Waiting for the Punchline
{{More citations needed|date=February 2011}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Waiting for the Punchline
| type = studio
| artist = Extreme
| cover = Waiting Punchline.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{start date|1995|1|19}}
| recorded = 1994
| studio = Criteria Studios (Miami, Florida)
Sound Techniques (Boston, Massachusetts)
| genre =
| length = 65.35
| label = A&M
| producer =
- Nuno Bettencourt
- Bob St. John
| prev_title = III Sides to Every Story
| prev_year = 1992
| next_title = Saudades de Rock
| next_year = 2008
}}
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/waiting-for-the-punchline-mw0000122337 |title=Extreme - Waiting for the Punchline review |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |authorlink=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |work=AllMusic |publisher=All Media Network |accessdate=2023-04-20 }}
| rev2 =Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal
| rev2Score = 7/10{{cite book | last = Popoff | first = Martin | author-link1 = Martin Popoff | title = The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 3: The Nineties | publisher = Collector's Guide Publishing | date = August 1, 2007 | location = Burlington, Ontario, Canada | page=148|isbn = 978-1-894959-62-9}}
| rev3 = The Daily Vault
| rev4 = Entertainment Weekly
| rev4score = B−{{cite magazine|author=Chuck Eddy |authorlink= Chuck Eddy|url=https://ew.com/article/1995/01/27/waiting-punchline/ |title=Music Review: Waiting for the Punchline - Extreme |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=1995-01-27 |access-date=2011-08-26 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416201915/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,295854,00.html| archive-date=April 16, 2009}}
| noprose = yes
}}
Waiting for the Punchline is the fourth album by American band Extreme, released in 1995. It is known by fans as a distinctively raw-sounding record with a significant influence from grunge, especially when compared to the big production of the two previous albums. Due to its lyrics focused heavily on social matters (ranging from religion to fame) it is often cited as a concept album. It is also the only Extreme record to feature drummer Mike Mangini (on three tracks). After the album's tour, Extreme disbanded in 1996 when Bettencourt informed the band that he was leaving to pursue a solo career. After the breakup, singer Gary Cherone joined Van Halen in the same year as their new singer, but left three years later.
Track listing
All songs written by Gary Cherone & Nuno Bettencourt, except "There Is No God", "Tell Me Something I Don't Know" and "Naked" by Gary Cherone, Nuno Bettencourt & Pat Badger, and "Leave Me Alone" by Gary Cherone, Nuno Bettencourt & Mike Mangini.
{{track listing
| title1 = There Is No God
| length1 = 6:07
| title2 = Cynical
| note2 = listed as "Cynical Fuck" in the album liner notes only
| length2 = 4:41
| title3 = Tell Me Something I Don't Know
| length3 = 6:25
| title4 = Hip Today
| length4 = 4:42
| title5 = Naked
| length5 = 5:46
| title6 = Midnight Express
| note6 = instrumental
| length6 = 3:58
| title7 = Leave Me Alone
| length7 = 4:47
| title8 = No Respect
| length8 = 3:51
| title9 = Evilangelist
| length9 = 4:49
| title10 = Shadow Boxing
| length10 = 4:34
| title11 = Unconditionally
| length11 = 5:01
| title12 = Fair-Weather Faith
| note12 = not included on US release
| length12 = 4:49
| title13 = Waiting for the Punchline
| note13 = hidden track that follows after several seconds of silence
| length13 = 6:00
}}
Personnel
;Extreme
- Gary Cherone – lead vocals
- Nuno Bettencourt – guitars, keyboards, vocals, producer
- Pat Badger – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Paul Geary – drums (except "Hip Today", "Leave Me Alone" and "No Respect")
- Mike Mangini – drums on "Hip Today", "Leave Me Alone" and "No Respect"
;Production
- Bob St. John – co-producer, engineer
- Carl Nappa, Chris Carrol, Chris Nix, Michael Thompson, Scott Perry, Steve Robillard – assistant engineers
- Bob Ludwig – mastering at Gateway Mastering Studios, Portland, Maine
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
! scope="col"| Chart (1995) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite Ryan|page=98}}
| 51 |
|---|
| {{album chart|Austria|37|artist=Extreme|album=Waiting for the Punchline|rowheader=true|access-date=May 28, 2022}} |
| {{album chart|Canada|30|chartid=7754|artist=Extreme|album=Waiting for the Punchline|rowheader=true|access-date=May 28, 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Netherlands|65|artist=Extreme|album=Waiting for the Punchline|rowheader=true|access-date=May 28, 2022}} |
| scope="row"| Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts){{cite book|last=Pennanen|first=Timo|title=Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972|edition=1st|publisher=Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava|location=Helsinki|year=2006|isbn=978-951-1-21053-5 | language= fi}}
| align="center"| 13 |
| scope="row"| French Albums (SNEP){{Cite web|url=http://www.infodisc.fr/Album_E.php |website =Infodisc.fr |language=fr |access-date=9 June 2012 |title=Le Détail des Albums de chaque Artiste – E |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022124902/http://infodisc.fr/Album_E.php |archive-date=22 October 2014 }} Select Extreme from the menu, then press OK.
| align="center"| 10 |
| {{album chart|Germany4|46|id=2005|artist=Extreme|album=Waiting for the Punchline|rowheader=true|access-date=May 28, 2022}} |
| scope="row"|Japanese Albums (Oricon){{cite book|title=Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005|publisher=Oricon Entertainment|location=Roppongi, Tokyo|year=2006|isbn=4-87131-077-9|language=ja}}
|4 |
| {{album chart|Scotland|15|date=19950205|rowheader=true|access-date=May 28, 2022}} |
| {{album chart|Sweden|29|artist=Extreme|album=Waiting for the Punchline|rowheader=true|access-date=May 28, 2022}} |
| {{album chart|Switzerland|24|artist=Extreme|album=Waiting for the Punchline|rowheader=true|access-date=May 28, 2022}} |
| {{album chart|UK2|10|date=19950205|rowheader=true|access-date=May 28, 2022}} |
| {{album chart|UKRock|1|date=19950205|rowheader=true|access-date=May 28, 2022}} |
| scope="row"| US Billboard 200{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1995-02-25/|title=Billboard 200: Week of February 25, 1995|magazine=Billboard|access-date=May 28, 2022}}
| 40 |
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|type=album|artist=Extreme|title=Waiting for the Punchline|award=Gold|relyear=1995|certyear=1995|certmonth=2|access-date=December 27, 2020}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Extreme}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Waiting For The Punchline}}