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
"Save Link as" (Firefox) to download

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


To subscribe in iTunes:
1. Open itunes and go to (Advanced > Subscribe to podcast)
2. Paste this url in the podcast subscription field:

http://feeds2.feedburner.com/Italobot

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.