I'll Be Waiting (The Offspring song)

"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)	The Offspring Jim Dotson
The Offspring singles chronology
"I'll Be Waiting" (1986) "Come Out And Play (Keep 'Em Separated)" (1994)

Versions

Several 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

The 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

No.	Title	Length
1.	"I'll Be Waiting"	3:26
2.	"Blackball"	3:06

Release

The 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

• 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

1. "The Offspring – I'll Be Waiting". Swiss Hitparade. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
2. "Subject to Blackout tape". Kill From The Heart. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
3. "The Offspring 1986 Demos [ReMastered By ANDiTKO]". Theoffspring.eu. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
4. Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "The Offspring – The Offspring". AllMusic. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
5. Justin Calvert (October 16, 2002). "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 soundtrack revealed". GameSpot. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
6. "History". Offspring.com. Archived from the original on June 23, 2011. Retrieved July 27, 2008.