After Dark (Cruzados album)

Last updated
After Dark
After Dark (Cruzados album).jpg
Studio album by
Cruzados
Released1987
RecordedOcean Way, The Complex, Baby-O, Record One, Summa, Rock Steady, Music Grinder Studios, and Studio One
Genre Chicano rock, [1] rock
Length38:09
Label Arista [2]
Producer Greg Ladanyi, Waddy Wachtel, Rodney Mills, Tom Kelly, Billy Steinberg
Cruzados chronology
Cruzados
(1985)		After Dark
(1987)		Unreleased Early Recordings
(2001)

After Dark is the second album by the American band Cruzados, released in 1987. [3] [4] "Bed of Lies" reached No. 4 on Billboard's Album Rock Tracks chart; "Small Town Love" peaked at No. 39. [5] The band supported the album with a North American tour that included a leg opening for Fleetwood Mac. [6] [7] They broke up the following year. [8]

Contents

Production

The album was produced by Greg Ladanyi, Waddy Wachtel, Rodney Mills, Tom Kelly, and Billy Steinberg. [9] Marshall Rohner replaced Steven Hufsteter on lead guitar. [2] "Road of Truth" contains contributions from J.D. Souther on backing vocals and Paul Butterfield on harmonica; Souther was in the same studio as Cruzados and told the band that he wanted to sing on the track. [10] It was Butterfield's final recording. [11] Pat Benatar sang on "I Want Your World to Turn". [12]

The songs were inspired by Tito Larriva's years living in El Paso and Mexico City. [13] "Blue Sofa" was originally done by his band the Plugz. [9] "Bed of Lies" was cowritten by Lynne Marie Stewart. [14]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [15]
Chicago Sun-Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [12]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [16]
Houston Chronicle Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [17]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]

Trouser Press called the album "a plain but solid effort" aside from "Time for Waiting", opining that it "sounds nauseatingly like the Eagles." [18] The Los Angeles Times noted the "Springsteen-Mellencamp-Petty territory," writing that "Larriva has developed into a good-enough singer and songwriter in the Little Steven/Southside Johnny vein that the record transcends its obvious reference points." [9] The San Diego Union-Tribune stated that "Cruzados play with the fire of the young Rolling Stones, but the fervor is wasted on a collection of weak songs." [19]

The St. Petersburg Times wrote that Larriva's "desperate vocals and yearning lyrics—coupled with the group's leftover punk instincts—gives After Dark a taut, emotional edge that California-rock always lacked." [1] The Chicago Sun-Times concluded that Larriva "is making music with far greater focus and immediacy than last time through." [12] The Omaha World-Herald determined that "despite the radio-friendly, slick production work ... several tunes here are membrane-thin in staying power." [20] The Houston Chronicle labeled the album "honest, lyrically incisive music that hoists [the band] onto the cutting edge of contemporary American rock." [17]

Track listing

All songs written by Tito Larriva, except where noted.

  1. "Small Town Love" (Larriva, Tony Marsico) – 3:57
  2. "Bed of Lies" (Larriva, L. Stewart) – 3:36
  3. "Road of Truth" (Larriva, Marsico) – 3:08
  4. "Last Ride" (Marshall Rohner, Larriva, Marsico) – 3:57
  5. "Time for Waiting" – 3:57
  6. "Young and on Fire" – 3:06
  7. "Summer's Come, Summer's Gone" – 3:36
  8. "I Want Your World to Turn" (Tom Kelly, Billy Steinberg) – 4:13
  9. "Chains of Freedom" – 3:47
  10. "Blue Sofa (Still a Fool)" – 4:58

Personnel

Additional personnel

Production

Related Research Articles

<i>Andalucia</i> (album) 2002 studio album by Tito & Tarantula

Andalucia is the fourth studio album by Los Angeles rock band Tito & Tarantula, released in 2002. The album marked several line-up changes in the band, which had previously consisted of lead singer/rhythm guitarist Tito Larriva, lead guitarist Peter Atanasoff, and drummer Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez. This album featured the debut of lead guitarist Steven Hufsteter – who had previously played with Larriva in the Cruzados, bassist Io Perry, and keyboardist Marcus Praed.

<i>Excitable Boy</i> 1978 studio album by Warren Zevon

Excitable Boy is the third studio album by American musician Warren Zevon. The album was released on January 18, 1978, by Asylum Records. It includes the single "Werewolves of London", which reached No. 21 and remained in the American Top 40 for six weeks. The album brought Zevon to commercial attention and remains the best-selling album of his career, having been certified platinum by the RIAA and reaching the top ten on the US Billboard 200. A remastered and expanded edition was released in 2007.

<i>Mr. Bad Example</i> 1991 studio album by Warren Zevon

Mr. Bad Example is an album by the American musician Warren Zevon, released through Giant Records in October 1991. Zevon supported the album with a North American tour, with the Odds serving as both opener and backing band.

<i>Ill Sleep When Im Dead (An Anthology)</i> 1996 compilation album by Warren Zevon

I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (An Anthology) is a two-disc compilation album by American singer-songwriter Warren Zevon, released on Rhino Records in 1996. It spans his career from his eponymous debut album on Asylum Records to date of release, ignoring his disowned initial album from 1969, Wanted Dead or Alive. It contains tracks from all ten of his albums released during this period, and includes contributions to soundtracks and his one-off album with members of R.E.M., Hindu Love Gods.

<i>Stand in the Fire</i> 1980 live album by Warren Zevon

Stand in the Fire is a live album by American singer-songwriter Warren Zevon, released December 26, 1980. It was recorded in August 1980 during a five-night residency at The Roxy Theatre in West Hollywood, California and featured two new original songs and one new cover. The album was dedicated to Martin Scorsese.

<i>Building the Perfect Beast</i> 1984 studio album by Don Henley

Building the Perfect Beast is the second solo studio album by American rock singer Don Henley, released on November 19, 1984, by Geffen Records. A commercial and critical success, it is generally regarded as the culmination of the smoother, more adult-oriented sound of Henley's solo work.

<i>The End of the Innocence</i> (album) 1989 studio album by Don Henley

The End of the Innocence is the third solo studio album by Don Henley, the co-lead vocalist and drummer for the Eagles. The album was released in 1989, on Geffen Records, and was his last release on that label. It was also his last solo album before reforming the Eagles and it would be eleven years before he released another solo project, 2000's Inside Job.

<i>Home by Dawn</i> 1984 studio album by J.D. Souther

Home by Dawn is the fourth album by American singer-songwriter J.D. Souther, released in 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Plugz</span> American punk band

The Plugz were a Latino punk band from Los Angeles that formed in 1977 and disbanded in 1984. They and The Zeros were among the first Latino punk bands, although several garage rock bands, such as Thee Midniters and Question Mark & the Mysterians, predated them. The Plugz melded the spirit of punk and Latino music.

The Cruzados were a 1980s rock band from Los Angeles, California.

Greg Ladanyi was an American record producer and recording engineer of Hungarian descent, known for his work with many musicians, including Jackson Browne, Warren Zevon, The Church, Caifanes, Anna Vissi, Toto, Fleetwood Mac, Don Henley, and Jeff Healey.

<i>Starfish</i> (album) 1988 studio album by The Church

Starfish is the fifth album by the Australian rock band The Church, released in February 1988 by Mushroom Records in Australia and by Arista Records internationally. The band's international breakthrough album, Starfish went gold in America and has remained their most commercially successful release. The album sold 600,000 copies in the United States alone. The first single, "Under the Milky Way", charted on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #24, and at #2 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, leading to significant exposure of the then relatively underground Australian act. In Australia "Under the Milky Way" climbed to #22, and Starfish reached #11 on the album charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tito Larriva</span> American songwriter

Humberto "Tito" Larriva is a Mexican-American songwriter, singer, musician, and actor. He came to prominence leading The Plugz, one of the earliest Los Angeles punk rock groups. Since the 1990s, his main musical outlet has been Tito & Tarantula.

<i>Cruzados</i> (album) 1985 studio album by Cruzados

Cruzados is the 1985 debut album of Los Angeles rock band the Cruzados. It featured the band's "classic line-up" of Tito Larriva, Steven Hufsteter, Tony Marsico, and Chalo Quintana. It also featured the band's best known songs, such as "Motorcycle Girl" "Flor De Mal" and "Just Like Roses".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tito & Tarantula</span> American rock band

Tito & Tarantula is an American chicano rock/blues rock band formed in Hollywood, California, in 1992 by singer/songwriter/guitarist Tito Larriva.

<i>Tarantism</i> (album) 1997 studio album by Tito & Tarantula

Tarantism is the debut album by Los Angeles rock band Tito & Tarantula, released in 1997.

<i>Little Bitch</i> 2000 studio album by Tito & Tarantula

Little Bitch is the third album by Tito & Tarantula, released in 2000.

<i>Karla Bonoff</i> (album) 1977 studio album by Karla Bonoff

Karla Bonoff is the RIAA Gold-certified first album by singer/songwriter Karla Bonoff. It includes several of Bonoff's compositions which had previously been prominently recorded: three by Linda Ronstadt and one by Bonnie Raitt ("Home").

<i>Whirlwind</i> (Andrew Gold album) 1980 studio album by Andrew Gold

Whirlwind is the fourth album by singer-songwriter Andrew Gold, released in 1980 on Asylum Records. It is Gold's final major label album and last solo album of any kind for over a decade.

<i>Why Fight It?</i> 1990 studio album by Mondo Rock

Why Fight It? is the sixth and final studio album by Australian rock band Mondo Rock, released in December 1990. The album includes former Beach Boys drummer Ricky Fataar and American guitarist Waddy Wachtel. The album peaked at number 102 in April 1991.

References

  1. 1 2 Okamoto, David (19 July 1987). "Engaging roots-rock". St. Petersburg Times. p. 2F.
  2. 1 2 Burliuk, Greg (15 Aug 1987). "After Dark Cruzados". Magazine. The Kingston Whig-Standard. p. 1.
  3. ↑ "The Cruzados Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  4. ↑ Goldstein, Patrick (17 May 1987). "POP EYE". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 68.
  5. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (July 30, 2008). "Joel Whitburn Presents Rock Tracks 1981-2008". Hal Leonard Corporation – via Google Books.
  6. ↑ Tomlinson, Stuart (August 21, 1987). "CRUZADOS". The Oregonian. p. E10.
  7. ↑ MacDonald, Patrick (December 18, 1987). "THE LATEST LINEUP – NEWEST VERSION OF THE DURABLE FLEETWOOD MAC TO END TOUR HERE". Tempo. The Seattle Times. p. 3.
  8. ↑ Stavans, Ilan (July 29, 2014). "Latin Music: Musicians, Genres, and Themes [2 volumes]". ABC-CLIO – via Google Books.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Hochman, Steve (19 July 1987). "'AFTER DARK' Cruzados". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 91.
  10. ↑ Coleman, Mark (3 July 1987). "The tough-rocking Cruzados...". FEATURES SHOWTIME. Sun-Sentinel. Rolling Stone. p. 39.
  11. ↑ Britt, Bruce (17 Aug 1987). "FAREWELL TO HARMONICIST BUTTERFIELD". Features. Philadelphia Daily News. Los Angeles Daily News. p. 55.
  12. 1 2 3 McLeese, Don (July 6, 1987). "CRUZADOS, 'After Dark'". Features. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 29.
  13. ↑ Hochman, Steve (29 Aug 1987). "CRUZADOS' ROOTS GROW PAST EAST L.A. BORDERS". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 10.
  14. ↑ Terry, Carol Burton (13 Sep 1987). "You'll be able to see Lynne Stewart...". TV PLUS. Newsday. p. 85.
  15. ↑ "The Cruzados - After Dark Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  16. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 2. MUZE. p. 651.
  17. 1 2 Racine, Marty (August 2, 1987). "Records". Zest. Houston Chronicle. p. 11.
  18. ↑ "Cruzados". Trouser Press. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  19. ↑ Peterson, Karla (July 19, 1987). "Weightless songs hinder Cruzados". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. E3.
  20. ↑ Healy, James (July 19, 1987). "Cruzados, 'After Dark'". Entertainment. Omaha World-Herald.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.