Italo Disco
A melodic, electronic Italian disco style with drum machines and dreamy synthesizers.
History
Italo disco appeared at the start of the 1980s, mostly in Italy s1. Producers used drum machines, synthesizers and vocoders to make dance music that was cheaper to record than American disco s1. The sound is melodic and often a little sad, with simple English lyrics sung by Italian singers s1. Kano's 'It's a War' (1980) and Charlie's 'Spacer Woman' (1983) are much-loved records from the early years s1. Baltimora's 'Tarzan Boy' (1985) became an international pop hit s1. The style was popular in mainland Europe and was played on radio and at discos s2. Italo disco influenced house, synth-pop and later nu-disco and electro s1. It remains a favourite style for collectors and DJs today s2. The records were often released in several countries with different covers and mixes s1. Italian studios also produced music for singers from Germany and Britain s2. Later producers sampled Italo records when making house and electro tracks s1.
Sound
- Drum machines and simple electronic beats
- Dreamy or sad synthesizer melodies
- Vocoder and electronic vocals
- A warm, slightly lo-fi production
- A melodic, emotional mood
Key figures
- Giorgio Moroder — Italian producer whose electronic disco shaped the style
- Kano — Italian project behind 'It's a War'
- Charlie — Italian act behind 'Spacer Woman'
- Baltimora — Italian act behind 'Tarzan Boy'
Labels
- Il Discotto Productions — Milan , 1979
- Emergency Records — New York City , 1980
- ZYX Records — Merzig , 1980
Defining tracks
Connections
Came from: Disco , Synth-Pop , Early Electronic
Led to: Italo House , Nu-Disco
Sources
- Italo disco — Wikipedia
- Last Night a DJ Saved My Life: The History of the Disc Jockey — Grove Press (1999)