The recent documentary ‘Italo Disco Legacy’ and its accompanying soundtrack allowed a much maligned if cultishly celebrated form of electronic pop to be artistically re-evaluated.
Arguably pioneered by Italian producer Giorgio Moroder via his various projects using the then-new sequencer technology, Italo Disco coincided with the growing use of synthesizers, vocoders and drum machines within dance music and became a distinct sub-genre with its own electro heart.
Despite its name, Italo was not strictly a native affair; the form became a stylistic phenomenon in territories such as Spain, Greece and France, parts of the USA such as New York and Los Angeles, Sweden and Germany. In fact, it was the German record label ZYX Music who coined the term and were particularly key in taking the music out of Italy, leading it to become a rogue gene in House music before eventually mutating into Eurodance.
One of the countries not to truly embrace Italo Disco was the UK where club audiences preferred the more soulful adrenalin rush of HI-NRG. However, it literally came in through the back door when it was a key influence in the music of PET SHOP BOYS and NEW ORDER, particularly in their use of very Eurocentric octave shift basslines and easy-to-dance-to beats.
Highlighting the British hypocrisy of only accepting Italo Disco provided it was fronted by the aloof cool of a Neil Tennant or a Bernard Sumner, in a 1986 issue of Record Mirror discussing PET SHOP BOYS’ ‘Suburbia’, the reviewer confessed: “Despite the fact that I love the PET SHOP BOYS as much as I loathe MODERN TALKING, I have to admit that musically, they’re not that different!”
Comprising of ridiculously tanned singer Thomas Anders and musician Dieter Bohlen, MODERN TALKING’s overtly catchy Italo-inspired tunes like ‘You’re My Heart, You’re My Soul’, ‘Cheri Cheri Lady’ and ‘Brother Louie’ ensured they were simultaneously the most successful and most hated pop duo in West Germany. Bohlen later gained notoriety as a judge on ‘Deutschland Sucht Den Superstar’, taking on the role of Germany’s answer to Simon Cowell.
Italo went global with Laura Branigan whose two biggest hits ‘Gloria’ and ‘Self Control’ were covers of Italian artists Umberto Tozzi and Raf respectively, while Samantha Fox and Sabrina were two of the more noticeable figures in pop who used it as a springboard for their own high profile careers.
One key aspect of Italo Disco was that the majority of its artists used very English names in an attempt to hide their origins. However, the charming accents often captured an amusing vocal detachment while the frequent “woah-oh” refrains, abundance of catchy melodies and timing mistakes also contributed to its escapist appeal.
Providing the soundtrack to many a Mediterranean summer holiday, the zenith of Italo Disco’s ubiquity (and some would say banality) was probably Baltimora’s ‘Tarzan Boy’, the worldwide hit fronted by the late Northern Irish model Jimmy McShane, although the lead vocals were performed by one Maurizio Bassi in a practice that was exploited frequently by the sub-genre’s producers.
Longevity was very rare in Italo Disco, so its history is represented more by a number of great records rather than great artists, although several such as Fancy, Savage, Bobby O and Ryan Paris have entered into music folklore. Latterly, Anglo-Argentine duo HEARTBREAK revived the form with a much harder sound and KNIGHT$ has added his own Home Counties take on the form labelled as Britalo. Meanwhile Italo Disco’s continuing influence can be heard within most types of modern electronic music including Synthwave.
In these darker, more turbulent times, the sunnier disposition of Italo Disco is just what the Doctor Rhythm ordered. So here are 25 nominally Italo flavoured tracks which have brought a smile to ELECTRICITYCLUB.CO.UK’s face, with a restriction of one track per artist in chronological and then alphabetical order.
KLEIN & MBO Dirty Talk (1982)
KLEIN & MBO were formed by Italian producer Mario Boncaldo and American arranger Tony Carrasco. Like a blueprint of early house music, their rhythmically hypnotic neo-instrumental ‘Dirty Talk’ with its orgasmic vocal interludes by jazz singer Rossana Casale proved to be a big influence on NEW ORDER for ‘Blue Monday’. Meanwhile MISS KITTIN & THE HACKER covered the track for their ‘Champagne’ EP in 1998.
Available on the KLEIN & MBO single ‘Dirty Talk’
https://www.facebook.com/KleinMbo-90283074783/
BOBBY O I’m So Hot For You (1982)
Italian-American producer Bobby Orlando is credited as one of the founding fathers of Hi-NRG dance music thanks to his work with Divine, but operating at a more Ttalo disco friendly 122BPM, ‘I’m So Hot For You’ was ‘Don’t You Want Me?’ taken on a New York subway ride with its rolling bass lines and Latin beats. The track was later sampled in 2003 for ‘Da Hype’ by Junior Jack featuring Rober Smith of THE CURE!
Available on the BOBBY O album ‘The Best Of’
THE FLIRTS Passion (1982)
THE FLIRTS were an interchangeable girl trio of one redhead, one blonde and one brunette under the control of Bobby Orlando, whereby those who did the personal appearances had no relation to those who had sang on the tracks. ‘Passion’ was a favourite of PET SHOP BOYS so much so that it was the inspiration for ‘In The Night’ while Felix Da Housecat ripped it lock, stock and barrel for ‘Silver Screen – Shower Scene’.
Available on THE FLIRTS album ’10 Cents For A Dance’
GINO SOCCIO Remember (1982)
A Canadian disco producer of Italian heritage, Gino Soccio’s finest moment came with ‘Remember’, a pulsating sequencer assisted number featuring some vocoder augmentation and the sexy nonchalant voice of Marie-Line Vasseur over a fabulously retro-futuristic string machine. Ahead of its time, this was a forerunner of what was to emerge as Electroclash while techno DJ Jeff Mills sampled it for 1995’s ‘Black Is The Number’.
Available on the GINO SOCCIO album ‘Face To Face’
https://www.discogs.com/artist/75922-Gino-Soccio
CHARLIE Spacer Woman (1983)
A project helmed by Maurizio Cavalieri of the Italian group FIREFLY and co-written with Giorgio Stefani, ‘Spacer Woman’ featured a mysterious Gina X styled lead vocal over some electro break beats that unlike other Italo Disco recordings, used more colder synth sounds that were more associated with UK acts like THE HUMAN LEAGUE. Picked up by ZYX Music for international release, this was to be the only CHARLIE track released.
Available on the CHARLIE single ‘Spacer Woman’
https://www.discogs.com/artist/15971-Charlie
MR FLAGIO Take A Chance (1983)
The project of Italian duo Flavio Vidulich and Giorgio Bacco (hence the moniker), the futuristic robotic vocoder opera of ‘Take A Chance’ had a subtle tinny banality that made it extremely appealing. PET SHOP BOYS borrowed its feel for the early B-side ‘A Man Could Get Arrested’ while its use of choppy minimal rhythmic guitar and throbbing sequencers clearly had an effect on NEW ORDER’s Bernard Sumner.
Available on the MR FLAGIO single ‘Take A Chance’ via The Saifam Group
https://www.discogs.com/artist/15976-Mr-Flagio
HIPNOSIS Pulstar (1983)
A project led by KOTO’s Stefano Cundari, he hit upon the idea of covering the prog synth epic ‘Pulstar’ by Vangelis as a disco number. Recording it with KOTO bandmate Anfrando Maiola and producer Alessandro Zanni, the track actually worked with a bouncy octave bassline and a backbone at 122BPM. Less successful was its B-side ‘End Title’ from ‘Blade Runner’ which tried to add a squelchy electro-funk groove while blipping the main theme.
Available on the HIPNOSIS album ‘Hipnosis’ via ZYX Music
https://www.discogs.com/artist/15973-Hipnosis
IVAN Fotonovela (1984)
Ivan was the stage name of Spaniard Juan Carlos Ramos Vaquero and he naturally found a home for his music in Spanish speaking territories like Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador and Chile. The sunny octave vibe of ‘Fotonovela’ with its bells, strings and accordions was to be his greatest moment; indeed the Greek production duo of George Geranios and Nick Bitzenis’ who are the production team behind MARSHEAUX are named after this song.
Available on the IVAN album ‘Lo Mejor De’
https://www.discogs.com/artist/81599-Ivan-4
P.LION Happy Children (1983)
Italian musician and singer Pietro Paolo Pelandi named himself P.LION thanks to only having Ps in his name while with his aristocratic background, his family coat of arms was a lion. Featuring an anti-war and anti-greed lyric, the optimistic synth brass laden ‘Happy Children’ was to be his biggest song, becoming popular in France and later in the colder climes of Sweden where Italo Disco was to find an unexpected audience.
Available on the P.LION single ‘Happy Children’
http://www.plionproject.com/English/New_Release.html
ALEXANDER ROBOTNICK Problèmes D’amour (1983)
Born Maurizio Dami, the Italian electronic musician was a founder member of the quirky art cabaret trio named AVIDA. ‘Problèmes D’amour’ with its clattering drum machine, swirling analogue synths and cutesy female voiced counterpoints found a cult audience. Later working in soundtracks and world music, Dami continues making electronic dance music in the present day under the Alexander Robotnick moniker, remixing ‘Stuck On Repeat’ for LITTLE BOOTS in 2009.
Available on the ALEXANDER ROBOTNICK single ‘Problèmes D’Amour’
https://www.alexander-robotnick.it
RYAN PARIS La Dolce Vita (1983)
While his real name was Fabio Roscioli, his huge hit ‘La Dolce Vita’ was written and produced for him by Pierluigi Giombini, who not only wrote songs exclusively in English but was keen to move the established Italian singer away from rock. Paris recently returned to the spotlight with ‘Love On Ice’ in collaboration with Johan Agebjorn and Sally Shapiro, a song from the soundtrack for the Swedish thriller ‘Videomannen’.
Available on the RYAN PARIS album ‘The Best Of’
SAVAGE Don’t Cry Tonight (1983)
Despite having a long music career which continues to this day, Tuscan native Roberto Zanetti is still best known for debut single ‘Don’t Cry Tonight’, a moody slice of disco lento that was hugely successful across Europe. Named after the American comic character Doc Savage, one notable fan was Chris Lowe, who used the song to open his playlist in PET SHOP BOYS ‘Back To Mine’ double mixtape collection in 2005.
Available on the SAVAGE album ‘Don’t Cry – Greatest Hits’
VALERIE DORE Get Closer (1984)
The alluring tones of VALERIE DORE were actually masterminded by producer Roberto Gasparini and fronted by Monica Stucchi who lip-synched on public appearances to the vocals of Dora Carofiglio on the first two hits ‘The Night’ and ‘Get Closer’. Stucchi herself voiced her recordings after 1986 and continues performing as Valerie. Meanwhile ‘Get Closer’ itself was covered by Marc Almond with STARCLUSTER in 2016.
Available on the VALERIE DORE album ‘The Best Of’
FANCY Slice Me Nice (1984)
Under the stage name of Fancy, Manfred Alois Segieth cut a striking androgynous figure within Italo Disco, scoring an international hit with the extremely saucy ‘Slice Me Nice’. The German-born Spaniard even made headway in the US Billboard Dance Charts in 1985 with ‘Chinese Eyes’ and ‘Come Inside’, while ‘Bolero’ hit No1 in Spain. At the age of 70 in 2017, he took the Guinness world record for the highest ever pop concert in La Paz, Bolivia!
Available on the FANCY album ‘The Original Maxi-Singles Collection’
OP.8 Butterfly (1984)
Originally released on Milan’s Discomagic Records, ‘Butterfly’ was Moroder influenced Italo Disco with an oriental flavour and a catchy refrain derived from Puccini. It’s so obscure that there is virtually no information about it, although it was written by Ronald Hanson, Michele D’Alessandro and Massimo Parretti while progammed by Piero Cairo. ZYX Music dug it out of obscurity for a compilation in 2010.
Available on the OP.8 single ‘Butterfly’
RAF Black & Blue (1984)
Raffaele Riefoli actually lived in London before starting out his musical career. He scored a domestic hit with his co-write ‘Self Control’, but hit paydirt when it was covered by Italian pop enthusiast Laura Branigan. ‘Black & Blue’ was a highlight from his debut album ‘Change Your Mind’ featured slap bass and all the then-modern technological trimmings which wouldn’t have sounded out of place on PET SHOP BOYS’ Spaghetti Records imprint.
Available on the RAF album ‘Self Control’
CLIO Faces (1985)
The vehicle of Italian singer Maria Chiara Perugini, the sophisticated and stylish aura of CLIO’s ‘Faces’ was written and produced by Roberto Ferrante who later founded Planet Records. With its pretty colourful melodies and punchy rhythms, it could have been mistaken for early Madonna. The track was covered by Canadian synth duo ELECTRIC YOUTH in 2011 for the ‘Valerie & Friends’ compilation..
Available on the compilation album ’80’s Dance Story Original Italo Hits’
https://www.discogs.com/artist/154990-Clio
BRIAN ICE Talking To The Night (1985)
Singer and actor Fabrizio Rizzolo was the man behind the ice and ‘Talking To The Night’ was apparently composed and written in just a few minutes, using just about every Italo Disco cliché in the book, especially with its “woah-oh” vocals. A limited edition 12 inch issued on ZYX Music played from the label outwards! He later co-wrote ‘Never Be Lonely’ for Gloria Gaynor and continues a successful career in Italian TV and theatre.
Available on the BRIAN ICE album ‘Greatest Hits & Remixes’
GRANT MILLER Colder Than Ice (1985)
Sensing he could achieve another massive hit if the song had an extremely handsome frontman, Fancy made the idea reality when Indiana-born model Grant Miller-Benton was introduced to him by Divine. Produced by Fancy under his Tess Teiges moniker, Miller scored a debut hit in Germany when it was released by ZYX Music. A later single ‘Doctor For My Heart’ released in 1986 was produced by Dieter Bohlen of MODERN TALKING.
Available on the GRANT MILLER album ‘The Maxi-Singles Hit Collection’
http://grant-miller.blogspot.co.uk
CC CATCH Cause You Are Young (1986)
Caroline Catharina Müller was a German domiciled Dutch pop singer who was a member of the girl group OPTIMAL and had the domestic hit ‘Er War Magnetisch’. Spotted by Dieter Bohlen of MODERN TALKING, he signed her to Hansa Records and launched her solo career. A breathy vocal and an enticing lead synth line plus a fabulous catchy chorus laced with orchestra stabs ensured that ‘Cause You Are Young’ was a big European hit.
Available on the CC CATCH album ‘The 80’s Album’
EDDY HUNTINGTON USSR (1986)
Hailing from Peterlee in County Durham, Cliff Richard fan and model Edward Huntington sought fame and fortune as a pop singer in Italy. Discovered by Baby Records, they took him to Milan to record the catchy ‘USSR’, written by the same production team behind Den Harrow. Released in the rest of Europe by ZYX Music, the song unexpectedly became a hit in the Soviet Union. Huntington later returned to the UK to become a teacher.
Available on the EDDY HUNTINGTON album ‘Bang Bang Baby’
https://www.facebook.com/Eddy-Huntington-Italo-Disco-138800969576918/
PAUL REIN Lady-O (1986)
Sweden’s Paul Rein was their home grown Italo Disco star and ‘Lady-O’ showed that cold weather and dark nights was no barrier to producing upbeat electronic dance music. He has since continued a career as a songwriter for artists like Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson and Mandy Moore, but perhaps as a reaction to his fame, his daughter Joanna is now making waves in EBM, having opened for DAF in 2016!
Available on the PAUL REIN album ‘Communicate’
https://www.discogs.com/artist/116266-Paul-Rein
FRED VENTURA Wind Of Change (1986)
Italo Disco legend Federico Di Bonaventura began his music career with a 4 track cassette machine, a Roland Juno 60, an Oberheim DX and a passion for NEW ORDER. ‘Winds of Change’ was a rousing Italo Disco track with cowbells and big digital drums that brought him European success. He continues making music today with Paolo Gozzetti as ITALOCONNECTION who have remixed THE HUMAN LEAGUE, HURTS and KNIGHT$.
Available on the FRED VENTURA album ‘Disco Modernism (1983 – 2008)’
https://www.facebook.com/italoconnection/
LINDA JO RIZZO You’re My First, You’re My Last (1986)
Linda Jo Rizzo was an Italian-American who worked in Milan as a fashion model. A former member of THE FLIRTS, she combined her Sicilian temperament with a New York sass. Moving to Germany, on the energetic ‘You’re My First, You’re My Last’ produced by Fancy under his Tess pseudonym. As well other singles like ‘Heartflash (Tonight)’ , as per the time, she would also provide uncredited vocals for another Italo artist Mona Lisa.
Available on the LINDA JO RIZZO album ‘Greatest Hits & Remixes’ via ZYX Music
DEN HARROW Don’t Break My Heart (1987)
A play on the Italian word “denaro” meaning money, this project was the brainchild of producers Miki Chieregato and Roberto Turatti. Fronted by fashion model Stefano Zandri, it was however American singer Tom Hooker who voiced the biggest hit ‘Don’t Break My Heart’. Despite Zandri admitting in 2012 that he did not sing on any of the records, he makes public appearances as Den Harrow having taken singing lessons in 1998.
Available on the DEN HARROW album ‘I Miei Successi’
‘Italo Be Thy Name’, a Spotify Playlist compiled by ELECTRICITYCLUB.CO.UK of related tracks can be listened to at: https://open.spotify.com/user/theelectricityclub/playlist/3uUHPnMSOsUegDSnnFr7Fn
The ‘Italo Disco Legacy’
https://www.facebook.com/ItaloDiscoLegacy/
http://www.italo-interviews.com/
Text by Chi Ming Lai with thanks to Grit Cheraka and Viola Anastasia
12th May 2018
which had been shelved by Virgin Records back in 1981. Meanwhile as well as ERASURE, NINE INCH NAILS, GOLDFRAPP, MIRRORS, SAY LOU LOU and NEW ORDER, his productions and remixes have encompassed artists such varied as Will Young, Roísín Murphy, Rachel Stevens, Sam Sparro, Tiga, Jarvis Cocker and Lana Del Rey.
via Universal Music
via V2 Records
via Virgin Records
via Polydor Records
via Nothing Records
via Fantastic Plastic
via EMI Records
via Smalltown Supersound
via Pleasure Masters
via Heavenly Records
via EMI Records
via Dragonette Inc
via Mute Records
via Warp Records
via EBGB’s
via Skint Records
via Skies Above
via Mute Artists
via Mute Artists
via Aztec Records
via Cherry Red Records
via Cherry Red Records
via Cherry Red Records
via Cherry Red Records
via EMI Records
via EMI Records
via EMI Records
via EMI Music
via EMI Records
via Olde English
via Universal Music
via EMI Records
for Madge in 2005.
via EMI Records
via Kompakt Pop
via Interscope Records
via EMI Records
via Keys Of Life
via Sony Music
via Universal Records
via Sony Music
via Beggars Banquet Records
via EMI Belgium
via Virgin Records
via BMG Records
via EMI Records
via EMI Records
(V/A) via Some Bizzare Limited
via Broken Records
via Virgin Records
via Strange Fruit Records
via EMI Gold
via Union Square / Salvo
via Cherry Pop
via Edsel Records
via Mute Records
via Union Square
via Mute Records
(V/A) via Chrysalis Records
via EMI Records
via Polydor Records
via Food Records
in 1996, but he first came to the world’s wider attention as ZYNTHERIUS with TIGA on their 2001 electro cover of ‘Sunglasses At Night’.
and collaborative projects like KEBACID, STOP MODERNISTS, PROCESSORY, SIN COS TAN and THE TANIA & JORI CONTINENTS, he has DJ-ed around the world, presented his own radio shows and remixed artists as diverse as Robyn, Kid Cudi and Joe Jackson.
CD released on TIGA’s Turbo label. “The synthline just felt very cool to use with the 808 beat” he said, “I’m glad I used a pseudonym for that release as even though I loved a lot of the music that was around and connected with Electroclash, the whole scene felt a bit distant to me.”
via City Rockers / International Deejay Gigolo Records
via PIAS
via Solina Records
via Modular Recordings
via Out Of Line
via PIAS
via Metamatic Records
via Keys Of Life
via Sugarcane Recordings
via Keys Of Life
via Solina Records
via Sugarcane Recordings
via Solina Records
via My Favorite Robot Records
via Solina Records
via My Favorite Robot Records
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