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Sign upPeople behind the desk: Moroder, Farina, Pulga, Giombini and other architects of sound.
27 articles newest first
1988, Saratov. Former OBKhSS officer Alexander Shishinin and composer Vitaliy Okorokov assemble a female group called Kombinaciya - inspired by a Mirage concert. A year later "Russian Girls" will sound across the country, and by 1992 "Dva kusocheka kolbaski" ("Two Little Slices of Sausage") will become a signature of the Russian 90s disco.
The Cyber People project combined space-age synthesizers, mechanical vocals and the dance foundation of Italo Disco. We trace the group's history, the cult track "Polaris", and its link to spacesynth.
Tony Carrasco brought electro-funk rhythm and New York club energy into Milan's Italo Disco scene. We look at his work with Klein & MBO, his Saville connection, and how he shaped the sound of European dance floors.
1976, Milan. Claudio Cecchetto launches Radio Deejay, then produces Jovanotti, Sabrina and Sandy Marton. How a DJ became the architect of Italy’s 80s pop factory.
Celso Valli - Italian arranger and producer who worked with Azoto, Raf, Matia Bazar and at Fonoprint studio. From "San Salvador" to "Self Control": how his classical training shaped the Italo Disco sound.
Aldo Martinelli - a composer with a diploma from the Alessandria Conservatory. Simona Zanini - lyricist and vocalist. Projects: Martinelli, Moon Ray, Doctor's Cat, Topo and Roby. “Cenerentola” - a genre benchmark. Return in 2011.
16 December 1954: Ivana Spagna is born. In 1971 - “Mamy Blue”. In the early 80s - vocals and songs for Fun Fun, where she was the ghost voice. In 1986 - “Easy Lady”, in 1987 - “Call Me”, UK #2. 10 million sold over a 46-year career.
July 31, 1951: Alfredo Pignagnoli is born - “one of the pop maestros of Italy” according to BMG. As Larry Pignagnoli he wrote hits for Fun Fun, Spagna, Whigfield's “Saturday Night” (№1 UK, Guinness record) and Benny Benassi's “Satisfaction”. Forty years, one studio, one formula.
1989: the Italian label High Energy Records releases a series of 12″ singles, HE 105 to HE 121. Behind it stand Severo Lombardoni and producer Julio Ferrarin. The label lasts until 1991 and puts out about 62 releases - exactly at the junction of Italo Disco, Hi-NRG and Eurobeat for the Japanese market.
28 November 1956, Massa, Tuscany: Roberto Zanetti is born - Savage as artist, Robyx as producer. From Don't Cry Tonight (1983, Germany #2) to Ice MC, Double You and Alexia in the 90s. Debunking the Eiffel 65 myth: Bliss Corporation was founded by other people.
1983. Roberto Turatti and Miki Chieregato create Den Harrow. Face - Stefano Zandri, voice - Tom Hooker. Chieregato is the invisible producer behind the hits of Italian disco.
December 1985: Silent Circle release "Touch in the Night" - #15 in Germany, 14 weeks in the chart. A West German trio: Tychsen, Breitung, Behrens. Producers Dietrich and Simons, label Blow Up. Ten tracks, charts and Russian popularity.
24 April 1956: Roberto Turatti is born in Milan. With Miki Chieregato he created Den Harrow - a project named after the Italian "denaro" (money). Stefano Zandri was the face, Tom Hooker the voice. An Italo-disco factory, 1983-1988.
14 March 1983: Bowie with producer Nile Rodgers. UK #1 for 3 weeks, US #1 for 1 week. Cut in 17 days at Power Station, NYC. Bowie met Rodgers at the Continental Club in December 1982 and asked, “Can you make me a hit?”. Stevie Ray Vaughan's solo - one take on a 1962 Strat. Album 10.7M copies - more than every prior Bowie album combined.
September 1984: Moroder and Philip Oakey (Human League) cut the title theme of “Electric Dreams” - a comedy about a computer in love with the neighbour. #3 UK, #1 Denmark. Musicland Munich, four days, one-take vocal. LinnDrum, Moog Source, DX7. The film bombed ($4.6M), the song lived - and is timely again in the AI era.
February 1980: “American Gigolo” soundtrack, producer Moroder. Debbie Harry wrote the lyric in one Chateau Marmont evening. #1 Billboard for 6 weeks, Billboard #1 single of 1980, 6M copies. Bernard Edwards of Chic on live bass.
January 1984: Pete Waterman, Mike Stock and Matt Aitken open PWL Studios on Borough High Street. In six years - 44 UK #1s, 100+ top-40 hits and 120M records sold. Conveyor method: a single a week, £25-40K each. In August 1988, 15 SAW tracks sat in the UK top-40 at once. The trio split in 1991.
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