COMPUTERIZED LOVED by TANGO and you don't pronounce the ED at the end of words that way...O.K.!!!!

Refreshed Zip

One of my pet peeves as an ESL teacher in Rome is to get students out of the habit of mispronouncing words that end in ED.  Clearly TANGO was not one of my students.  But then again part of the charm to Italo Disco for me is the way many of the artists mangle the English language.  That's probably one of the main reasons why so many of these highly danceable and fun songs remained incredibly obscure in the states.

DON'T BE FOOLED THIS AIN'T NO TANGO

This release from 1985 has a lot of the qualities that I enjoy in an italo disco tune.  From vocoders and sound effects to a super catchy melody and fun off kilter lyrics.  Stargo is a great italo label.  They don't have many releases but the few I know I enjoy  a lot like Live is Life by Stargo but they are after all just a subsidiary of the italo disco giant Disco Magic records.  The vocalist Roberto Zanetti also sang my beloved Capsicum (another Stargo release) and he wrote the fabulous Don't Cry Tonight by Savage, and in fact most of the other Savage hits as he was a member of that band in addition to using several other aliases.

YOU CAN FACEBOOK FRIEND HIM...MAX ALREADY HAS

For Your Love by Klaudia (another Dora Carofiglio alias)

A one off Italo Disco project from 1982.  For Your Love was a super early project before the greater influx to Italo projects and space disco from 1982.

Dora Carofiglio went on to become one of the most prevalent voices of Italo Disco in the 80's.  Most well known as Valerie Dore and Novecento scoring huge crossover pop hits.

FOR YOUR LOVE

State of the Nation Industry

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

Formed in 1978 in New York as the Industrial Complex this band released a few obscure records.  Then somehow in 1984 the super catchy single State of the Nation became a massive hit in Europe hitting #1 in Italy and #10 in Sweden.  In fact in Italy it was the 10th best selling single of the year.

By this point they dropped the name down to Industry, not to be confused with the house act that had a huge dance record with "Release Me" in the early 90's.

They were unable to follow it up but State of the Nation is one perfect slice of Synth Pop that will always remain close to my heart.  Apparently it was a morning music classic at The Saint.  Kudos to one of my favorite Instagram accounts, Dance of the Clones for reminding me how much I love this record and making me think this fits right in with the theme of Disco Vinyl.  We don't only do Italo Disco here, but we do like to give you an Italian perspective in any case.

Don't be Afraid Some Bizarre 1983 italo disco magic classic

I'm pretty astonished I haven't already posted this record.  I'm always going on and on about 1983 and it's got all the parts that to me make a great italo disco record.  il Discotto deserves every positive thing ever written about it.

That being said I don't have much to say about it.  Just enjoy it.

SOME BIZARRE ZIP

Central Park by Jonathan Gable sorta reminds me of Love Taker by Stefano Pulga

This time it's a more traditional sounding Italo Disco, and one that has more of a dance beat.  A discotto production from 1985.

It isn't particularly special but it's catchy.  I find it quite enjoyable yet at the same time I could easily forget I ever heard it.

Go to the Park

I'm a little baffled by this one

It's not really Italo Disco.  I don't even think I like it.  But in a way it's sorta fun.

Being that it's an obscure Italian dance record I suppose it goes in line of what you'd expect from me. Up an' Away by The Mask Banana Records Italy 1980.

CHECK IT OUT

Lamott Atkins is Paul Sharada Keep that Love Alive

Lamott Atkins is the real name of the italo disco artist who went by the name of Paul Sharada.

Here he looks like a reject from Imagination.

What I don't know is if it's really his voice on these records.  From what I hear it's not a person who was brought up speaking English.  But since I don't really know anything about this artist he could be African and his mother tongue be French for instance.

What I do know is that his first italo disco hit was Florida (Move Your Feet).  This 1984 release was on Fuori di Testa Records Italy.

His next release Dancing All the Night was released later that year on il Discotto.  One of my favorite italo labels.  Right there it makes you wonder who chose that title.  Because in proper English it would be Dancing All Night.

My favorite Paul Sharada record is Keep Your Love Alive from 1985.  To be honest it's the only one I really like.

zipper up Paul

A Paul Sharada Zip

Another Paul Sharada Zip

1986's Boxers was certainly an unusual subject for a record.  He had a couple more after that but I don't know them.

ITALO DISCO POPCORN by POP CYCLES

Link Refreshed

The italo disco version of the early 70's smash Hot Butter by Popcorn shouldn't work but to me it really does.  It's just the right amount of campy and the idea to add some computer voices in sparse vocals also gives it a unique take.

Popcorn in 256

A 1982 release on Canada's Neige Records.

The breezy italo disco sounds of L.A. Messina

L.A. Messina or L.A. Message debut single Day Dream is another production from the seminal year of Italo Disco 1983.  Released on the important label DiscoMagic.

This moniker is responsible for four releases, believe it or not one is from 2017.  That one called My Illusion is already a collectible but certainly doesn't get the exaggerated prices of Day Dream.  Day is a lot more poppy then a lot of my spacey favorites from 1983.

 GRAB IT

Definitely a cheerful record.

I Need Your Love Midnight Passion

Midnight Passion's I need Your Love has all the features of a mid 80's italo disco release.  All of them at once.  It's definitely not a less is more type of record.



Cruisin' records formed in Modena in 1983 had quite a few solid releases.  Some by Cruisin' Gang and Max Him are pretty well known italo records.  Others are definitely more obscure.

Cruisin' Website

A lot of these small labels were very prolific in their release schedule and that's why so many have become collector's items.  The majority of them went nowhere and were hardly noticed.

GET SOME OF THIS LOVE

A lot of the clearly appeal to my taste.  At the time I was all over the place I listened to a lot of alternative music and the clubs I went to played an excessive amount of Hi Nrg.  My knowledge of Italo disco came from time spent in Italy in 1983, summer of 84 and again an extended period in '86 before permanently moving here in 1998.

The sound just brings back so many positive and fun memories for me.  So I think it will forever hold a special place in my heart.  I hope to be able to share this genre for you well into my old age.