Italobot Podcast 07 - Salty Seahorse Chanson

Italobot Podcast 07 - Salty Seahorse Chanson

01. Gary Low - Forever, Tonight and All My Life

02. Jean Louis Levant - Say

03. Ghery M. & Ocean D. - Love's Emotions

04. Images - Corps a Corps (Giani's lazy edit)

05. Art of Love - Looking Through the Night

06. Silvie Stone - Charming Prince

07. Jody J - Les Americans

08. Le Chat - Pussycat

09. Reportage - Madly in Love

10. Time - Can't You Feel It

11. Domina - You Got My Soul

I got a few fun tracks together for you, just in time for New Years Eve! I'm heading to the Salty Seahorse to have some fun and erase parts of the last decade that I would rather not remember. But there is a lot to celebrate and I hope everyone has a healthy and happy celebration. See you in 2010!

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Happy Birthday Italobot - Automaticamore

Today marks the 1st birthday of Italobot. We have made some new friends and had a lot of fun sharing some great music. If there is anything you want to see here please don't hesitate to let us know and if you want to take part in Italobot in anyway give a shout.

I am away from home for the holidays so to make it easy I'm putting up this highlight from Flemming Dalum's 'Italo Magic' mix.

This hauntingly beautiful track from PatriziaPellegrino, "Automaticamore" is one of those tracks that lies deep in the subconscious. I feel like I have known this track forever but was recently reminded of it when I heard it on Flemming Dalum's 'Italo Magic' mix. Pellegrino has had a long career as an entertainer, singer, and actress and this song reminds me a lot of another actress/model who put out an eerie single in 1981.

Patrizia Pellegrino - Automaticamore

Gino Palatino

"Vendetta a Parigi" is wonderfully sleazy track from 1982 by Jean Soullier (aka Gino Palatino), a Frenchman singing in Italian. The lyrics grace the back of the cover and here is a rough English translation of a French translation that I had google do for me. Just scroll down to the comments to get a gist of the lyrics. This one was also featured in podcast 2.



Gino Palatino - Vendetta a Parigi

Range

"Give Me" by Range is a long and funky groove with luscious tremolo strings and punchy bass. The first break is a wonderful disco composition and every time I hear it I am teased into awaiting the chorus. It takes a minute for the vocals to kick in but it is well worth the wait. The team that put this together included Paul Mazzolini, Paul Micioni, and Pierluigi Giombini. Mazzolini, better known as Gazebo, has been featured here before and has an impressive roster of releases throughout the 1980s and beyond. Paul Micioni did some work on Gazebo's "Masterpiece" as well as on Gary Low's "Forever, Tonight And All My Life" and "La Colegiala." Giombini, in turn, also worked with Gazebo on the timeless "I Like Chopin." I featured "Give Me" on podcast 02, check it out there too.

Range - Give Me

Maurice Cavalieri in the Nexus

Maurice Cavalieri had his hand in some of the quintessential releases of the early 80s (for fans of Italo Disco and 'Boogie'). I would exhaust myself trying to showcase all of them in this post but he did work with Sangy on Firefly's 'Love is Gonna Be On Your Side,' 'Don't Stop' and more. But recently I have been jamming on another release he did for Mr Disc Organization in 1983. 'Stand Up' by Nexus is a simple two chord groove with a loose synth bass that would immediately have boogie enthusiasts clamoring to get it into rotation. And you might recognize that decaying and choppy synthesizer that demarks the chorus from another one of his releases, the eerie and unforgettable 'Spacer Woman' by Charlie.

Nexus - Stand Up
Charlie - Spacer Woman

Ace Records

Ace Records released a few covers including Steely Dans "Do it Again" and Santana's "Oye Como Va." But the real shining stars of their catalog are "Le Chat" by Pussycat and "Don't Stop" by Asso. Both tracks were arranged and produced by Victorio Pezzolla. "Le Chat" was originally written by Albert Verrecchia and Roberto Conrado and was released in 1977 by Verrecchia as the Weyman Corporation. The chanting French female vocals in "Le Chat" are festive, alluring, and addictive. Asso's "Don't Stop" is the funky B Side to "Do it Again." It is at parts funky but sometimes treads into a light jazz sound. Overall it is the shining side of the release.


Asso - Don't Stop

Pussycat - Le Chat
Asso - Don't Stop

Primadonna

A classic duet from 1984, Flashing on the Floor is driven by big synthesizers and the haunting voices of the male and female leads of Giorgio Dolce and Stefania Dal Pino. Also check out their 1986 track 'Angel You.' Stefania also sang on Savage's 'Loosing You,' as Rose on 'Magic Carillon,' and on G.A.N.G.'s 'Incantations.'



Primadonna - Flashing on the Floor (download)

Alek Stark's Electric Dreams

Here is an Italo Disco flavored release from our new friend in Spain, Mr. Alek Stark. Electric Dreams has a hi-nrg vibe to it complete with vocoded vocals, orchestra hits and aggressive tom fills. Released on his own label 158.8MHz Records, Stark has done his homework and composed a contemporary track that remains faithful to the sounds of mid-80s Italo.

Check out more music from Stark at his blog.

Alek Stark - Electric Dreams (limited download)

Agostino Presta

Agostina Presta was a DJ and producer in the early 80s who hailed from Italy. Though he became more famous for his song "Computer (in My Mind)" Ago had a string of near perfect Italo Boogie tracks in 1981-1982 that were compiled together in an album for Full Time Records in 1982.




Ago - For You (download)
Ago - Stop Your Life (download)
Ago - Trying Over (download)

Gigi Maini, Raff Todesco and Goblins

Rizzo - Hot Desire

Rizzo's "Hot Desire" is a late release but it packs in some great changes. Produced by Frankie Vaccari, Gigi Maini, and Raff Todesco in 1988 for On The Road. Todesco and Maini both have some fun tracks under their belt but I thought I might highlight this cool cover of Goblin's "Profondo Rosso." Goblin was an Italian prog rock band that put out the original in 1975.





Goblin - Profondo rosso

Rizzo - Hot Desire (download)
City Center - Profondo Rosso (download)

And since its the holiday season and I haven't been updating here as often as I would like here is one by Madigan that also featueres the team of Todesco and Maini.

Madigan - Ice Cold Love (download)

Sue Sadlow Blows Up Disco

Another production from Maurizio Dami (aka Alexander Robotnik). It was co-produced and written by Marzio Benelli who has some classics in his stable as an engineer and producer including the italo boogie classic 'Go On Do It' by Victor (featured in podcast 02). 'My Man' was also co-written by Mya Fracassini, the vocalist on 'Hesitation.'


Sue Sadlow - My Man

Sue Sadlow - My Man (download)

Blackway and Helene

Another dreamy classic from the team of Stefano Zito and Carlo Favilli from 1982. The verses have an atonality that lends a lot of charm to this piece, from the offset it may seem to be a distraction but the harmonies in the chorus pull it all together.


Blackway and Helene - Music for Us
Between the verses and chorus the pulse of this production invites you into a sensuous groove. For a little more information on the Roman DJ scene and Zito's foray into music production check out this interview with Stefano Zito(I can't validate its authenticity but it has some classic pics).

Blackway and Helene - Music for Us (download)

Diana Barton and Merak Music

Diana Barton - Tango

This one is funky. 1986 and in the mix with a real funky synth bass sound and booming electronic drums complimented by the addictive rhythms of electronic toms. This production is a sweet balance of R&B and the Italo sound. Its like Keith Sweat met Valerie Dore in a smoky European night club and cut a record after tripping the light fantastic. Produced by Marco Tansini for Merak Music, the label that released Valerie Dore's "The Night" and a few other tracks that I am planning on showcasing here very soon.

Diana Barton - Tango (download)

Italobot Podcast 06 - Writes a Postcard

Italobot Podcast 06 - Writes a Postcard

01. Lame - You've Got the Night
02. Bandeaux - Black and White
03. Monte Kristo - Lady Valentine
04. Mya and the Mirror - Hesitation
05. Digital Emotion - Go Go Yellow Screen
06. Mr. Master - Dog in the Night
07. B.W.H. - Livin' Up
08. Clio - Faces
09. Ken Scott - The Voice I Feel Inside
10. Ryan Simmons - Lucky Guy
11. David Davil - Men of My Generation
12. Starflight - Dance to the Beat
13. Thai Break - Flowers in the Rain
14. Finzy Kontini - Cha Cha Cha

Sorry for the delay in getting this one out. But I hope it is worth the wait. Some fun tracks on here some of them have been featured recently but I had to get them down for those of my friends too lazy to check in regularly. Maybe it will help cure those Monday blues.


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Rose and Robyx

Rose - Magic Carillon

A haunting and beautiful piece by Rose this one has been swimming around in my mind since I first heard it. Once again Robyx (aka Roberto Zanetti) defends his irrefutable position in the pantheon of Italo producers. This one graced vinyl in 1984 on Discomagic Records. Check out their catalog for a collection of classics and unknown hits. Check out David Vunk and Alden Tyrell's mix "Love Comes Only Once in a Lifetime" to see this track placed properly in a wonderful mix.

Rose - Magic Carillon (download)

Ruth - Roman Photo

Ruth - Roman Photo

French New Wave from 1985 with some really crisp drums. A great blend of live and synthesized instruments here with the clever incorporation of old camera sounds in the intro that make this one a captivating, moody peace. The brain child of Philippe Doray, Ruth Ellyeri, and Thierry Müller, they also teamed together for some experimental electronic music in the late 70s and early 80s under the name Ilitch.

Ruth - Roman Photo (download)

Carlo Favilli, Stefano Zito, and House of Music

Mr. Master - A Dog In The Night

In 1983 Carlo Favilli and Stefano Zito delivered some timeless tracks for their label House of Music. Mr. Master's 'A Dog In The Night' and B.W.H.'s 'Livin' Up' and 'Stop' define a dance floor that I long to be on. And to make things that much sweeter Casco's 'Cybernetic Love' was launched the same year on House of Music. All of these productions are so dense and smoky it reaffirms 1983 as a pivotal year for Italo. Not much to say about these tracks so I will let them speak for themselves.


B.M.H. - Stop


B.W.H. - Livin' Up

Mr. Master - A Dog in the Night (download)

Mr. Master - A Dog in the Night (Instrumental)(download)

B.W.H. - Livin' Up (download)

B.W.H. - Stop (download)

Tullio De Piscopo - Stop Bajon

Tullio De Piscopo's 'Stop Bajon' is a departure from the synthesizer-dominated tracks I have been featuring but it has a sensuous groove that I couldn't resist sharing here. A drummer who cut his teeth in jazz and fusion combos, he released some forward thinking material in the late 70s, and played drums on Kano's 'It's a War' and 'Super Extra Sexy Sign.'



Tullio De Piscopo - Stop Bajon 'Stop Bajon's' soulful pulse has a swing and laid back nature not found in a lot of songs that are considered 'Italo Disco' but his style has been grouped under that umbrella due to the fact that he is Italian and he unquestionably had a strong funk and disco influences. Regardless, this song is easy on the ears.

Tullio De Piscopo - Stop Bajon (download)

Duke of Burlington - Flash '83

Mario Battaini (aka The Duke of Burlington) cut an updated version of his 1969 funk classic in 1983 for Proto Records with this version of Flash. The original is a rare groove classic that would drive any rare soul collector madcap with excitement.

The Duke of Burlington - Flash (1969)

Fourteen years later the Duke of Burlington updated Flash with a fresh new look for the 1980s. With Tony Carrasco (see previous post) behind the boards it was done properly for the new era. The groove and changes remained but the addition of well arranged arpeggios and synthesizers allowed for a tasteful redux of a soulful classic.

The Duke of Burlington - Flash '83 (download)

Bandeaux and Gazebo

A wonderful song from Bandeaux, Black & White was written by Gazebo and Romano Musumarra and produced by Mario Tagliaferri. This production is super clean and the use of the stuttering vocals and signature delayed guitar part makes me want to listen to it over and over again. Gazebo is better known for the track "I Like Chopin" a whimsical ballad that was one of my first entries into Italo.



Bandeaux - Black & White (Club Mix) (download)

Maurizio Sangineto, James Otis White Jr. and The Armed Gang

James Otis White Jr- Baby Come On

Such a funky track! This one is from James Otis White Jr. I have to admit, I heard this on Intergalactic FM 2 today and had to get it up here. 1983, Italy, serious funk. Produced by Maurizio Sangineto (aka Sangy) for Musix Records. They also collaborated as The Armed Gang. Sangy hooked up with US soldiers stationed in his hometown of Vicenza to produce these funky Italo-R&B crossover slammers. This is that boogie sound of early 80s that is so fresh I just cannot get sick of it.



James Otis White Jr. - Baby Come On(download)

David Davil, Riccardo Gnerucci and more

David Davil - Men of My Generation

I can't get enough of this song and the video only makes it better. A home brewed production from 1983, the video is a fun mix of video effects and it looks like everyone had a good time filming it. Produced by Riccardo Gnerucci for SPQR records, he also produced Shadow of the Night by King Kong in 1984 for Sensation Records.


King Kong - Shadow of the Night

David Davil - Men of My Generation (download)

Felix Mangione and Mata Hari

Mata Hari - Mata Hari

Produced by Felix B. Mangione for Blanco Y Negro in 1987. Felix also produced one of my favorites, "I Want and Illusion" from The Squash Gang as well as some other fun tracks.

Mata Hari - Mata Hari (download)

Digital Emotion

Digital Emotion - Go Go yellow screen

"Formed in Denmark in mid-1983, Digital Emotion recorded two memorable albums of their funky electronic dance music. Their 1984 self-titled debut outing, which featured such infectious dance tunes as "Get Up, Action" and "Go Go Yellow Screen", was followed by Outside In The Dark, a year later. Both albums were produced the production team of Adam and Flesiner, whose past credits include overseeing recordings by the Videokids, Monotones, l-Vira and Q-Matic." (from Allmusic.com)

"Go Go Yellow Screen" by Dutch group Digital Emotion is about as solid as they come. Produced by Adams & Fleisner, this partnership produced a lot of hi- nrg electro for Break Records in the 1980s. Their style seems to have been co-opted by bubble gum dance groups from the 90s (aka Aqua and Venga Boys).

Digital Emotion - Get Up Action

Digital Emotion - Go Go Yellow Screen (download)

Finzy Kontini - Cha Cha Cha

I have been having a lot of fun with this one lately. Another title from disco power-house Carrere. Co-produced by Fabrizio Baldoni and Bruno Rosellini, it was tough for Finzy Kontini to top Cha Cha Cha but they tried with "Clap Your Hands," "O La La," and more. But the best follow up (in my humble opinion) was "Night in Paris." Finzy Records was started in 1989 and they continued releasing records through 1993.


Fintzy Kontini - Cha Cha Cha

Finzy Kontini - Cha Cha Cha (download)

Finzy Kontini - Night in Paris (download)

Glam, Clio, and Robert Ferrante

"More Than Ever" by Glam is an epic track from Italy circa 1985. This one gets a lot of play in Italo mixes I have heard online as well as internet radio. So naturally I felt compelled to put it up here. The clipped and repeated vocals give it a sampled sensibility and the signature delayed synth tones make this song hard to ignore. Produced by Robert Ferrante and Clio, who also collaborated on Clio's "Faces." Both "Faces" and "More Than Ever" feature Negel inspired album artwork from Patrizio Squeglia.


Glam - More than Ever


Clio - Faces

Glam - More Than Ever (download)

Clio - Faces (download)

RobotDJ.net & More Mixes Online

Looking for more mixes than you can shake a stick at? Then get over to RobotDJ.net where you will find more mixes than you could possibly keep up with.

I put up a few new mixes in the 'Mixes Online" section. Be sure to check there for a few fun ones, including:

Casionova - "Fantasy Island"

Flemming Dalum - Boogie down rimini

Dance to the Beat - Starflight

Dance to the Beat - Starflight

Prepare for a journey to the outer limits. Been getting together some tracks for upcoming podcasts and am feeling like exploring outer space. Here is a great one from Starflight that makes me want to pop lock or something. This was B-Side to their cover of Gino Soccio's "Dancer." BMC Records released this in 1984, be sure to check out some of their other releases for a nice array of disco.



Dance to the Beat - Starflight (download)

Dancer - Gino Soccio (download)

Mya and the Mirror - Hesitation

Hesitation - Mya And the mirror

Hesitation by Mya and the Mirror has the most addictive chorus I have heard in a long time. The rhythm track is crisp and tight. Produced by Maurizio Dami (aka Alexander Robotnik) for Fuzz Dance in 1984 this track has been seeing some heavy playtime recently. To see what Mya is up to these days check out her website.

Starbow - Voyager II

AVI Records launched this Canadian disco in 1978 by Starbow. Voyager II is a funky ride through the cosmos, named after the American unmanned probe that launched in 1977, the first to visit Neptune and Uranus.

Funny thing about this song is that it was produced by Daniel Vangarde (Daniel Bangalter) the father of Thomas Bangalter of Daft Punk fame. Daft Punk produced a killer track with a very similar title. I guess the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree. Vangarde was busy in the 70s and 80s doing a lot of work with disco super label Carrere so its easy to see what a tremendous influence he was on his son. All very fun stuff.


Daft Punk - Voyager

Starbow - Voyager II (download)

New Look - Stage

New Look - Stage (instrumental)

A fun track by New Look from 1985. Youtube only has the instrumental on video but the vocals on this one really bring it together. I got them mixed up with the group Stage who had a string of Italo songs in the 1980s but from what I can find this is a different group.

New Look - Stage (download)

Kwick - Too Lonely to Be Alone

Kwick - Too Lonely To Be Alone

I have always had a soft spot for funk, boogie, and soul and this track by Memphis based Kwick from 1983 has quickly made its way into my rotation. The band served as a backup on the Stax label in the 70s but renamed themselves Kwick after Stax folded. I was first drawn to the chunky bass and the smooth, quiet storm groove, and then the lyrics drew me closer. You have to respect the man who writes a song that gives an honest look at intimate moments alone.

Kwick - Too Lonely To Be Alone (download)

The Hasbeens - You and Me

The Hasbeens - You and Me

This one came into my email over the weekend and its been making some waves around the blogs lately. Shot in the Brothels of Rotterdam the video is very cinematic and does a great job of giving tremendous meaning to the vocoder part in this track. This Netherlands based group produces a brand of electro music that harkens to late 1970s and early 80s. Dark and beautiful stuff. Be sure to check out more of their work on myspace.

You Can Win if You Want

Modern Talking - You Can Win If You Want

Modern Talking's "You Can Win if You Want" would have been an irreplaceable piece of italo if Copy Right didn't make an amazing cover. I can't find a youtube version of it so you'll just have to check out this download.

Copy Right - You Can Win If You Want

Francesco Napoli - Balla Balla

Francesco Napoli - Balla Balla

A wonderful medley by Francesco Napoli, I can't stop listening to Balla Balla! Check out his web page and his discogs page for more information.

Francesco Napoli - Balla Balla (download)

Wonderful Blogs to Make Your Music Collection Swollen

You don't need to speak any language to like good music. And bloggers around the world are putting up great tracks to listen and download. Its amazing what you can find when you start digging into the internet like a record store. A mutual interest and passion for music has united me (even in superficial ways) with people all around the world. If you have not yet checked out some of the blogs I have linked to do yourself a favor and start exploring what they have to offer.

Kefir - I just added this new one tonight. Kefir, from Russia offers some choice tracks for perusal and download.

Italo4You - This one has been on my list for a while and it is full of tracks. Another Eastern European exploration into Italo, they use rapidshare which can be a pain in the ass sometimes but its still full of great free music.

Italo-Disco-Funk-Music - Dario.zg has dropped by Italobot to spread some love and his blog can really put Italobot to shame. Please go over there and find yourself welcome.

Italo-Deviance - A conglomerate of Italian, French, American, and Dutch bloggers and DJs they have some cool re-edits and tracks on here.

Mister Italo - Mr. Italo has some great tracks and mixes for download. Stop by and explore the wealth of late 70s and early 80s disco and dance music they have to offer.

Arawa.fm - I have written about Arawa.fm before. These fellow San Franciscans are on the pulse of what is hot and hip right now. A mixture of 80s, Video art, and all around awesomeness, Arawa.fm never fails to please.

BeatElectric - Another San Francisco blog full of the hottest boogie R&B and funk. These guys are doing it real funky. Some of the stuff they post is like jelly and it just makes me melt. Keep it up.

Really there are so many great blogs out there and with a little patience exploring these blogs and their links can put you on course to discover music and music sources that make your collection swell to obnoxiousness.

No More Pop 7 - The Electrolytes Dance

No More Pop |7| - The Electrolyte's Dance

Playlist:

1 - Intro - Raumpatrouille Orion Lancet Start
2 - Boris Deart - Экология (1995)
3 - Keen K - From The Outside
4 - DMX Krew - Come To Me
5 - Bottin - Magnetic Cat
6 - Boris feat Daniel Wang - Portato
7 - Kinky Roland - Amber Raisin
8 - Alex Cima - Anna (1986)
9 - College - The Light Of Your Dress
10 - James Jack Rabbit - Let Us Have Love (1989)
11 - Young Monday - Prls
12 - Phoreski - Track 1 (Quiet Please! Album)
13 - Big Ben Tribe - Heroes (Instrumental 1983)
14 - Rubber Room - Take Me
15 - College - I Need a Better Engine

Download Mix

I received another mix from No More Pop featuring Neo Filigrante in the email today. These mixes have a brooding darkness to them that is somewhat consuming. There are some good moments on this mix so I thought I would put it up. Check out some of their other mixes at nomorepop.net.

Fun Fun, Ivagna Spagna, Antonella Pepe and Angela Parisi *

Ivagna Spagna's Easy Lady opens with a tremendous promise of something kind of funky and it transforms into look at me Italo. A fun track that works hard for the money, Easy Lady was Ivana Spagna's first single as Spagna after performing and writing with 'Fun Fun' the Italo duo that produced the impeccable 'Happy Station.'


Easy Lady - Spagna


Happy Station - Fun Fun

Happy Station is 83 Italo at its best. One part hip hop two parts Euro-discoteque decadence. My, not-always-reliable, sources wikipedia and discogs disagree slightly on her role in Fun Fun. Make sure to check out Antonella Pepe and Angela Parisi who are both credited in Fun Fun's line up. Antonella sang back up in one of my favorite tracks 'Go On Do It' by Victor (featured on podcast 2) and Via Verdi's 'Diamond.'



Spagna - Easy Lady (download)

Fun Fun - Happy Station (download)

Fun Fun - Happy Station (Scratch Version) (download)

Michiel Van Der Kuy, Laserdance, and Hotshouse Records

Primero - Oh Que Calor
Here is a track from the Netherlands circa 1987. I heard this one on Polska Stacja amongst some other great tracks that are helping me get through the day. And lo and behold it was produced by Michiel Van Der Kuy, a member of Italo supergroup Laserdance. This one came out on Hotsound Records a Dutch label that put out a lot of the Laserdance catalog along with other 'Hi-NRG' Italo tracks. It looks like Laserdance was there first issue circa 1986.

Alexander Robotnik

Alexander Robotnik - Problems D' Amour

One of my favorites from Maurizio Dami circa 1983. He has stuck in the production game through the 90s and 2000s. Check out his myspace page for more information. His production for Mya and the Mirror's "Hesitation" in 1984 is addictive. Just wait for the chorus and you will be hooked.




Mya & The Mirror - Hesitation (download)

Trans X - Living on Video

Trans X - Living on Video (1983)


Trans X had a crossover hit in 1983 with "Living on Video." And they have parleyed this one hit into a one hit empire.
Check out one of the many covers on youtube.


Pakito - Living On Video 2.9

The Happy Boys - I Guess You Will Do *

I Guess You Will Do (instrumental) - The Happy Boys

The Happy Boys have been a longtime creative pursuit of mine. I have resisted the urge until now to use Italobot to showcase some of my own work as I don't exactly want to use the blog as a tool of megalomania. But this is a track that I think fans of Italo might enjoy.

"I Guess You Will Do" is the last track we recorded for the album after I moved back to San Francisco from New York. Its an homage to Giorgio Moroder's work in the 80s. I have included the instrumental as a download but if you are intrigued to here more of the Happy Boys music you can download the album "Big Hit" on iTunes or CDBaby.

A few years ago we did some music videos one in Los Angeles and one in New York. They were a lot of fun to film and we met some wonderful people in the process. Below you may enjoy our song "La Dolce Vita" and my solo effort as Giani Velcreaux singing "All I Want to Know."


La Dolce Vita - The Happy Boys


All I Want to Know - Giani Velcreaux

Squash Gang and Indalo Music *

Squash Gang - I Want an Illusion (1986)

I featured this on my most recent podcast and it is a beautiful track. Produced by Felix B. Mangione for Indalo Music, this Spanish group had its biggest release with "I Want an Illusion" but also released the track "Moving Your Hips" in '87. And now it looks like they have reunited for some releases in 2009 that keep with the old school Italo sound. Indalo had a string of great hits including Tonight by Ken Laszlo, Bolero by Fancy, and Boys by Sabrina.




Squash Gang - I Want an Illusion (download)

Italobot Podcast 05 - Forgives the Sommelier

Italobot Podcast 05 - Forgives the Sommelier (58.3MB)
Right click and click "Save Target as" (IE) or
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Italobot Podcast 05 : Forgives the Sommelier
01. Dance - Betty Miranda
02. Johnny Johnny - Lala
03. So You Aren't Fall in Love - Mark Tower
04. Just a Story - Mike Rogers
05. It Isn't Changed - Michael Maltese
06. Africa - Anthony
07. I Want an Illusion - Squash Gang
08. Love Games - Robert Camero
09. Computerized Love (vocoder version) - Tango
10. Souvenir - Saxophone


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2. Paste this url in the podcast subscription field:

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Sorry its a little sloppy. I had it all nice and smooth but the computer program went kaput and I had to start over. Enjoy the songs.

Italo Radio Online

There are some great resources online for Italo lovers. This weekend I stumbled upon some great radio stations on itunes that are streaming nothing but fun italo tracks. If you haven't used the radio feature on itunes start doing it now, its a great way to hear new music and avoid replaying the same old mp3s. Most stations also include song listing information so you can hunt out that track you like.

Check out Italo on the Netherlands' Radio Stad Den Haag

Golden Radio Italia plays 80s music with an emphasis on Italo and Euro Pop. You can find it on the web or itunes.

On the Web: Golden Radio Italia

On iTunes: Go to itunes radio > International > Golden Radio Italia

And of course you cannot miss Intergalactic FM. Four stations of dance, electronic, disco, Italo, Old School and funk from Holland. The Cybernetic Broadcasting System Channel and IFM2 channels play a lot of great Italo and disco but check out all of these streams through itunes and online for those listening sessions when you just want to sit back and be played to.

New Additions:
Radio Italo
Radio Polskie

No More Pop |6| - The Burned Heart Of Ms. P

This arrived in my email a few days ago and I just got a chance to give it a listen. Its a pretty cool mix of electronic Italo -synth-vocoded-techno by No More Pop with Neo Filigrante.

Check out this mix from No More Pop entitled "The Burned Heart Of Ms. P."

1 - The Hasbeens - I Fall To Pieces
2 - Virgo Four - Do You Know Who You Are (1989)
3 - Six Brown Brothers - City Hall (1988)
4 - Tensnake - Toshis Battle
5 - Brian Ellis - NRG Tester
6 - Quartz - Chaos
7 - College - The Light Of Your Dress
8 - Astroport - Midnight At Mars
9 - White Maison - Night Driving (Williams main remix)
10 - Gesaffelstein - The Other
11 - Villa Nah - Ways To Be
12 - Downtown Party Network - Walk on Ice
13 - Explorer - Enjaw J (1982)

Sweater Funk Sundays and Italo Tuesdays in SF FREE

Well nobody said it was easy raising a kid and it sure as heck doesn't leave a lot of time for making music and posting blog entries. Sorry for the hiatus but things have been crazy but it doesn't keep me from obsessing about music in all shapes and forms. And luckily this weekend I became aware of a San Francisco phenomenon that got me lifted. Sweater Funk hosts a free Sunday evening basement jam every Sunday after 9pm at the Li Po Lounge in Chinatown. I checked it out yesterday with my brothers and it was one funky get together. They also do a show every 2nd and 4th Wednesday at the Triple Crown on Market and Octavia.

I only recently moved to San Francisco from NYC and it turns out that this town is full of great underground parties for fans of Old School Boogie R&B and Italo. Another fun night is the Italo Tuesdays by DJ Chilidog every Tuesday at the Triple Crown.

If you know about a great Italo or Boogie DJ night in your town feel free to send me the information and I'll get it up here.

Early Robyx

I have been reading up on Roberto Zanetti after repeatedly coming across tracks he has produced. By the later 80s his style developed into a very recognizable sound.
And this Robyx production style from the 1980s is having a definite influence on my own music so I wanted to delve deeper into his own development.

His production career developed over time before the release of his first solo single, Don't Cry Tonight under the name Savage. According to an interview on Italo Interviews these are some of his first productions starting with Italian pop in 1978 and moving towards the Italo sound by 1983, the same year he released Don't Cry Tonight.


Santarosa - Souvenir


Taxi - To Miami


Joey Moon - Angelica


G.A.N.G. - Incantations

Lala - Johnny Johnny (prod. by Robyx) *

Johnny Johnny - Lala

Some serious Italo from Lala co-produced by Italo genius Robyx (aka Savage, aka Roberto Zanetti). Full of classic Italo vocal phrasing this one is gonna get me out of these Monday blues.

Johhny Johhny - Lala (download)

Antonio d'Addezio, Shy Rose, Sly & Hunter

I Cry For You - Shy Rose (1986)

Late 80s Italo from Italy and Spain produced by Swiss producer Antonio d'Addezio (aka Tony D). He is still making tracks these days for the dance floor.


Sly & Hunter - No More Visions


Night Girl - Hugh Bullen

Shy Rose - I Cry For You (download)

Sly and Hunter - No More Vision (download)

FM Synthesis, The DX-7 and TX81Z

Since really getting back into the studio I have been reawakening the drive to get the most out of my synthesizers. Analog synths are always fun and easy to manipulate with hands on knob tweaking and turning. But in the 1980s a bunch of scientists came up with a new form of synthesis called FM synthesis. Yamaha adopted this new mathematical form of synthesis and released the DX-7 in 1983 which became a power house synthesizer in the 1980s used by nearly everyone. Here is a video showing off the power of the DX-7 II FD which was a re-release that came out in 1987. You can hear how a lot of Italo songs got their sound from FM synthesis.



Years ago I got a Yamaha TX81Z rack mount synthesizer which is an affordable way to get DX-7 sounds. But editing on the TX81Z can be very difficult given that all you have is a LED screen. Here is a great site that I found that has some helpful hints as well as software to help edit the TX81Z. Also check out this great youtube vid from Muzik4Machines editing his TX81Z.



Nowadays you can get these sounds in software form without all the pain of editing. Native Instruments released the FM-7 and FM-8 which have some great sounds. But of course software sounds still don't always capture the depth of hardware.

Check out Audiopirate to test drive these powerful software tools.

Kano - The Transition to Italo

Been off the game for a while taking care of business and babies. Working on some new tracks that I hope to feature here soon. But in the meantime enjoy some more Italo from Kano. "I'm Ready" is one of the most classic Italo tracks of all time. Kano was instrumental in bridging the gap between disco, R&B, and Italo with tracks like "I'm Ready" and "Another Life." I featured "Another Life" previously but don't miss out on some of their other funky funky tracks.

Mike Rogers (aka Marco Zani)

Just a Story - Mike Rogers

Marco Zani (aka Mike Rogers) recorded this Italo gem in 1984. He had another song Happy Moon in 1986 but it doesn't measure up to the addictiveness of 'Just a Story.' But in 1985 he produced 'Hold Me Tight' for Katy Gray and this one holds some Italo water for sure. And don't miss his work on Reale Accademia's 'She's Mine.'


Katy Gray - Hold Me Tight

Mike Rogers - Just a Story (Download)