radio, radio, the rose of Tokyo was my radio

Just nonsensical enough to be the best thing ever.  Italo Disco in all it's splendor.

Hell it even has what seems like an attempt at a rap!

CITY-O' ROSE OF TOKYO

DiscoMagic had so many tricks up it's sleeve.  Sometimes I can't really tell if some of these songs were tongue-in-cheek or they were being absolutely serious.  All I know is that they bring me serious joy.

Butterfly by Op.8 is a super Kitsch Italo Disco

Another perfect example of why I find Italo Disco to be such a fun genre.  Butterfly by 0p.8 on the seminal italo disco label Disco Magic was released in 1984 and it's a delight.

It has of course become insanely collectible and in 2010 ZYX Music even went to the trouble to put out on mp3 file for it.

TOKYO DREAMS, TOKYO DREAMS IN MY HEART

There are elements of the Orient, sweet harmonies, and a catchy refrain. Then there is always that funny play on words that the act calls itself.  Two listens and you can already hum it.

Forever and a Day Superbowl

Another magical release from Disco Magic Records was and collaboration by Gianfranco Bortolotti and Roberto Arduini.

It's just 6 minutes and 15 seconds of pure happiness.  Anything you could want from an Italo Disco record is contained.

So my first blog for 2018 gets things off to a great start.

1985 release Forever and a Day

HAPPY CHILDREN paolo pelandi as P. Lion ITALO DISCO PERFECTION

Generally I try to go at least partially obscure with my posts.  But this time I'm going right for the hit.  In 1983 you could not get away from Happy Children anywhere in Europe.  1983 was the year of the italo disco explosion but few of the singles broke the way this record did.  P. Lion also had the luxury of being on the quintessential italo disco label, Discomagic.  Happy Children was produced by Davide Zambelli of the band Scotch, italo disco stars in their own right.

P. Lion zip

It bring back joyous memories and it's one of those records I never ever get sick of.  It was #31 in the year end tally for 1983 in Italy and peaked at #7 so I think it was more a matter of longevity then that high peak number on the charts.

P. Lion (Pietro Paolo Pelandi) had one semi hit after Happy Children with Dream, but it did not come anywhere close to the success of his debut single.  It's also got that quality that I enjoy in Italo Disco records, the semi-off pronunciation factor.

P. Lion was actually from a noble family.  His father was a Count.  He started playing the piano as a child and even writing his own music.  Luckily his parents were quite supportive.

He still plays around the world milking his two hits.  He'd have to consider himself pretty lucky!

Run To Me Lena

I've been neglecting my blog.  I haven't gone this long without a post for a while.  I hope you'll all forgive me.  The end of the year period for teachers gets a little hectic.

But I hope you think the wait was worth it when  you hear this lovely little ditty.  Lena's Run to Me from 1987 on Disco Magic Records Italy.  A one off project that came at the tail end of the Italo Disco era.

It's got it all.  Funny pronunciation, strange lyrics and that infectious danceable beat.  I've even got a Brazilian remix in the zip.  I think I might like the simple single edit best in this case though.

Please show your support for my blog.  There are obvious ways to do so and every little bit helps.  Hope everyone is having a great summer.

THE RUN TO ME ZIP

Lady Surprise

I'm going to do something that I don't usually do here on my Disco Vinyl blog.  I'm going to post something that I don't particularly like myself.  The reason is pure generosity.  Since the song fits in well with the theme of this blog and since it's kinda rare and pricey to get your hands on.

Robert Camero actually has a couple of other songs that I really like.  But I just feel that Disco Magic was really trying to court the Hi NRG beat with Lady Surprise and to put it frankly I don't love Hi NRG the way I love Italo Disco.

But I'll be some of my readers are not as rigid as I.  So do enjoy your zip and I hope that will make you click.
TAKE ME LADY

This is the one I like a lot.  It's even more rare.  I think I posted it years ago in here.

Thinkin' of You by Boris Parker Italo Disco as Novelty Tune

I'm not absolutely crazy about this one.  But it's in the genre and fun.  It's also from 1983 the golden year of italo disco.

I absolutely love the cover graphic too.
UHU! UHU! HA! HA!
You'd have to consider this one an italo disco novelty tune.

Boris Parker is Mario Colonna.