Dear Catastrophe Waitress

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Dear Catastrophe Waitress
Studio album by Belle & Sebastian
Released 6 October 2003
Recorded Summer 2003
Genre Chamber pop
Length 48:17
Label Rough Trade
Producer Trevor Horn
Belle & Sebastian chronology
Dear Catastrophe Waitress
Push Barman to Open Old Wounds

Dear Catastrophe Waitress is the sixth studio album by Belle & Sebastian, a Scottish indie pop group, released in 2003 on Rough Trade Records. Producer Trevor Horn, former member of The Buggles and producer of groups like Yes and Frankie Goes to Hollywood, oversaw the production of the album, and gave it a more polished, pop-friendly sound. This stood in sharp contrast with their previous lo-fi, folky albums (although songs like "Lord Anthony" hearkened back to their old sound). In particular, the danceable track "Stay Loose" proved to be the first in a series of songs (such as "Your Cover's Blown" and "Sukie in the Graveyard") that further diverged from their roots.

The album was nominated for the 2004 Mercury Music Prize, while the song "Step into My Office, Baby" was shortlisted for an Ivor Novello Award in the Best Song category.

Track listing[edit]

No. Title Length
1. "Step into My Office, Baby"   4:12
2. "Dear Catastrophe Waitress"   2:22
3. "If She Wants Me"   5:05
4. "Piazza, New York Catcher"   3:03
5. "Asleep on a Sunbeam"   3:22
6. "I'm a Cuckoo"   5:26
7. "You Don't Send Me"   3:08
8. "Wrapped Up in Books"   3:34
9. "Lord Anthony"   4:14
10. "If You Find Yourself Caught in Love"   4:15
11. "Roy Walker"   2:57
12. "Stay Loose"   6:41
Total length:

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 4.5/5 stars link
BBC (positive) link
Blender 4/5 stars link
Mojo 4.5/5 stars link
PopMatters (very positive) 11/4/2003
Rolling Stone 3/5 stars link
Stylus (A) link
Tiny Mix Tapes 4/5 stars link
Uncut 5/5 stars link


"Piazza, New York Catcher" was written for Stuart Murdoch's wife when they were still courting. Stuart announced this from the stage, when the band played in the Copenhagen Concert Hall (Koncerthuset) June 25th 2014.