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Old 30th July 2008   #1
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Italo Disco Production
Sluts,

just out of intrest, for the Italo Disco lovers, who has some deeper information what synths and production techniques were used in 80s italo disco songs?

some of the sounds in these tracks are so beautiful...

here is a few examples :

kenz laszlo - tonight
YouTube - Ken Laszlo - Tonight (Origilal Video) RARE!!!!

Miko Mission - how old are you
YouTube - Miko Mission - How Old Are You

Sandy Marton - People from Ibiza
YouTube - Sandy Marton - People from Ibiza (Discoring '84)

Patrick Colby - Mandrill
YouTube - Patrick Colby - Mandrill
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Old 30th July 2008   #2
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Originally Posted by Hossegor View Post
Sluts,

just out of intrest, for the Italo Disco lovers, who has some deeper information what synths and production techniques were used in 80s italo disco songs?

some of the sounds in these tracks are so beautiful...

here is a few examples :

kenz laszlo - tonight
YouTube - Ken Laszlo - Tonight (Origilal Video) RARE!!!!

Miko Mission - how old are you
YouTube - Miko Mission - How Old Are You



Sandy Marton - People from Ibiza
YouTube - Sandy Marton - People from Ibiza (Discoring '84)

Patrick Colby - Mandrill
YouTube - Patrick Colby - Mandrill
I know a lot ask specific question and I will answer

I loooove italo
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Old 30th July 2008   #3
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one question would be what synths were used in Ken Laszlo - Tonight and Sandy Marton - People from Ibiza ?


I am asuming maybe a Juno-60, but i am not sure
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Old 30th July 2008   #4
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ken laszlo recorded at memory records studio

they used a lot at that time
Linn drum
PPG Wave 2,3
Prophet 5
Polysix

bu in italo tunes you can hear from MINI and rare synths to big PPG, Fairlights , CS 80, jupiters.......
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Old 30th July 2008   #5
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thanks ...that explains a lot, the synths sound so warm and sweet, a bit like the ones trans-x used for 3d dance and living on video.
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Old 30th July 2008   #6
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Yeah, a lot of Oberheim stuff as well like OB-8 and DMX for drums...

PPG ,Oberheim and Roland Juno 60/106 were pretty much on every other track.
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Old 30th July 2008   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hossegor View Post
thanks ...that explains a lot, the synths sound so warm and sweet, a bit like the ones trans-x used for 3d dance and living on video.
on back of trans x album is list of synths

Oberheim DMX
Oberheim OB8
Jupiter 4 and 6
TR 808
Vocoder svc 350
Mattel drums
Elka synthex and DSX sequencer
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Old 30th July 2008   #8
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I have a strange enjoyment and appreciation of italo

As an outsider can anyone suggest a good collection of italo classics to start getting into it?

Is there anything harmony-wise that is common in italo? the melody sometimes sounds so baby-ish its hilarious

EDIT: this one is wicked: YouTube - Pineapples- Come On Closer ( STEREO ) Italo classic
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Old 30th July 2008   #9
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i found some pics of Mauro Farina´s studio from the 90s...


not bad



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Old 30th July 2008   #10
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I have some of that pictures too
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Old 30th July 2008   #11
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Hehe, I was also very much into the Italo disco thing also during the 90s.

I'm really not trying to be rude, but to me, the overall sound of Italo is defined be "the cheap-ness".

It sounds like very cheap, plastic electro drums without even an itsy bitsy teeni weeni swing (very tight quantized) and outdated, over-chorused cheap plastic Casio-synths

Another signature, is the sampling - like Scotch, where they took little snippets of vocals and playd melodies with the.

Also, though, very good pop melodies and often very nice produced vocals ... with funny accents, though - charming, but funny .

I would say that today, if we would do an Italo-ish remix, it would be just to make fun of it. Again, not trying to be rude, because I really like Italo, but it has some kind of "parody" to it.
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Old 30th July 2008   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SWAN808 View Post
I have a strange enjoyment and appreciation of italo

As an outsider can anyone suggest a good collection of italo classics to start getting into it?

Is there anything harmony-wise that is common in italo? the melody sometimes sounds so baby-ish its hilarious

EDIT: this one is wicked: YouTube - Pineapples- Come On Closer ( STEREO ) Italo classic

yep

For me there are 3 periods of italo

EARLY 80-84

mid 84-87

late 87-92

so here are some sugestions what to get

EARLY ITALO STUFF !!

TIME - SHAKER SHAKE
YouTube - Time - Shaker Shake

THE CREATURES - Believe in yourself
YouTube - The Creatures Believe in yourself complete

STYLOO - preety face
YouTube - Styloo - Pretty Face (Remastered)

CARRARA - disco king
YouTube - Disco King - Carrara (1983)

KANO another life
YouTube - Kano - Another Life

MID AGE ITALO!!!!

TORREVADO - Living in the shuttle
YouTube - Torrevado - Living in the shuttle

Brand Image - love in the summer night
YouTube - BRAND IMAGE - Love In A Summernight (best audio)

ROY - DESTINY time
YouTube - Roy - Destiny Time


WHISKEY - last summer
YouTube - Wish Key - Last Summer

RADIORAMA - DESIRE
YouTube - Radiorama - Desire (1985) (Remix)

ATRIUM - DR JEKILL
YouTube - ATRIUM - Doctor Jekyll (1986)

SOPHIE - SAME
YouTube - SOPHIE－SAME ( I LOVE THIS TRACK!!!!!!)

AND LATE ITALO PERIOD!!!!


ALHA TOWN - POWER OF MAGIC
YouTube - ALPHATOWN－POWER OF MAGIC

FRED VENTURA - ITS ITS MY TIME
YouTube - FRED VENTURA - It's My Time ©1989



thats good for start ...since around 20000 italo tracks are out there
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Old 30th July 2008   #13
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One of my favorites, is the first track in this mega mix:

YouTube - Italo Disco Megamix Part 1
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Old 30th July 2008   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KLP29 View Post
Hehe, I was also very much into the Italo disco thing also during the 90s.

I'm really not trying to be rude, but to me, the overall sound of Italo is defined be "the cheap-ness".

It sounds like very cheap, plastic electro drums without even an itsy bitsy teeni weeni swing (very tight quantized) and outdated, over-chorused cheap plastic Casio-synths

Another signature, is the sampling - like Scotch, where they took little snippets of vocals and playd melodies with the.

Also, though, very good pop melodies and often very nice produced vocals ... with funny accents, though - charming, but funny .

I would say that today, if we would do an Italo-ish remix, it would be just to make fun of it. Again, not trying to be rude, because I really like Italo, but it has some kind of "parody" to it.

that is only true for italo after 1987
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Old 30th July 2008   #15
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that is only true for italo after 1987
Hallelujah!
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Old 30th July 2008   #16
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I find italo-disco inspired Sally Shapiro pretty listenable.
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Old 30th July 2008   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KLP29 View Post
One of my favorites, is the first track in this mega mix:

YouTube - Italo Disco Megamix Part 1
I love the way those two girls mime along to the blatant vocal editing/looping. they dont exactly look so confident about it either....

Thanks Roginator for those suggestions and info!
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Old 30th July 2008   #18
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I just got through watching this video, very entertaining. Even on Youtube these 80's productions sound so much better than stuff made today it's ridiculous.
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Old 30th July 2008   #19
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I just got through watching this video, very entertaining. Even on Youtube these 80's productions sound so much better than stuff made today it's ridiculous.
yep true
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Old 31st July 2008   #20
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I love Italo! Here's my contribution to this thread

Charlie's Space Women
YouTube - ITALO CLASSIC 1983 - Original Upload

I've been into this stuff for a while now, glad to see others who like it too.
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Old 31st July 2008   #21
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Here's two of my favorites:

Klein and MBO - Dirty Talk:

YouTube - Klein & M.B.O. - "Dirty Talk (European Connection)" (1982)

Kasso - Key West:

Key West - Kasso - 12" Golden Dance Classics - [320kbps MP3] - Trackitdown - Dance Music Downloads
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Old 31st July 2008   #22
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ITALO ON GEARSLUTZ!

I love it. Hello Roginator and others I know a bit.

Is that Farina as in Rago and Farina?

-Eli
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Old 31st July 2008   #23
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P.S. I have tons of Italo, but still, nothing tops Mr. Flagio's remake of Material's 'Take a Chance.'

That vocoder just destroys!
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Old 31st July 2008   #24
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Quote:
Originally Posted by roginator View Post
yep

For me there are 3 periods of italo

EARLY 80-84

mid 84-87

late 87-92

so here are some sugestions what to get

EARLY ITALO STUFF !!

TIME - SHAKER SHAKE
YouTube - Time - Shaker Shake

THE CREATURES - Believe in yourself
YouTube - The Creatures Believe in yourself complete

STYLOO - preety face
YouTube - Styloo - Pretty Face (Remastered)

CARRARA - disco king
YouTube - Disco King - Carrara (1983)

KANO another life
YouTube - Kano - Another Life

MID AGE ITALO!!!!

TORREVADO - Living in the shuttle
YouTube - Torrevado - Living in the shuttle

Brand Image - love in the summer night
YouTube - BRAND IMAGE - Love In A Summernight (best audio)

ROY - DESTINY time
YouTube - Roy - Destiny Time


WHISKEY - last summer
YouTube - Wish Key - Last Summer

RADIORAMA - DESIRE
YouTube - Radiorama - Desire (1985) (Remix)

ATRIUM - DR JEKILL
YouTube - ATRIUM - Doctor Jekyll (1986)

SOPHIE - SAME
YouTube - SOPHIE－SAME ( I LOVE THIS TRACK!!!!!!)

AND LATE ITALO PERIOD!!!!


ALHA TOWN - POWER OF MAGIC
YouTube - ALPHATOWN－POWER OF MAGIC

FRED VENTURA - ITS ITS MY TIME
YouTube - FRED VENTURA - It's My Time ©1989



thats good for start ...since around 20000 italo tracks are out there

thanx for those links Roginator, some great stuff there that i didnt even know.

Italians just have style wether its Cars, Motorcycles or music
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Old 31st July 2008   #26
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and BTW ppl are making new great italo tracks these days

i Venti D'Azzurro Records / Delivery Records / I.D. Limited Classic Italo Disco on Vinyl
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Old 31st July 2008   #27
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Quote:
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that is only true for italo after 1987
That would also apply to American-made music as well. Thank Yamaha, Casio and house music for that.
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Old 31st July 2008   #28
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ItaloDisco is awesome. It's pretty much disco but with synths so it's right up my alley. The first disc of PSB's Back to Mine compilation has several kickass Italo cuts. This is the listing for the first disc (compiled by Chris Lowe so you know it's good). Their own song "Paninaro" is pretty much an Italo classic in my opinion.

1. Don't Cry Tonight - Savage
2. Take A Chance - MR. FLAGIO
3. Dirty Talk - Klein & Mbo
4. Passion - The Flirts
5. Ti Sento - Matia Bazaar
6. Never Be Alone - Justice
7. The Show Must Go On - Queen
8. Stand On The Word - Celestial Choir
9. I Was Born This Way - Carl Bean
10. I'd Rather Leave While I'm In Love - Dusty Springfield

Another good way to get your hands on Italo is to look into the compilations from ZYX records. There are many volumes of them out there.
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Old 31st July 2008   #29
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pyvnd View Post
ItaloDisco is awesome. It's pretty much disco but with synths so it's right up my alley. The first disc of PSB's Back to Mine compilation has several kickass Italo cuts. This is the listing for the first disc (compiled by Chris Lowe so you know it's good). Their own song "Paninaro" is pretty much an Italo classic in my opinion.

1. Don't Cry Tonight - Savage
2. Take A Chance - MR. FLAGIO
3. Dirty Talk - Klein & Mbo
4. Passion - The Flirts
5. Ti Sento - Matia Bazaar
6. Never Be Alone - Justice
7. The Show Must Go On - Queen
8. Stand On The Word - Celestial Choir
9. I Was Born This Way - Carl Bean
10. I'd Rather Leave While I'm In Love - Dusty Springfield

Another good way to get your hands on Italo is to look into the compilations from ZYX records. There are many volumes of them out there.
sorry but 4, 6,7,8,9,10

are not italo tracks

PSB ( I love their stuff ) BUT THAT IS NOT ITALO DISCO

ZYX only had 4O% italo on their extendeds....

to me ...modern talking, Mozzart, PSB, BOBBY O ... are not italo disco!!!!
that is also great music but not ITALO!!!

it would be like somebody now say that crunk is trance couse it has so many euro trancey leads in that music...NO WAY!!!!
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Old 31st July 2008   #30
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haha this stuff is a hoot. The only italo disco I've heard/owned is black devil club's reissue. thanks for posting all the links!
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