After Eight (Import)

Taco (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Original Release Date: 1982
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA VICTOR (Japan)
• ASIN: B0009RN80S
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,740,548 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Taco//After Eight (PCD14818) Made in Japan 1. Singin' in the Rain 2. Tribute to Tino 3. Puttin' on the Ritz 4. I Should Care 5. Carmella 6. La Vie en Rose 7. Cheek to Cheek 8. After Eight 9. Livin' in My Dreamworld 10. Encore (Sweet Gipsy Rose) 11. Thanks a Million

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!, July 19, 2005

By 

VertigoXpress (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: After Eight (Import) (Audio CD)

Taco's debut album is also his finest moment; although he never recaptured the success of "Puttin' On The Ritz", "After Eight" shows why he occupies his own place in music history.

"Puttin' On The Ritz" immediately conjures up an image of the 1980s, and a lot of it has to do with the memorable video clip that accompanied the single. The song's success demanded an album of similar material. "After Eight" relies heavily on synthesizers and analog bass, a combination also used to great effect by the Thompson Twins.

However, the style here is a fusion of this 80s sensibility with songs that were hits in the 20s and 30s. It works marvelously, and not only on "Puttin' On The Ritz". Without the dark overtones of "Ritz", "Singin' In The Rain" comes off more cheesy than anything else, but it's still memorable. "Cheek To Cheek" works better, and should have been a bigger hit than it was (did it even scrape into the US charts?). Taco also covers "La Vie En Rose", as well as the classic ballad "I Should Care", a number that's been popularized by the likes of Sinatra and Nat King Cole. Don't laugh, but Taco's version may be one of the best recordings of this song.

There are also several originals composed by Taco and associates, including the exotic "Tribute to Tino", which idolizes Rudolph Valentino. It works because even when Taco isn't singing a song from that era, he's evoking the imagery. Similarly, "Encore (Sweet Gypsy Rose)" is about the legendary striptease artist, seen from the point of view of a lowly stage hand who secretly pines for her love. "Carmella" is a tango about a missing movie star with a weird secret, and is typical of the strange subject matter some of Taco's songs discuss. The title track is about a guy who lives off of the money his waitress girlfriend makes slaving away in a diner while he watches TV all day.

The record suffers slightly from a repetitive quality that has a lot to do with the equipment used. The familiar drum track from "Puttin' On The Ritz" was used again for the track "Livin' In My Dream World", simply speeded up to a faster tempo. Other tracks on the record also feature similar beats to them.

But naturally, you don't take a Taco album too seriously, or it spoils the fun. His formula here was at once derivitive and unique; derivative due to the material selected, and unique because of its presentation. There aren't many other performers like Taco. He was miles ahead of the swing craze that happened in the 90s, and instead of going for a simple recreation, he fused current sensibilities (for 1982, anyway) onto a traditional style. The result is one-of-a-kind. Do yourself a favor and hunt this down at once, and while you're at it, try and get your hands on the follow-up record "Let's Face the Music". It was "more of the same", but absolutely as engaging as this album.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 80's cult classic that still holds up, November 9, 2007

By 

Bobby R. Miller (Kansas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: After Eight (Audio CD)

While for most this is a nice stroll back into the unusual sound unique to the 80's I found this quirky update of 1940's musical hits very exciting. I enjoy a more offbeat strain of music ranging from "They Might Be Giants" to "Dethkloc". These mellow but upbeat tunes are appropriate for almost any occasion short of head banging. This music isn't for the majority of the mainstream listening public but is perfect if you want something just a little out in left field, enjoy the older crooner style music, and get into songs that take you into a story with the lyrics.

The recordings were made well before the digital age and that is occasionally noticeable in this copy. These MP3 files are true to the originals which were originally distributed on LPs and Cassettes. Most of the music is synthesized so if you have never listened to 80's music, this alone will sound strange anyway.

I had worn out may cassette tape of After Eight years ago and the Greatest Hits release did not include one of my favorites, Carmella. Someone out there also likes this music because used CDs are selling for $200. Thanks to Amazon I downloaded the whole album for $9 and burned my own CD. The download process was smooth and quick. It took a little work to place the files were Media Player could find them, but then it was simple to create as music cd out of the files. I had no problem backing the files up or moving them to a music CD. Now I'm looking forward to other out of print albums I miss becoming available from Amazon downloads.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Taco's After Eight, August 10, 2010

By 

Joann Livingston - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: After Eight (Audio CD)

For one thing he hasn't dropped out of sight. He has a web site. He tour's all over European countries and especially Germany. His music shouldn't cost so much. Love his music, he's great, among the best.

jo