BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1982
NEW 2021 Transfer!
Meticulously Remastered!
Originally posted April 15, 2013
“Puttin’ On the Ritz” is a song written by Irving Berlin. He wrote it in May 1927 and first published it on December 2, 1929.
In 1982, singer Taco released a synth-pop cover version of “Puttin’ On the Ritz” as a single from his album After Eight. The single was accompanied by a music video, the original version of which contains characters in blackface and has since been banned from many networks. An alternative version eliminates many shots of the blackface characters, though some remain.
The cover also musically references other Irving Berlin songs, such as “There’s No Business Like Show Business”, “Alexander’s Ragtime Band”, and “White Christmas”.
The single was a global hit, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making Irving Berlin, then 95, the oldest ever living songwriter to have one of his compositions enter the top ten. It was certified Gold by the RIAA for selling over one million copies. It was Taco’s only hit in the United States. This version of the song was ranked No. 53 in VH1’s 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the 80s special.
The song topped the charts in Sweden and New Zealand, and it entered the Top 5 in numerous countries including Australia, Norway, Austria, and Canada.
SIDE A:
Puttin’ On The Ritz (Extended Version) 6:02
Written-By – Irving Berlin
SIDE B:
Livin’ In My Dream World 3:09
Written-By –John David Parker-Tanja*, Taco Okerse*, Werner Lang
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Puttin’ On The Ritz | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #4 |
| 1983 | Puttin’ On The Ritz | U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | #12 |
| 1983 | Puttin’ On The Ritz | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play | #37 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: RCA Victor – PD-13575
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1982
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
CREDITS:
Producer – David Parker
NOTES:
From the album “AFTER EIGHT”
Find the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net
THE GEAR:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon 2M Bronze
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
DAC: Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner
SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
Password: burningtheground
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I love tacos! Thanks for another helping, Paul 🙂
Thanks so much Paul. As you say, Reached No. 1 here in NZ. Fantastic version, coupled with the original 80s video, it had a certain strangeness to it that seemed to make a 1920s/30s song relevant in the ealry 80s. But Irving Berlin was a genius song writer wasn’t he?
There are several videos for Puttin’ On the Ritz.” This one needs to be seen for the wonderful choreography, and Taco’s larger than life “ham” persona. I mean that in the most kindest terms. So many small & tiny mannerisms. He owns it and should have gone on to greater success. I do see a similarity to Tim Curry’s over the top, camera hogging Rocky Horror Picture Show performance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OUnedMCCW0
Many thanks – it sounds wonderful!
Super duper like Gary Cooper! Der Kommissar is another great one from that time.
MTV was so awesome the first few years with all genres.
How I loved Haircut 100, early INXS, Romeo Void, Bananarama, Thomas Dolby.
You knew it would have to get ruined just like everything great with endless fake scripted “reality shows” and politics in music which automatically turns off half of the audience.
1980’s forever!
Heard the short version of this on Sirius’ 80’s channel over the weekend and started looking for a copy- you either read my mind or was inspired by the same radio broadcast as me! Whatever reason you chose this, thank you for making MY life a tiny bit easier- you know how a song gets stuck in your head and you can’t get rid of it until you hear it again? That was me…
Hello and thank you for posting this record, but I think the ripping of side a did not turn out well, as the first bar of the initial eight is missing. The piece starts in “beat” and not in “upbeat” … Can you check?
Thanks Paul!
Ale (Italy)
I think of Gene Wilder, Peter Boyle, and the movie “Young Frankenstein” every time I hear this song, in any version.
And I can’t help screaming “Uteh Unah EEEEEEEZ!!!”
Think I am gonna have to pull that movie out and give it a watch tonight.
You’re scaring me again Paul. I just made my Mom a CD called, “The Cat’s Pajama’s” and it had stuff from the 20’s, 30’s and the 40’s on it. She absolutely loved “Puttin’ On The Ritz” and loved this dance version. I did too. It was kind of a sleazy and hypnotic as well. Thanks for bringing it back again for all to hear once again in all your pristine quality.
Jeff
I bet that is a fun disc, Jeff 🙂
This guy always remind me of a classmate when I was a teenager. Every time this song started I said to myself “here we go again…. the Enrique Vinés song”.
That is too funny Alberto 🙂
Good old Taco Ockerse, a Dutch guy. A one hit wonder with a massive success in Europe, but also in the US (at that time much to my surprise). Thanks for this new rip Paul.
Haven’t seen you around in a while Stefano, it’s good to see you comment 🙂
One hit wonder because he fell into the “do old songs with the 80’s sound” rabbit hole. Every song after this sounded like Puttin’ On the Ritz. I do love this song & checked several videos on YouTube but the songs all sound the same.
This is SO great !!! I love this song, even though my friends hated me when I played it along with Jona Lewie’s “You’ll Always Find Me In The Kitchen At Parties”. They hated them both but I love them!
Thanks for sharing you memories of the song with us 🙂