men set to a simple pop-funk nursery rhyme melody.  Although some people may be put off by this less serious approach, the humour belies a cool intelligence, such as displayed in the song 'Pussy Strut', seemingly all about girls who have 'it'. But sung by a female vocalist this song turns into a scientific evaluation of exactly how 'it' is achieved, and doesn't pander to the male voyeuristic viewpoint at all.

The album as a whole is easily accessible to anyone who has ever been a teenager, obsessed as it is with gossip, shopping, rejection, and early forays into physical encounters with the opposite sex.  Although not musically challenging, this is a classy, fun album, offering a younger take on Chrissie Hynde's knowing romanticism made popular by the Pretenders.
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