1983, Italy. On the Crash label - a sub-label of Il Discotto Productions - a 12-inch single appears: China Town “Bette Davis Eyes”, catalogue number DS 005. It is a cover of Jackie DeShannon's song, which Kim Carnes turned into a number-one hit in 1981. The vocalist is Dora Carofiglio, uncredited on the sleeve. The single does not chart, gets no rotation, and twenty years later exists only in collectors' hands. Forgotten covers are not bad records that deserved to be forgotten. They are records that came out on the wrong label, at the wrong time, with the wrong promotion to be noticed. Below are twelve versions with verified catalogue numbers, labels and years, each lost between vinyl and digitisation.
Bowie and Pink Floyd covers: rock under a synth beat
Big Ben Tribe - “Heroes” (1983, Zanza Records, ZR 120). A cover of David Bowie, written by Brian Eno and Bowie. Mix by Tony Carrasco, producer Nicola R. Ticozzi, vocals (uncredited) Giulia Crocini. The single was also released on Polydor in Germany (815 142-1) and on Starnight Records in France - but it did not reach an international chart. On Discogs 235 collectors own it, 347 have it on their wantlist. Rating 3.95 out of 5. The record exists in two label variants - black-and-white and full colour.
Floyd Parson - “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” (1984, Crash, DS 020). A cover-medley of Pink Floyd, written by Gilmour, Mason, Wright, Waters. The mastering date - 22 June 1984 - is etched into the lacquer. Remix by Sergio Zuccotti. Producers Giuliano Crivellente and Mauro Farina (the Time Records/Saifam team). Mixed at Factory Sound Studio in Verona. Pressed at CGD Pressing Plant. On the B-side - “...A Song”, an original Farina-Crivellente composition. 105 collectors, 162 on the wantlist.
Detail: both singles appeared on labels connected to Il Discotto. Crash released cover records under the DS catalogue series, and every fifth single on the label in 1983-1984 was a cover. This was a strategy: a familiar melody drew the DJ, and the promo copy cost less than an original composition.
Vangelis and Goblin: film music as dancefloor material
Hipnosis - “Pulstar” (1983, Memory Records, MEMIX 002). A cover of Vangelis, written by Vangelis. On the B-side - “End Title (Blade Runner)”, also a Vangelis cover. Arranger Anfrando Maiola. Executive producer Stefano Cundari. Producer Alessandro Zanni. Pressing marked “Half Speed Mastering”. The single was also released on ZYX Records in Germany (catalogue number 5036), on Ariola in the Netherlands (601.139), on Philips in Greece (814032-1). On Discogs - 936 collectors, 1331 on the wantlist, rating 4.51 out of 5. One of the most sought-after forgotten covers: despite wide international licensing, it never entered permanent radio rotation.
City Center - “Profondo Rosso” (1984, Discomagic Records, MIX 129). A cover of Goblin's theme from Dario Argento's film “Profondo Rosso” (1975), written by Giorgio Gaslini. Producers G. Maini and S. Lombardoni. Publisher Lombardoni Edizioni Musicali. On the B-side - “Surgery” (R. Rossi, S. Poggi). The single also came out on 7-inch format (NP 129, 1983). 342 collectors, 514 on the wantlist, rating 4.38.
Why film themes became covers
Instrumental film themes are convenient for italo-disco: they already have a strong melody, no vocals to re-sing, and audience recognition. Goblin's “Profondo Rosso” and Vangelis's “Pulstar” - both instrumental, both with a memorable synth hook. Add a four-on-the-floor beat and a bassline, and the dance track is ready. Neither cover replaced the original in the listener's memory, but both gave the film a second life on the dancefloor.
Beatles, OMD and Depeche Mode: pop and rock standards in a disco wrapper
Cockroach - “Get Back” (1983, Out, OUT 3001). A cover of The Beatles, written by Lennon-McCartney. Arrangers the Nicolosi brothers, Pino and Lino Nicolosi. Programming by Max Dolby. Distribution by Disco Magic S.r.l. Also released on ZYX in Germany (5083). On the B-side - “Get Back (Dub Version)”. 145 collectors, 217 on the wantlist. A Discogs reviewer notes that the B-side sounds like proto-house - the first minutes of the instrumental version lose all connection to the Beatles original.
Saxophone - “Souvenir” (1984, FDT, FDT 009). A cover of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, written by Martin Cooper and Paul Humphreys. Arranger and performer Robyx - Roberto Zanetti, known as Savage (hit “Don't Cry Tonight”, 1983). Producer Marco Bresciani. Recorded at Scacco Matto Studio. Distribution by Il Discotto Productions. 189 collectors, 375 on the wantlist, rating 4.40. Expensive on the secondary market: median price $50.83.
Atrium - “Legion / Nodisco” (1985, Time Records, TRD 1017). A double cover: side A “Legion” by Mark Shreeve, side B “Nodisco” by Depeche Mode (written by Vince Clarke). Side A produced by Farina-Crivellente-Maiolini - the Time Records team. Side B by Max Baffa and Molteni Flavio, arrangement R. Lajolo. Mixed at Harlequin Studio and Factory Sound Studio. Publisher Zomba Music Publishers. 218 collectors, 217 on the wantlist, rating 4.25.
Unexpected originals: from 1967 to Battisti
The Duke Of Burlington - “Flash '83” (1983, Proto Records, NSMIX 2004). A cover of “Flash” by the Marquis Of Kensington, written by Mike Leander and Robert Wace, 1967. Producer and mix by Tony Carrasco. Recording engineer Paul Bockat. Distribution by Non Stop S.p.A. The name “Duke Of Burlington” is a play on “Marquis Of Kensington”: a duke instead of a marquis. 343 collectors, 430 on the wantlist, rating 4.29.
Lama - “Love On The Rocks” (1983, Numero Uno, ZCN 7325). A cover of Lucio Battisti's “Il Veliero”, written by Battisti and Mogol. Producer Katmandu Production. Label coordinator Giancarlo Meo. Pressing by RCA Records Factory, Italy. Lacquer cut at RCA Studios, Rome, mastering engineer Piero Mannucci (date on the lacquer - 26 May 1983). 494 collectors, 1702 on the wantlist, rating 4.80 - one of the highest ratings among Italian cover singles.
Detail: “Love On The Rocks” is not an English title but an Italian adaptation. The name is misleading: the song has no connection to Neil Diamond's hit of the same name. The original is Battisti's “Il Veliero”, and the cover keeps the melody but shifts the arrangement into an electronic register.
Medleys and multi-covers: one single, several songs
The Cover Band - “Relax / Big In Japan” (1984, Sensation Records, SNS 8002). Four covers on one 12-inch maxi-single: “Relax” (Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Johnson, O'Toole, Rutherford, Gill), “Somebody's Watching Me” (Rockwell - Curtis Anthony Nolen), “It's My Life” (Talk Talk - Mark Hollis, Tim Friese-Greene) and “Big In Japan” (Alphaville - Lloyd, Mertens, Gold). Vocals (uncredited) - Albert One. 54 collectors, 228 on the wantlist. One of the rarest singles in this selection - from $46 on the secondary market.
Kuwait - “Popcorn / Bo-Beep” (1983, Jumbo Records, JU 12008). Side A - a cover of “Popcorn” by Gershon Kingsley (1969), side B - “Bo-Beep” (Coring). Executive producer (uncredited) Claudio Casalini, producer (uncredited) Giancarlo Meo. 79 collectors, 229 on the wantlist, rating 4.03.
China Town - “Bette Davis Eyes” (1983, Crash / Il Discotto Productions, DS 005). A cover of Jackie DeShannon's song (1975), made famous by Kim Carnes (1981). Written by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon. Vocals (uncredited) - Dora Carofiglio, lead singer of Novecento and the Valerie Dore project. Format 12", 33⅓ RPM. Distribution by Discotto. 141 collectors, 142 on the wantlist, rating 3.86.
How to find forgotten covers today
A collector under the handle hysteric compiled a Discogs list titled “Italo-disco cover versions” - 500 entries, Italian productions from the 80s only. Each entry carries a label, a catalogue number and a year. This is the starting point for searching: the list shows what existed, and the market shows what survived. Of the 500 entries, the singles in this selection were chosen by two criteria: a documented catalogue number and confirmed original authorship. Most singles from the list were never reissued digitally. Rips appear on YouTube channels of collectors and on specialist resources - but without a catalogue number it is hard to tell an original vinyl rip from a re-squeezed MP3 of dubious origin.
For those who want to find forgotten italo-disco hits more broadly - not just covers - there are three routes: discographies of known labels (Il Discotto, Memory Records, Time Records), catalogue-number series (DS, MEMIX, TRD, MIX) and thematic collector compilations. The article on the best B-sides of the 80s explains why the flip side of a single is often more interesting than the A-side: the producer experimented without hit-pressure. And knowing how to read a vinyl matrix - the engraving on the lacquer - gives the exact pressing date: for example “22-6-84” on Floyd Parson DS 020 or “Piero 26-5-83” on Lama ZCN 7325.
12 singles in this selection came out on 8 different labels over two years - from 1983 to 1985. None entered an international chart. But on Discogs each has between 54 and 936 collectors and between 142 and 1702 people on the wantlist. A forgotten cover is not a dead record, and not an archival curiosity: it is a record waiting to be found and digitised.