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

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)

Sandro Oliva

G.J. Lunhi - Acapulco Nights

Oh man I'm going crazy today with the posts but I have so much to give!

Sandro Oliva had a heavy hand in some amazing Italo titles. I already gave him a nod for his work on Ken Laszlo's Hey Hey Guy but I was excited to find his name on the label of Mark Tower's "You Aren't Fall in Love" and G.J. Lunghi's "Acapulco Nights." The list of titles that have been touched by this guy is long and he still is doing his thing.


Mark Tower - You Aren't Fall In Love (1983)

Mark Tower - You Aren't Fall in Love (download)

FlowChart - Ask the Boss

Flowchart - Ask The Boss

My attention had been drawn to ZYX Records recently after doing a discogs search for Flow Chart's "Go Ask the Boss," a disco drenched I tune from 1983. I was a little confused by their seemingly massive reach over Italo releases on discogs but a little more research realized that ZYX did a lot of compilations, best of, and re-releases over the years. So it turns out that "Ask the Boss" was originally released on Maximus. Well, Maximus delivered some serious funky disco cuts. And so my schizo post that was supposed to be a focused survey on a record label has descended into a random assorted selection of stuff.



Regardless of whether they released the originals, the list on ZYX's discogs page is a good sweeping survey of some of the greatest Italo tracks ever, as well as some more obscure ones. Just put some of those titles into youtube and let it rip.

Flowchart - Ask the Boss (download)

Sally Shapiro - New Italo

Sally Shapiro - Jackie Jackie

Sally Shapiro is doing some great things with the Italo sound these days with a new release "My Guilty Pleasure." Here are two songs off here new record and a Junior Boys Remix of 'Jackie' for your enjoyment. She is working with Swedish producer Johan Agebjorn who exhibits steady control over the production along with songwriter Roger Gunnarsson. Its good to hear some quality Italo coming out that sounds so fresh. Here is a free download of Miracle I found through Johan Agebjorn's site:

Sally Shapiro - Miracle (mp3 download)





Sally Shapiro - Jackie (Juniorboys Remix)

Antonello Gabelli and Duke Lake

Duke Lake - Satisfaction, Love and Passion (1984)

I had a hard time finding substatial information about Duke Lake. "Satisfaction..." is a wonderful track and it opened me up to his other work which is pretty solid. Check out his first single "Do You" from 1983. Antonello Gabelli authored many of his tracks.



Duke Lake - Do You (1983)

Satisfaction, Love, and Passion - Duke Lake (download)

Muriel Dacq

Muriel Dacq - Tropique

Discogs describes Belgian born Muriel Dacq as a 1 1/2 hit wonder but I think that 'Tropique' has to count as 2 hits because I just cannot get sick of this song. I featured it on the first podcast and it just sets such a celebratory mood. I had to get it up here on its own along with her other big hit 'Là où ça'


Muriel Dacq - Là où ça

Roger Meno

Roger Meno - What My Heart Wanna Say

Roger Meno did a great job of incorporating saxophone into Italo songs. Here are two great examples for yo to jam on.


Roger Meno - I Find the Way

Roger Meno - What My Heart Want to Say (download)

Telex - Raised By Snakes

Telex - Raised By Snakes

On a spree today finding tracks and have found some jewels. I have been delving into both the absurd and the eternal elements of italo. This Telex track sounds so contemporary I am sure it is making waves with the indie electronic community.

Check out this thorough bio of Telex from Discogs.

Italo Mixes Online - Dannycashcash

Check out the new "Mixes Online" section for some great mixes I have found online. If you find one please submit it so I can get it up here.

I stumbled on this mix online when I was looking for info on Nadia Cassini and its great! This is where I heard that Nasty Boys cover of Kiss' "I Was Made for Lovin You." I am not enclosing it as a podcast because I don't want to take credit for someone else's work but it inspired be to aggregate the mixes I have found and post them on italobot.

DannyCashCash - You Made Me Mix You

Dieter Bohlen, Blue System, and Modern Talking

Blue System - Magic Symphony

German group Blue System was formed by Modern Talking member Dieter Bohlen and this "Magic Symphony" was one of their greatest hits along with "Sorry Little Sarah."

Check out his work with Modern Talking. This video is what my life should look like.



Modern Talking - Cheri Cheri Lady

Savage

Savage - Don't Cry Tonight

Savage has a penchant for slow jams. And I suppose he could be the master of the Italo Slow Jam. Born Roberto Zanetti, Savage's biggest hit was Don't Cry Tonight but he has a slew of great pop songs. Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe of the Pet Shop Boys were fans of Savage and remarked on ITalo Disco and his hit single in a 1985 interview, "It used to be regarded as utterly tragic... that "boom clap boom clap boom clap - clap clap", that's what I particularly like about Euro-Disco And normally they have very good tunes as well. The other thing is that it's very sad. They have very sweet tunes, like Savage's 'Don't Cry Tonight'." Check out another sleepy sleeper hit of his 'Fugitive.'


Savage - Fugitive

Lenroy Ciao Ciao Gigolo

Lenroy - Ciao Ciao Gigolo (listen on imeem)
1987 - Spain
Label: Don Disco
Credits:
Backing Vocals - Eva Cruells , Nuria Casadesus
Drums - Checho Soler
Mixed By - Maurizio Tonelli
Producer - Fernandisco , Gino
Producer, Keyboards - J. Stefanelli

Had a hard time tracking this one down after the video was pulled off Youtube. Thank heavens I came across it before they yanked it because its pretty infective. He had a follow up single in 1989 called 'Big Fun.' It doesn't move me the same way 'Ciao Ciao Gigolo' does but its still fun.

Lenroy - Ciao Ciao Gigolo (download)