Jo the Waiter

Last updated

"Jo the Waiter"
Song by Tubeway Army
from the album Tubeway Army
Released24 November 1978 (1978-11-24)
RecordedJuly–August 1978
Studio Spaceward, Cambridge
Genre Post-punk
Length2:40
Label Beggars Banquet
Songwriter(s) Gary Numan
Producer(s) Gary Numan

"Jo the Waiter" is a song by the English musician Gary Numan, originally released by his new wave band Tubeway Army on their self-titled debut studio album in 1978. The song is often cited by critics and fans as one of the high points of the album, and Numan has taken to performing it live in concert over the last decade or so (perhaps at the behest of his wife Gemma, who considers it her favourite song).

The subject matter concerns a lonely man who recalls an unsuccessful homosexual affair that he had with a waiter whom he used to employ. He licks his psychological wounds from the affair's fallout while junkies and valium addicts surround him. The phrase "Young men need love special" is a quote from William S. Burroughs' novel Naked Lunch (1959). According to biographer Steve Malins, Numan took the real-life loss of a girlfriend, Joanna Casey, as the starting point for the song, reversed the sexuality of the affair and then embroidered the tale to arrive at the final lyric. [1] Like many Numan songs from this period, it evokes a Burroughsian world of addiction, homosexuality and failed relationships, predating the writer's fascination with science fiction that took hold on the subsequent and final Tubeway Army studio album, Replicas (1979). [2]

"Jo the Waiter" is one of Numan's few acoustic guitar tracks, others being "The Monday Troop" and "Crime of Passion" (also written and recorded in 1978 but unreleased until 1993 as part of the CD release of the compilation album The Plan ). [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary Numan</span> English musician (born 1958)

Gary Anthony James Webb, known professionally as Gary Numan, is an English musician. He entered the music industry as frontman of the new wave band Tubeway Army. After releasing two studio albums with the band, he released his debut solo studio album The Pleasure Principle in 1979, topping the UK Albums Chart. His commercial popularity peaked in the late 1970s and early 1980s with hits including "Are 'Friends' Electric?" and "Cars". Numan maintains a cult following. He has sold over 10 million records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tubeway Army</span> English new wave band

Tubeway Army were a London-based new wave band led by lead singer Gary Numan. Formed at the height of punk rock in 1977 the band gradually changed to an electronic sound. They were the first band of the electronic era to have a synthesiser-based number-one hit, with their single "Are 'Friends' Electric?" and its parent album Replicas both topping the UK charts in mid-1979. After its release, Numan opted to drop the Tubeway Army name and release music under his own name as he was the sole songwriter, producer and public face of the band, but he retained the musicians from Tubeway Army as his backing band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cars (song)</span> 1979 single by Gary Numan

"Cars" is the first solo single by English musician Gary Numan. It was released on 21 August 1979 and is from his debut studio album The Pleasure Principle. The song reached the top of the charts in several countries, and is Numan's most successful single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Down in the Park</span> 1979 single by Tubeway Army

"Down in the Park" is a 1979 song by the English band Tubeway Army, featuring lead vocals by Gary Numan. It was released as the first single from the band's second album Replicas, though was not a hit. The song was written and produced by the band's frontman Gary Numan, and despite its lack of commercial success, has been performed by Numan regularly in his live shows throughout the years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Are "Friends" Electric?</span> 1979 single by Tubeway Army

"Are 'Friends' Electric?" is a 1979 song by the English band Tubeway Army. Taken from their album Replicas, it was released as a single in May 1979 and reached number one in the UK Singles Chart, staying there for four weeks. It was written and produced by Gary Numan, the band's frontman and lead vocalist. It was also the band's last single before breaking up.

<i>Dance</i> (Gary Numan album) 1981 studio album by Gary Numan

Dance is the third solo studio album by the English new wave musician Gary Numan, released on 4 September 1981 by Beggars Banquet Records. It was the first studio album Numan released after his "Farewell Concerts" staged at Wembley Arena.

<i>Replicas</i> (album) 1979 studio album by Tubeway Army

Replicas is the second and final studio album by the English new wave band Tubeway Army, released on 4 April 1979 by Beggars Banquet Records. It followed their self-titled debut from the previous year. After this, Tubeway Army frontman Gary Numan would continue to release records under his own name, though the musicians in Tubeway Army would continue to work with him for some time. Replicas was the first album of what Numan later termed the "machine" phase of his career, preceding The Pleasure Principle (1979) and Telekon (1980), a collection linked by common themes of a dystopian science fiction future and transmutation of man/machine, coupled with an androgynous image and a synthetic rock sound.

<i>Times Square</i> (1980 film) 1980 film by Allan Moyle

Times Square is a 1980 American drama film directed by Allan Moyle and starring Trini Alvarado and Robin Johnson as teenage runaways from opposite sides of the tracks and Tim Curry as a radio DJ. The film is set in New York City. The plot embodies a punk rock ethic of misunderstood youth articulating their frustrations toward adult authority through music.

<i>The Pleasure Principle</i> (album) 1979 studio album by Gary Numan

The Pleasure Principle is the debut solo studio album by the English new wave musician Gary Numan, released on 7 September 1979 by Beggars Banquet Records. The album came about six months after Replicas (1979), his second and final studio album with the band Tubeway Army. The Pleasure Principle peaked at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart.

<i>Tubeway Army</i> (album) 1978 studio album by Tubeway Army

Tubeway Army is the debut studio album by the English new wave band Tubeway Army, released in 1978. Its initial limited-edition run of 5,000 sold out but did not chart. When reissued in mid-1979, following the success of the follow-up Replicas (1979), the more commonly known cover art featuring a stylised portrait of Gary Numan was introduced. This release made No. 14 in the UK Albums Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bombers (Tubeway Army song)</span> 1978 single by Tubeway Army

"Bombers" is the second single by Tubeway Army, released in 1978.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">That's Too Bad</span> 1978 single by Tubeway Army

"That's Too Bad" is the debut single by Tubeway Army, the band which provided the initial musical vehicle for Gary Numan. It was released in February 1978 by independent London record label Beggars Banquet. On the day of its release, Numan quit his job in a warehouse to become a professional musician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Gardiner</span> Musical artist

Paul Andrew Gardiner was a British musician who played bass guitar with Gary Numan and Tubeway Army, as well as creating material under his own name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stormtrooper in Drag</span> 1981 single by Paul Gardiner

"Stormtrooper in Drag" is the debut single by Paul Gardiner, who was the bass player in Gary Numan's backing band. Numan is featured on the single as a co-composer, producer, musician and vocalist.

<i>I, Assassin</i> 1982 studio album by Gary Numan

I, Assassin is the fourth solo studio album by the English new wave musician Gary Numan, released on 10 September 1982 by Beggars Banquet. It peaked at No. 8 on the UK Album Chart. Three singles were released from the album: "Music for Chameleons", "We Take Mystery " and "White Boys and Heroes", all of which reached the UK Top 20.

<i>Exhibition</i> (album) 1987 compilation album by Gary Numan / Tubeway Army

Exhibition (1987) is a double disc compilation album of Gary Numan's hits and selected other tracks released on the Beggars Banquet Records label. The songs cover Numan's career from 1978 to 1983.

<i>The Plan</i> (Tubeway Army album) 1984 compilation album by Gary Numan / Tubeway Army

The Plan is an archival compilation album of early demo recordings by British new wave band Tubeway Army, released in 1984.

<i>New Man Numan: The Best of Gary Numan</i> 1982 greatest hits album by Gary Numan

New Man Numan: The Best of Gary Numan is a compilation album released on the T.V. Records label in 1982 of songs featuring Gary Numan. The album reached number 45 on the UK Albums Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary Numan discography</span> Catalogue of published recordings by Gary Numan

The following is a comprehensive discography of Gary Numan, a British singer and musician. Numan released his first record in 1978 as part of the outfit Tubeway Army. Initially unsuccessful, the band scored a huge hit in 1979 with the single "Are Friends Electric" and their second album Replicas, both of which reached number one in the UK. Numan then decided to release further recordings under his own name, beginning with the single "Cars" later in 1979. Both this and the subsequent album The Pleasure Principle also reached number one in the UK, and Numan became a leading force in the British electronic music scene. He scored a third number one album in 1980 with Telekon, and more hit singles and albums until the mid 1980s when his popularity waned. Despite this, he has continued to record and tour on a regular basis up to the present day. His 2017 studio album, Savage , entered the UK Albums Chart at no. 2, which was Numan's highest chart peak since 1980. His most recent album, 2021's Intruder, also entered the UK charts at no. 2.

<i>Random</i> (album) 1997 studio album by Various artists, Gary Numan

Random is a double-CD tribute album featuring songs by Gary Numan, released in 1997 on his first label, Beggars Banquet.

References

  1. "Praying to the Aliens". goodreads.com. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  2. "jo the waiter lyrics – Google Search". google.co.nz. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  3. Tubeway Army (Ft. Gary Numan) – The Monday Troop , retrieved 28 November 2018