It may be the end of summer but for Sabrina it will always be Summertime Love

Italian showgirl Sabrina Salerno had a huge hit all over Europe with her Single Boys (Summertime Love). The video is iconic and it was one of the last of the massive Italo Disco hits.

Boys even made it to #3 on the U.K. pop charts and was more succesful than her third single in which she worked with Stock, Aitken & Waterman.

You can get the zip in the message section just below.

CHA CHA CHA FINZY KONTINI

Japanese pressing of the 1987 Italo Disco gem by Finzy Kontini. Finzy Kontini are: Claudia Colombi: Vocal Fabrizio Baldoni: Keyboards, Electronics, Vocal Bruno Rosellini: Guitars, Bass, Guitar Synthesizer, Vocal They had two albums in 1987. This was the first one. It's a treat.

Touch by Secession simply an Synth Pop New Wave masterpiece

Simply a Synth-Pop new wave masterpiece.  Produced by the likes of the brilliant John Rocca from Freez. The Scottish group had a string of dance hits in a short period from 1983 to 1987.  They released only one about called A Dark Enchantment in late 1987. TOUCH ZIP

There is actually even another version with the female handling the leads.  But I prefer the guy.  In my zip I've got four versions including the super long Hot Tracks edit.

Touch (Part 3)

Spend my life without your touch, I cannot satisfy

All my dreams
Simple as can be
Just to see us
Walking side by side
It won't be easy
But even I can see
If we're to survive
We'll have to compromise our pride
I really need your touch
I never hurt so much
I really miss your touch
Give your affection to me
I really need your touch
I never hurt so much
I really miss your touch
Give your affection to me
Spend my life without your touch, I cannot satisfy
I can tell
By the look in your eyes
That I'm wasting your time
Don't turn your back on me
Turn your back on me
What can I say
What can I do
To keep from losing you
I really need your touch
I never hurt so much
I really miss your touch
Give your affection to me
I really need your touch
I never hurt so much
I really miss your touch
Give your affection to me
I really need your touch
I never hurt so much
I really miss your touch
Give your affection to me
I really need your touch
I never hurt so much
I really miss your touch
Give your affection to me
Spend my life without your touch, I cannot satisfy
All my dreams
Simple as can be
Just to see us
Walking side by side
It won't be easy
But even I can see
If we're to survive
We'll have to compromise our pride
I really need your touch
I never hurt so much
I really miss your touch
Give your affection to me
I really need your touch
I never hurt so much
I really miss your touch
Give your affection to me
I really need your touch
I never hurt so much
I really miss your touch
Give your affection to me
I really need your touch
I never hurt so much
I really miss your touch
Give your affection to me
I really need your touch
I never hurt so much
I really miss your touch
Give your affection to me
I really need your touch
I never hurt so much
I really miss your touch
Give your affection to me



A LIST OF SYNTH POP NEW WAVE GROUPS

It happens all the time

I actually like the Nancy Martinez version. There is even a Discount version but I prefer the original because it's more freestyle. Even though my friend Mark Thomas worked on it.  It was a track off the Canadian s Not just the girl next door album.
 I think this L.I.F.E. version came out just a little bit earlier always in 1987.  It has some of the same elements but is definitely more Euro.   DISCOUNT  L.I.F.E.

I'm crazy about Nancy Martinez or if you love yourself some Nancy Martinez like I love me some Nancy Martinez...

THE RAREST NANCY, HER VERSION OF LA VIE EN ROSE 

Refreshed Links

NANCY ZIP

Born Nancy Catherine Julia Martinez to John and Maureen Martinez from Rosemount, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Nancy's multi-cultural genes may very well have had an influence on her natural talent. Her father was Spanish and her mother was of Welsh origin.  However, although her aspirations were to follow another career path she began to hone her musical skills early in life. Vocal lessons and luck helped Nancy land many jobs at clubs and parties.  She eventually parlayed her talent into the role of background singer.  In 1980-81 she toured with recording artist Chatelaine ("Take Me") as well as touring and studio work with René and Nathalie Simard and disco sensation Kat Mandu ("The Break") to name a few.
It happens all the Time 
It happens all the Time was a release from 1987 on Disconet.

Quebec's very own Nancy Martinez!
Nancy felt uncomfortable about signing as an artist.  However, she agreed to record for producer Domenic Sciullo but refused to use her real name.  Her first solo release was "Can't Believe" credited to Nancy Martin.  The song spread over Canada like wildfire eventually reaching the U.S. where Atlantic Records picked it up for release.  This was her first American hit, but later that year she scored an even bigger success internationally with "I'm Gonna Get Your Love" credited to Jade. Thanks to a Disconet remix (U.S.A.) and versions on Polydor (Canada), Rams Horn (Holland) and Dureco-Benelux (Netherlands) the song became a global sensation. 
1983 gave us several brilliant Nancy releases including So Excited and Take it Slowly both of which were staples at The Saint.  cant believe and la vie in case the other link dies
Can't Believe 
 Nancy Martin was her first alias but she ended up using a few.  The instrumental  Twelve Inch Vocal  Sizzling Hot White Label Mix
By far the best Nancy Martinez record is Can't Believe.  It's cosmic, it's disco, it's dark, it's just the right groove.  It was in 1982 and it is in 2011 too.  It got picked up by Atlantic in the states and shot up to #5 on the U.S. Disco Charts.
The 1984 release on Matra and J.C. Records Canada was sort of unusual.  It was an attempt to capitalize on the fact that Laid Back's Sunshine Reggae was a huge hit all over the world yet not in North America.  Then they thought to segue into her version of La Vie en Rose.  She is of course fluent in French so why not?  Believe it or not it works though.
 TAKE IT SLOWLY

Jade takes me back to the Frat House in Dupont Circle D.C.

I was a Freshman at University and I was first coming into contact with Hi NRG the clubs.  Nancy's alias as Jade "I'm Gonna Get Your Love" was massive.  It brings me back to such a time of sheer dancing joy.
After a couple years break she went full-stop Freestyle with the massive "Move Out."  MOVE OUT  It hit #12 on the dance charts.

Her biggest hit was the 1986 freestyle smash "For Tonight" though likeable it was a far more commercial sound.  It peaked at #2 on the dance charts.

It's follow-up in 1987 "Can't Wait" took the sound one step further.  I think it's a more hardcore dance record then "For Tonight" was.  Freestyle was still the sound on that one. CAN'T WAIT CAN'T WAIT GIMME YOUR LOVE  
The third hit in a row, Can't Wait hit #17 on the Billboard Dance Charts.

Here's an interview with our diva.

Even now Nancy does jingles.  She's quite happy to be able to work from home.

2001's Italian release For the First Time saw her getting dance-floor action once again.  Her voice is full and soulful.  She really shows on this track that she's a capable vocalist.

FOR THE FIRST TIME

Mozzart

another zip for you
Mandy B. Man, Paul Lander and Mozart are aliases for this Euro Disco artist.
I LOVE A FEMMY VOICE ON A EURO DANCE RECORD ZIP

A bit more on the Hi Nrg type then something I would ordinarily write about.  I do find his songs to be fun.  His debut single was Malice and Vice in 1985.  I especially enjoy how camp the lyrics are to this one.  It's my favorite today on refreshing some links.  When I originally wrote this a few years ago I was leaning towards another one.

Then Money came out in 1987 and Devil's Rendezvous was from his solo l.p. from 1988 called Jasmin China Girl.  I'm tempted to say I found Devil's Rendezvous the most enchanting.  Did you have a favorite Mozzart song?

Tapps....you knocked me down like a Hurricane

Toronto based Hi Nrg group Tapps are the epitome of the white Hi Nrg sound of the mid 80's.  A sound that almost seemed forced on us in D.C. when I was clubbing there as a teen, but in the end I'll have to admit that a lot of it holds a special place in my heart.

A sound that was decidedly Saint and Fire Island not Loft and Paradise Garage.  White queens ruled dance music in the 80's though so this niche sound had it's audience throughout the world.  Absolutely not urban but fun all the same.
Tapps

There first dance hit was My Forbidden Lover in 1983.  It's probably my favorite of theirs.  Though from 1983 to 1987 a danced to a few.  In 1987 there only album Turn it On was released and it served as sort of greatest hits.

I've also included a mix from 1985 which includes their single from that year Hurricane.  It included tasty morsels like Stacey Q and an alternate version of one of my favorite songs from the era The Night.

Pretty Poison from variation new wave to variation freestyle an Eighties success story

I just added even more to this blog post.
Philadelphia based Pretty Poison broke with Catch Me I'm Falling.  But they actually had a string of single releases and ep.'s before that.  NIGHTIME  NIGHTIME DUB  CATCH ME

There's download stuff sprinkles all throughout this post.
a pretty zip
More Pretty

I love Jade Starling's vocals, their look was very big hair 80's. Here's her MySpace

I'm enclosing a zip which features several versions of Nightime including the totally electrifying dub and the Shep Pettibone Mix and their huge #8 hit from 1987 Catch Me.  And another zip which contains a funky version of Nightime entitled In the Heat of the Night.   The original 12" release made it up to #14 dance in 1984.  Catch Me took it up to #1 and then the re-release with new mixes of Nightime peaked at #13 in 1988.  I didn't really follow their other releases though When I Look into Your Eyes squeaked out a Top 10 dance spot in 1988 too. 

Here are the lyrics to Nightime:

Come, feel the steady rhythm of the nightlife

And hear excitement in the air.
Baby, when the night comes down, 
You know where I can be found, 
Dancing in a midnight fantasy.

Chorus:
In the Nightime
Blame it on the Nightime.
In the Nightime
Baby, that's the right time.

I feel a strange desire in the moonlight
Dreams of another dance in my eyes.
Baby, when the stars shine bright, 
Dance with me all through the night.
Be my lover til the light of day.

Chorus:
In the Nightime, 
Blame it on the Nightime.
In the Nightime yeah, 
Baby, that's the right time.
Right time for me.

Nightime is the right time
Nightlife is for me.
Dancing til the break of day, 
No place I'd rather be.

Nightime is the right time; 
Nightlife is for me.
Dancing til the break of day, 
No place I'd rather be.

In the Nightime, blame it on the Nightime.
In the Nightime, baby, that's the right time.
In the Nightime, blame it on the Nightime.
In the Nightime, yeah, baby, that's the right time.
Right time for me.

Nightime is the right time
Nightlife is for me
Nightime is the right time
Nightlife is for me
Nightime
Nightlife is for me.

All in all it's a sound I can really appreciate.  Not quite freestyle, not quite electro and not really house either.  It's a unique record and is clearly influenced by many sounds at the same time.  When it was originally released on Svengali in 1983 it went pretty much unnoticed and under the radar.  It took the more commercial sounding Catch Me to give Nightime it's second life.  Here I've enclosed their entire Laced e.p. from 1983.  It's sort of new wave and not quite as straightforward dance as their later releases.  If  you click on the title of this blog you will be directed to my ebay listing for this collectible e.p.  LACED EP

A1		Seal It With A Kis	3:57
A2		Let Freedom Ring	6:15
B1		Expiration	3:59
B2		Tempest Nightmare	5:15

Their first single from 1981 is very rare and very new wave.  It's called Gimme Gimme (your autograph).  It was on the label Poison Pops and was only released as a 7" single.

NO TEARS

I'm adding their goth single from 1982 No Tears and it's b side.

super early pretty poison

And finally their goth single Expiration from 1983.  A real Kennel club Philadelphia classic.

Moonlight Affair

Rainer C. Herzmann is Cliff Turner.  He recorded 3 euro/italo disco tracks for ZYX in 1986 and 1987.

Moonlight Affair is a favorite of the genre.  I love playing it over and over.  It's so cheerful.

Cliff