''Waiting Rooms'' (1997) is the debut (and to date, only) album by English singer-songwriter
Simon Warner.
In part a product of the fashion for
orchestral pop
Orchestral pop (sometimes called ork-pop for short) is pop music that has been arranged and performed by a symphonic orchestra. It may also be conflated with the terms symphonic pop or chamber pop.
History
During the 1960s, pop music on radio an ...
in mid-1990s Britain, the album is strongly influenced by
Anthony Newley
Anthony Newley (24 September 1931 – 14 April 1999) was an English actor, singer, songwriter, and filmmaker. A "latter-day British Al Jolson", he achieved widespread success in song, and on stage and screen. "One of Broadway's greatest leading ...
and
Jacques Brel
Jacques Romain Georges Brel (, ; 8 April 1929 – 9 October 1978) was a Belgian singer and actor who composed and performed literate, thoughtful, and theatrical songs that generated a large, devoted following—initially in Belgium and France, l ...
. The album was produced by former
House of Love bass guitarist Chris Groothuizen in collaboration with Warner and his keyboard player/co-arranger Richard Benbow.
Waiting Rooms produced two singles, 'Wake Up The Street' and 'The Wrong Girl' (the latter a vinyl-only release). Neither single was a hit.
Track listing
Written by Simon Warner except 1, 5, 14 & 15 written by Simon Warner and Richard Benbow.
* Title 1 = "Introduction" Length = 0:24
* Title 2 = "Keep It Down" Length = 3:31
* Title 3 = "Decorating" Length = 4:33
* Title 4 = "Wake Up The Street" Length = 3:15
* Title 5 = "Jamboree" Length = 4:13
* Title 6 = "Moody" Length = 3:56
* Title 7 = "Doggy" Length = 3:46
* Title 8 = "The Wrong Girl" Length = 3:20
* Title 9 = "Hiding" Length = 3:55
* Title 10 = "Kitchen Tango" Length = 2:48
* Title 11 = "Mrs Zaniewski" Length = 1:42
* Title 12 = "Ticket Collector" Length = 2:51
* Title 13 = "Proper Job" Length = 5:00
* Title 14 = "Waiting Rooms" Length = 5:43
* Title 15 = "Simply Marvellous" Length = 2:25
* Title 16 = "Coda" Length = 2:09
Personnel
*
Simon Warner - vocals, guitar, arrangements
*Richard Benbow - keyboards, arrangements
*Kenny Rumbles - drums & percussion.
*James Watson - bass guitar
*(others)
References
Further References
*
Pop: Pulp faction's rising star by Ben Thompson, ''The Independent'', September 19, 1997 (interview with Simon Warner)
* "Orchestral concept pop is redeemed by a musical philosopher." - review of ''Waiting Rooms'' by John O'Reilly, ''The Guardian'', 1997
* Mojo Filter: Buried Treasure "Paradise Postponed" by Danny Ecclestone, MOJO Magazine #248, July 2014 (page 108)
"The Erratic Career of a Torch Singer & Suburban Decadent"by Robert Cochrane, ''Culture Catch'' webzine, June 18, 2007
"This Home is Haunted: A blather about Simon Warner's 'Waiting Rooms'"by Rarg, ''Universal Horse'' webzine, May 8, 2014
1997 debut albums
Rough Trade Records albums
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