JANUARY 2007/FEATURE/DAVE LEE’S GUIDE TO ITALIAN BOOGIE

On the back of last month’s interview with the one and only Dave Lee, Black Athena in collaboration with Dave, are pleased to be able to offer you a chance to indulge in his fantastic article about the Italian boogie scene, which was first published in the UK’s illustrious Keep On magazine.

Italian boogie: The much ignored and frequently maligned sub genre throws up a tangled spaghetti of mysteriously elusive 12”s and obscure albums. Thanks to eBay (and the internet in general) it has become slightly easier to track down some of these strangely rare records, most of which never seemed to make the short journey across the channel to our import stores.

The boogie genre itself dates back to the dawning of the 80s. That’s when many producers moved away from the faster “disco” sound, with its octave bass-lines and open hi- hats to a slower, more soulful tempo. By ‘83, boogie had become more electronic with heavy use of synths in the instrumentation.

Any article on this subject has to start with detailing the work of the undisputed kings of Italian disco/boogie – the production team of Jacque Fred Petrus and Mauro Malavasi. In the late 70s the duo produced a string of successful records for various American labels under names such as Macho, Revanche and Peter Jacques Band. Some of this stuff is quite good but it is fast, percussive disco laced with campery and often verging into hi-NRG territory. However, in 1979 the duo completely revamped their sound and formed the aptly named Change.

Change’s debut album “The Glow of Love” was very much inspired by the Chic sound and was a universal success, scoring big chart action with the hits “Lover’s Holiday”, “Searching” and title track “Glow of Love”. Working with top quality American session singers really paid off as a strategy for both producers and indeed the main singer, with Mr Vandross soaring towards household name status thereafter.

Malavasi, along with collaborators David Romani and Paolo Gianolio appears to have been the actual musical mastermind behind Change. Malavasi’s classical training underpinned the music, giving the compositions, rich sophisticated arrangements, understated chords and tight production. Petrus, now sadly deceased, was more involved with the business function of the team, though also a musician himself.

Petrus and Malavasi followed this album up with the equally good, if slightly less successful “Miracles”, containing the popular “Paradise”, “Hold Tight” and more. Hot on the success of their new sound, the prolific duo put together several more acts, which they then signed onto various major labels stateside.

They were responsible for the classic early 80s soul/boogie of acts like High Fashion (Feelin' Lucky Lately, Break Up), BB&Q Band (“On the Beat/Time For Love/Starlite/Imagination”), Ritchie Family (“I’ll Do My Best”), Zinc (That’s the Way the Loves Goes/I’ll take my Chances), and Peter Jacques Band (“Mighty Fine”).

Malavasi and Petrus finally quit working together in ‘83 after the fourth Change Album – the weak “This is Your Time”. Petrus kept Change and BBQ going himself, sometimes outsourcing the production to others – most successfully with Jam and Lewis for the “Change of Heart” album

Back in Italy the Chic-aping success of Malavasi and Petrus didn’t go unnoticed and many of the country’s other producers started doing the same. Indeed many of these imitators went as far as using Change as their template.

There is quite a distinctive sound to Italian boogie, just as there was to early Italian house productions. It’s a sound that may be described as hovering somewhere between Change and UK Brit Funk. The variable quality of the vocalists used means that its highly unlikely that collectors will alight upon loads of undiscovered gems of the same calibre as “Glow of Love”. However for industrious vinyl addicts, there are still some interesting records to be found. Much of the best of this Italian material was licensed on to American labels, particularly Emergency, but also Brass, Sam and Easy Street, normally gaining far better worldwide distribution that way. So keep your eyes peeled, it may be Italian in disguise.

Dave Lee’s Ultima Parola on Italian Boogie:

Advance “Take it to the Top” (X-Energy 12” 82)
From ’82, but issued several times on many labels and with some distinctly dodgy remixes. In its original form “Take me to the Top” is an excellent example of the genre. Co- produced by label boss Avaro Ugolini, this catchy female vocal cut is underpinned by one of the very fattest bass lines you’ll hear on a boogie record. Period.

Armed Gang - Various (Musix/Sun and Sea)
The work of legendary Italian producer Sangy, Armed Gang released several 12”s and an album. Their likeably clichéd archetypal boogie cut “Love Shot” is maybe their best, while the more funky bass-slapped “Everybody Celebrate” sounds quite like a Fatback Band releases of that era. They also had a US release on Brass subsidiary Chazz Ro in the form of “All I Want”, which is quite poppy vocally, but this is balanced by juicy big bass synth.

Asso “Don’t Stop” Ace Records 83
“Don’t Stop” is the flipside of a non-descript, if adequately produced cover of Steely Dan’s “Do It Again”. This powerful Paul Hardcastle-esque boogie instrumental is over-run with funky synths and jazzy piano. Though very of its era, paradoxically it sounds contemporary again fitting right in with the current 80s inspired electronic revival.

Ago “For You” (Full Time 82)
Ago is known to 12” collectors for his “You Make me Do it” on US Brass, which to be fair is a pretty decent track with a strong “Good Times/Another One Bites” bass line. As a singer he isn’t great, however when the backing track is really happening, he just about pulls it off. Though the grooves on his album “For You” are funky, his vocals prove too grating. This is a pricey album to pick up, so obviously some collectors don’t mind his dulcet tones!

Boeing “Dance on the Beat” (Good Vibes 82)
A funky slapped bass pushes along this simple, male vocal boogie bumper. Nice lead synth touches add a touch of class to proceedings; one of the genre’s best. Up until recently this was super rare and selling for $300+ on eBay. But before you re-mortgage, be warned, there’s recently been an identical looking limited official repress.

Cela “I’m in Love” (Derby 79)
Cela was the recording identity of Italian singer songwriter Marty Celay. As far as I’m aware, this strong very Chic-ish production was the only thing she recorded under this moniker. Unfortunately all the copies of “I’m in Love” I’ve come across are distorted, especially on the longer break filled B-side mix.

Fascination “Out to Get You” (Banana 83)
A guy and girl alternated vocal cut this one, with a funky chugging bass line and clipped guitar (think a less gimmicky “Last Night a DJ saved my Life”). The long cowbell filled percussive breakdown and pitch bending synths make it sound very 1983. Well produced by Kasso’s Giancarlo Meo.



Firefly - Various (My Disc)
Maurice Cavalieri’s project was maybe the longest running of all the Italian disco acts. Firefly’s sound is quite poppy, driven by Nile Rogers style guitar, with an unnervingly Mark King-ish lead singer. However, on their better tracks the musicianship and the grooves make it better than that description sounds. Firefly actually released four albums and quite a few 12”s (some of which aren’t on the LP’s) throughout the 80s. Their 1980 self- titled debut contains the classic “Good Times”-inspired “Love and Friendship” but not a lot else of note. This was a pretty big track at the time, though only after it was remixed and renamed “Love (is Gonna be on your Side)” for US release on Emergency. “My Desire”, the second LP, is a far better album, but lacking a killer single. Track “Our Trade is Life” could have been just that if it had been stretched out on 12”. 3 is the third LP (funny that!) and doesn’t contain much apart from the funky “Keep On”, which is a slower reprise of their earlier “Love…” groove. Firefly had some later success in 1989 with “What you Gonna Do”, which is still a good mid tempo soul tune, despite its then contemporary mechanical swing beat type drum pattern.

Flowchart and New Harlem Funk (Maximus 81)
Maybe the most sought after Italian boogie album of all. Recorded at Blank Tapes, New York, with session singer Fonzi Thornton. Lead track is the very Change-ish single “Ask the Boss”, the 12” of which isn’t super rare and even got a UK release at the time on Greyhound. The album only contains four other songs, 2 of which are quite good in a sub Malivasi/Petrus way. Surprisingly, this sells for $300!

Full Time
The Milan based Full Time label is the Salsoul of the genre – both in terms of putting out some of the best stuff as well as vast quantity of releases (many of which are more commercial dance). FT also released a lot of compilations, featuring their own tracks alongside contemporary US produced club hits – many of which they probably got as swaps. These albums are often seasonally named (Spring, Summer etc), and tracks were sometimes segued together.


Game featuring Charles Cannon “Gotta Take you Love” Maximus LP
From the same team as Flowchart and mixed at Sigma Sound by Silvio Tancredi (who later set up and ran Fourth Floor and Suburban with Tommy Musto). The lead 12” “Gotta Take My Love” was released by Emergency subsidiary Peter Pan, but the parent album remained Italian only and is thus very hard to find (especially finished copies with the appealing picture cover). Realistically the single is probably the best track here, but the LP is pretty solid with the Zinc-ish “You Got Me Flying” being the next best cut.



Orlando Johnson and Trance Various (Zig Zag 83)
Though all produced and recorded in Italy, Mr Johnson’s music is reminiscent of a UK production from the same period. His mega- rare album’s best tracks are in fact the two singles “Chocolate City and the title track “Turn the Music On”. Both of these are strong, chunky mid- tempo boogie cuts with decent vocals and catchy hooks. In fact, “Turn the Music On” had the honour of being the first ever 12” on NY’s long running Easy Street label. His backing band Trance also released their own 12”, the cheerful quite Brit- funky “Hang it on”.

Kano Various (Full Time)
Another act who signed up to Emergency in the US. Their earlier material like the much sampled “I’m Ready” was on a fast, more hi-NRG disco tip, though it topped the US club chart. For their second album “New York Cake”, Kano changed their sound to a more boogie-ish groove and their stateside label to Mirage (via Emergency). It’s worth looking out for the Full Time 12” of the “My Forbidden Lover”-ish “Can’t Hold Back” which is my favourite song from the LP. This Italian 12” features a longer, improved and un-credited “US Remix”. Their third LP “Another Life” has one really cool cut called “Dance School” – a mid-tempo Kashif- style production. Again, Kano’s frontman Glen White is not the greatest singer, but he carries it nonetheless, on their best stuff.


Kasso Various (Banana/Delirium 82)
Claudio Simonetti and Giancarlo Meo were behind several Italian disco acts, among them Easy Going, Vivien Vee and Capricorn. Their eponymous debut LP as Kasso was quite a success around Europe spawning several hit singles. One of these, the Shakatak go- euro “Walkman”, could put you right off them. Far better is their “Twilight” meets “The World is a Ghetto” electro instrumental “Key West”. This track also appeared as a US 12”, re-edited by Jellybean and was also sampled in early house records. From the same album “One More Round” is another strong cut with a catchy female vocal. This was later issued as an early Frankie Knuckles remix in 1986 on German Haristol. A subsequent 12” “Dig It” is worth mentioning for its “Change of Heart” style chorus.

K.I.D “Fine Time Tonight” (Baby Records 82)
Their well-known releases on the SAM label aside, Geoff Bastow’s Munich based act also released a second album “Fine time Tonight” in Italy. The title track is a typically simple but strong “Good Times”- style, bass dominated, boogie cut. Despite being the LP’s stand out track, it strangely never made it to 12”. Shame!


Natasha King “AM/FM” (Baby Records 83)
A big one for the break-dancers, so more of an electro boogie fusion. The work of producer Pierluigi Giombini (who was also behind the big selling pop dance of Gazebo and Ryan Paris) and 18-year-old Rome- based American Natasha Maimoni. This ultra catchy and cute song is not dissimilar to one of Madonna’s early disco-y records. Again, Emergency did the honours in the US.



Korja “My mind” (Flop 81)
One of the big money Italo 12”s. released on the rather unfortunately named Flop label. “My Mind” is produced by the same folk who brought us Rainbow Team and Ago, Senores M Violante and Tommy Caverieri. This is also quite poppy and lightweight, with a bridge ripped from Toto’s “Georgie Porgie”. Pleasant enough.


Koxo “Step by Step” (Interstate 83)
Though “Step by Step” could be described as slightly cheesy, it has enough redeeming instrumental touches to come out a winner. A guy and girls sung feel good disco cut that emanates from the same production team as Dr Togo. A firm fave in my record room.

Metropole “Miss Manhattan” (Derby 81)
Despite having the obligatory dodgy lead vocal Miss Manhattan is a pretty decent record and is actually still quite playable in a disco set. With its chunky solid drums it gets better in the second half when the brassy instrumentation takes over. More easily found on the Canadian PBI label

Rainbow Team Various (Full Time/Sinusoid)
Rainbow Team are another long running and quite prolific act. Their first 12”, the brassy, jazz- funky semi- instrumental “Come To the Rainbow” from 79 has gotta be a favourite. Their material is always musically very accomplished, with a dollop of Italian panache. However, the overly Eurovision-ish female vocals let them down. Both of their Full Time albums sell for £100+, so some are obviously finding something worthwhile there. Perhaps, a decent black American singer would have improved their overall sound. For some reason there doesn’t seem to be any longer versions on 12”. Maybe they could have done with a few!

Jimmy Ross Various (Megafunk/Full Time).
Ross is mainly known for the much-sampled classic disco boogie of “First True Love Affair”. This typically Italian guitar driven beauty was remixed by Larry Levan, so inevitably “Big at the Garage”. Ross’s voice leaves a lot to be desired and is slightly reminiscent of the lead singer from the Gibson Brothers, hence the instrumentals of his records are far better. “Fall into a Trance” and the better “Chocolate Ice” are the other two 12”, plus there is an album (of all vocal versions, be warned!). His records are far more common on the Canadian Quality label, though can also be found on Full Time and French Megafunk.

Selection Various (Full Time)
Tightly arranged, well-produced and very Change-ish grooves are order of the day here. Their first 12” “Madly” from 1980 is a nice chunky mid tempo cut that owes more than a bit of it’s inspiration to “Lovers Holiday”. They recorded one eponymous, highly sought after album a couple of years later which contains some slick vocal tracks like Ride the Beam and Got to Be Real. There is also a Remix 12” of longer version of 3 of the LP’s best cuts.

Dr Togo “Be Free” (DBR 82)
From the same guys as Koxo, but on a mid tempo soul/boogie tip. “Be Free” features a relaxed male vocal over funky slapped bass and percussion breaks, though the song itself is nice rather than brilliant. It contains the exceptionally silly chorus line “Let the fun begin, have some coke and gin”, which does give it a certain charm I suppose. This is another one that was going for stupid money but has been re-pressed, though seemingly in small quantities.

Touché “Just like a Doorknob” (SPQR 1983)
Incredibly beefy bass synth, chunky drums and ridiculous lyrics – what a combination! The work of US based multi instrumentalist Dennis Bell, who went onto to produce Doug. E. Fresh “The Show”. Though “Doorknob” was recorded for NY’s Emergency imprint it only ended up ever being released on Rome’s SPQR label. So ironically one of the best Euro only boogie records is actually American! There is also an earlier Touché 12” “Wrap it Up” from ‘82, which has a pretty decent instrumental version. Emergency did get round to putting this less strong release out, but it also turns up on Euro via both Good Vibes and Hi Fashion labels – the later with the nice picture sleeve.

Vin-Zee “Funky Be Bop” (Full Time 81)
Funky, if slightly ponderous feel good, party hearty boogie with nonsensical words. The usual good times guitar are joined by cool vocoder and a Heatwave-ish male vocalist. Unfortunately the instrumental is still very vocal, not that the vocals are bad. Another one that's more commonly seen on Emergency.