"I'll Be Waiting" is the first single by punk rock band the Offspring released in 1986. A re-recorded version of the song appeared as the tenth track on their self-titled debut album, which was released three years later. It was the band's first official release and is the only single issued by the band with original drummer James Lilja.
| "I'll Be Waiting" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 From left to right: Dexter Holland, Noodles, James Lilja, Greg K | ||||
| Single by the Offspring | ||||
| from the album The Offspring | ||||
| B-side | "Blackball" | |||
| Released | July 1986 | |||
| Recorded | 1986 at South Coast Recording in Santa Ana, California | |||
| Genre | Hardcore punk | |||
| Length | 3:26 | |||
| Label | Black Label[1] | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Dexter Holland | |||
| Producer(s) |
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| The Offspring singles chronology | ||||
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Versions
editSeveral versions of "I'll Be Waiting" were released. One was released in 1986 as a 7" single, with "Blackball" as the b-side, and was the band's first official release. This single was reissued in 1994, following the Offspring's commercial success with their third studio album Smash. A demo version of "I'll Be Waiting" (then-known as "Fire and Ice") was recorded for the band's demo 6 Songs earlier in July 1986. That version can be heard on the long-out of print Subject to Blackout compilation tape, which was also released in 1986[2] (this version is also available for free to download from the European Offspring website).[3]
After James Lilja left the band, drumming duties were left to Ron Welty, who assisted the band in re-recording both tracks featured on the single for the Offspring's debut self-titled album which was released in 1989 (and re-released in 1995). "Blackball" and "I'll Be Waiting" were both produced by Thom Wilson.[4]
The re-recording of "Blackball" (the B-side of the single) from the band's self-titled LP was featured in the video game Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4.[5]
Cover
editThe band members are depicted as shadows on the "I'll Be Waiting" single's cover in black and white, behind the Offspring logo. On their self-titled LP's insert and back cover, as well as on the 1995 reissue of the same album, the same cover can be found.
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I'll Be Waiting" | 3:26 |
| 2. | "Blackball" | 3:06 |
Release
editThe band itself released "I'll Be Waiting" on Black Label Records (which the band named after a brand of beer), as a 7" vinyl record.[1] Only 1000 copies[6] of this record were made.
Personnel
edit- Dexter Holland (credited as B. Holland) – lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar (uncredited for rhythm guitar and backing vocals)
- Noodles (credited as Child C-2017) – lead guitar (credited as guitar), backing vocals (uncredited for backing vocals)
- Greg K. (credited as Greggor) – bass, backing vocals (uncredited for backing vocals)
- James Lilja (credited as James Frederick Lilja) – drums, backing vocals (uncredited for backing vocals)
References
edit- ^ a b "The Offspring – I'll Be Waiting". Swiss Hitparade. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
- ^ "Subject to Blackout tape". Kill From The Heart. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "The Offspring 1986 Demos [ReMastered By ANDiTKO]". Theoffspring.eu. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
- ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "The Offspring – The Offspring". AllMusic. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
- ^ Justin Calvert (October 16, 2002). "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 soundtrack revealed". GameSpot. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
- ^ "History". Offspring.com. Archived from the original on June 23, 2011. Retrieved July 27, 2008.