John Carpenter/The Splash Band - Halloween (1984)

Happy HALLOWEEN!!!

UUUUAAAAAAHHHHHH........!!!!

Valerie Dore - It's so easy (1985)

I just recognized that there isn't any post of Valerie Dore here yet. So I have to change this immediately because that's essential for Italo indeed.

Fred Ventura - Night and day (1987)

Typical Crivellente-Farina production from these years. Like it but this is really the time when Italo-sounds become more and more exchangeable and were losing its individual character. The best years really were earlier.

Hivoh - To be together (1985)

Only 112 bpm but uplifting though. BTW: nice saxophone - and funky guitar at about 3:30. Awesome!

Mike Rogers - Just a story (1984)

Oooohhh, this song is such a good one. It brings together all elements a cheesy Italo song has to have.

Scotch - Delirio mind (1984)

One of my favourites of Scotch.

La-la-laa-lalalalalalaa-la-la-la-la-la-laa-lalalaa ...

Lucia - Marinero (Remix) (1985)

Also a nice one even with a part of rappin'. Awesome!

Vicio Latino - Horario disco (1984)

Spanish Italo!! B-side of "¿Sabes que hora es?". Excellent!

George Aaron - She's a devil (1984)

Ace track with a massive synth-work that rocks like hell :-))

Lime - The party's over (1984)

This is the B-side of the 12inch "I don't wanna lose you" which I like a lot. "The party's over" has such a melancholical vibe and if you're listening to the lyrics you can really imagine how the both are feeling - they were falling in love and nobody has the heart to talk to the other one.

Joe Yellow - Lover to lover (1983)

First release of Joe Yellow who also has many aliases - for example Sylvi Foster or Bob Salton. Under these names he also came out with some great stuff.

Raggio di Luna - Comanchero (1984)

Live performance from 1985 of this essential slow-mo Italo hit first released in 1984. That was really a hit and nothing from the underground.

DJ's Factory - A view to a kill (1985)

Italo cover version of the 007-theme originally made by Duran Duran. The clip is kind of ridiculous because both actors are doing anything else but singing and playing instruments :-)

Rofo - Flashlight on a disconight (1983)

First release of this HiNRG based project called "Rofo" from the Netherlands. Wonderful!!

Stefano Pulga - Love taker (1983)

The man who produced many things from Kano also made his own career with great music.
The first cut is the 12inch version; the second cut shows a live performance in the Italian TV.

I personally prefer the instrumental version on the B-side of the 12inch.

Fred Ventura - Imagine (1987)

It's still Italo but you can recognize that it's a late 80s production with the first influences of House music. Nice piece of music though.

Phaeax - Talk about (1983)

WOW - let's dance through the night with this HiNRG burner.

Ooooh-ooooh-ooooh-oooohhh...

Jupiter Black ft. Fred Ventura - Hold me (2007)

The German guys from Jupiter Black created a warm NuItalo bomb together with the legend Fred Ventura. Absolutely worth to listen to. A real journey back into the 80s.

Gazebo - Lunatic (1983)

For all lovers of piano and more classic instruments in Italo-songs. This is the official video. It's soooooo nice!!!

Jock Hattle - Crazy family (1983)

HiNRG track produced by Alberto Carpani alias Albert One - see also the related post some days ago.

Rofo - I want you (1984)

Cheesy and soooo good though ...

Mya & The Mirror - Hesitation (1984)

Written and produced by Maurizio Dami. Maurizio who?? You also know this guy as Alexander Robotnick. As usual with some unusual elements - but although good old Italo.

Ka-Zan - Give me your heart (1986)

Another surprise: The real name of "Ka-Zan" is Luca Zanarini - and he was involved in two great productions of Amin Peck: "Running straight" and "Modem - Your fun (an alias of Amin Peck)". Luca was part of the mixing-team besides some others.

Jock Hattle Band - To be or not to be (1986)

I knew that this sound is known to me. But why? Very simple: behind Jock Hattle (Band) stands Alberto Carpani alias Albert One. And who doesn't know hits from Albert One?

Naif Orchestra - Check-out five (1984)

This song has some surprising elements for you (saxophones for example) - nevertheless: great sound.

Nexus - Stand up (1983)

This gem is still influenced by the 70s disco-era. The man behind "Nexus" is Maurice Cavalieri. I guess this name doesn't say anything to the most people but if I tell you that he also is responsible for killer tracks like "Charlie - Spacer woman" or that he stands behind the "International Music System" you see that he is so much more than an unknown quantity.

Here I give you both versions of his "Stand up" - the vocal and the instrumental.

Ken Laszlo - Tonight (1985)

After his first successful release "Hey hey guy" in 1984 Ken Laszlo came out with this one. It's pretty nice but can't reach the "phone-call-gem".

Max Coveri - One more time (1986)

One of the best 86-releases - that's rare enough and the reason why I mention it.

Fake - Right (Remix) (1984)

This is a great sounding song with a hypnotic bassline and nice vocals.

My Mine - Cupid girl (1985)

This is a most forgotten and underrated song by My Mine whose most successful release probably was "Hypnotic tango". Here you can watch one of these typical 80s video clips.

Max Him - Lady fantasy (1985)

After "No escape" this was the next song by "Him". This is one of two 12inch versions - besides a remix from the same year. The instrumental on the B-side has been played by the DJ in our hometown disco when he was celebrating the lasershow - suited somehow.

Max Him - No escape (1984)

This was the second release of Max Him but the first one that has been really noticed. Nice synths and a catchy melody - and you even can listen to the vocals without bleeding out of your ears :-)

Hypnosis - Pulstar (1983)

Turn the laser on - it's showtime ...

Robert Marlow - No heart (1983)

Not many people payed attention to this man and his releases have been forgotten soon. But this one is probably his best - it's the B-side of "I just want to dance".

Time - Selling song (1984)

Most people know their classic "Shaker shake". But this is also a nice one for sure. With the well known bassline similar to Shaker shake.

J.D. Jaber - Don't stop lovin' (1983)

Smooth Italo-song with the special cheese-factor. I like the piano at about 4 minutes - that's great!!

Joe Maran - Give me a break (1983)

Rolling bassline and vocals that need getting used to... But listen to it more than once and you start liking them.

BTW: 1983 is the real release year.

Ben Richardson - Skydiver (1979)

Absolutely classic!!

Margueritas - Margherita (Hot edit) (2003)

This is the only version I found on youtube. It has been released on the "Unclassics #2" in 2003. But this one isn't really worse than the original from 1980.

Tom Hooker - Looking for love (1986)

Production and voice is very similar to Den Harrow. What the hell is the reason for that? :-))))

Fred Ventura - I'm not ready (2009)

To verify my thesis from the last post about Fred Ventura here is the probably best song of the year 2009. It's produced by the Italian duo Ajello and is a total reminiscence to the best HiNRG-producer ever - Robert Phillip Orlando.

Fred Ventura - The years (go by) (1985)

This is one of the best vocal Italo songs ever. Fred Ventura has a great voice and makes it the perfect way. BTW: he is still in the business today and delivers some great work yet.

The Creatures - Digital rebel (1983)

This is the B-side of the 12inch "Believe in yourself" you also can find here in the blog.

Vicio Latino - ¿Qué me pasa, qué me pasa? (1983)

Italo produced by a Spanish guy from Madrid named Pedro Vidal. The female voice is a bit hysterical but the synths are great.