The Waitresses were one of the more interesting bands to emerge in the early 80’s. The hailed from Akron, OH and had hits with “I Know What Boys Like” and the theme to the short-lived TV show “Square Pegs,” along with their most iconic song “Christmas Wrapping.” Written by Chris Butler at their label ZE Records, request for Christmas songs from all its artists. It was released on the 1981 compilation album LP A Christmas Record, the next year it was reissued on the Waitresses’ EP I Could Rule the World if I Could only Get the Parts.

The title is a play on the vocal delivery style of Patty Donahue, imitating the burgeoning new style of music coming from New York’s 5 boroughs. The lyrics are a charming tale of a single woman’s struggles with the hustle, bustle of Christmas and her many attempts to go on a date with someone she had met early in the year. Through the course of the song her attitude goes from resolving to “miss this one this year””to a very happy ending” after running into the guy she wants to date on Christmas Eve at an all night convenience store.

Quirky, poppy and brought to life by a killer riff and bass line, this may be the most infectious Christmas song that lies outside the mainstream themes found in most Christmas songs.