What Is '80s and '90s Retro Music
Explore the magic and energy of '80s and '90s retro music - its history, genres, sonic innovations, and lasting influence on culture today.
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Notes on music, craft, and the era
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How to write Italo Disco: the name and the track formula
Italo Disco, Italo-Disco or Italodisco? Establish a clear editorial spelling and the boundary with Eurodisco and Eurodance, then build an arrangement without parodying the 1980s.
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BPM in music: what tempo means and how to calculate it
BPM describes tempo, not time signature, genre or energy. Calculate it by hand, resolve half-time readings, understand tempo maps and MIDI, and choose a useful value for mixing.
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How to Build an Italo Disco Playlist
A good playlist is an emotional journey. Tempos, keys, balance of known and forgotten tracks, structure - a full guide to building Italo Disco playlists.
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The Genre's Main Instrumentals
The best vocal-free Italo Disco compositions - atmospheric tracks that work both as soundtrack and as standalone pieces.
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Claudio Simonetti: From Goblin to Italo Disco
The story of the Italian composer who worked with Dario Argento and at the same time created '80s dance hits - a rare synthesis of film and pop.
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Ice MC: the Bridge Between Italo Disco and Eurodance
Briton Ian Campbell worked with Mauro Farina and went from late Italo Disco to the main Eurodance hits. Think About the Way, Russian Roulette, 40 years of career.
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How Tracks Were Mixed in 1985
A detailed look at the mixing process for Italo Disco tracks in the mid-'80s - the technology, the approaches, and the engineers' tricks.
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How an Italo Disco Chorus Works
Tarzan Boy, Self Control, Boys Boys Boys - why can't you forget these choruses? A breakdown of structure, melodic devices, and the psychology of Italo Disco hooks.
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10 Underrated Italo Disco Tracks
Everyone knows the main hits. But in Italo Disco hundreds of tracks never got the attention they deserved. Hypnotic Tango, Dirty Talk, Under the Ice, Leave Me Alone - genre gems for serious listeners.
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Tom Hooker: the Voice That Sang for Everyone
The story of the American vocalist who stood behind the main Den Harrow hits and dozens of other '80s Italo Disco projects.
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Pier Luigi Giombini: Architect of the Hits
One of the main Italo Disco producers - the man who gave the world "I Like Chopin" and built the sound of the genre's melancholy side.
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Ken Laszlo: the Main Star of Italo Disco
Gian Pietro Ghezzi, aka Ken Laszlo, is one of the genre's most stable artists. Hits Tonight and Hey Hey Guy, work with Mauro Farina, active shows in 2024.
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Italo Disco Record Prices in 2024
How much do original Italo Disco records cost on Discogs in 2024? A price guide from mass hits to rarities with concrete examples and tips for collectors.
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Economics of an Italian Label in the '80s
How much did it cost to record an Italo Disco single? What were the runs, royalties, margins? The financial side of the genre with concrete numbers, rarely discussed.
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Italo Disco in Unexpected Places
Where you can run into Italo Disco - from kids' cartoons to video game soundtracks and space missions, the genre's unusual appearances in mass culture.
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Tony Esposito: the Neapolitan With a Kalimba
Antonio Esposito - a jazz percussionist from Naples who recorded one of Italo Disco's most unexpected hits. African kalimba, the Boney M cover, and the 2020s return.
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