Koto is an Italian synth pop group that originally consisted of Anfrando Maiola and Stefano Cundari. Their most popular songs were "Visitors", "Dragon's Legend", "Chinese Revenge" and "Jabdah", released in 1983-1988. Koto is often associated with a genre of music called Spacesynth, a music style streamed from Space Disco. Unfortunately, it has been reported that Stefano Cundari died some time between 1991 and 1992 from a brain tumor.
Anfrando Maiola and Stefano Cundari helped to form Memory Records, an Italian record company which specialised in mainly Italo Disco releases. Koto's "Chinese Revenge" was the first record to be released on the Memory label. It sold over 10,000 copies in Italy alone.
Both artists also helped to write, mix, and produce for a range of other artists signed to the Memory Records label, including "Challenger" and "Happy Song" for the band Baby's Gang. Stefano Cundari is also known for his participation in the group "Hipnosis" from 1982-1987. Following their successful debut with "Chinese Revenge" both Maiola and Cundari helped remix the Vangelis track "Pulstar" for Hipnosis. Their remix of Pulstar reportedly sold over 200,000 copies worldwide.
By 1986 the mood of the record buying public was starting to change. House Music was becoming increasingly popular, and the demand for Italo Disco tracks appeared to be in decline. Memory Records, along with other Italo record companies of the time, started to suffer financially. Although attempts were made to respond to the changes by releasing House Music and Eurobeat tracks, the change was not successful and Memory Records went out of business.
In 1989, the German record label ZYX Music bought the rights to the entire Memory Records catalog, including the "Koto" name and recordings. They then brought in Dutch record producer Michiel van der Kuy to re-record and remix some of the old Koto tracks. He then released several other albums under the alias "Koto" in which he remixed science fiction movie themes and other songs, like "Koto Plays Synthesizer World Hits" and "Koto Plays Science-Fiction Movie Themes". Michiel van der Kuy is also a member of the group Laserdance and producer for the likes of Alice DeeJay.
In recent years, Anfrando Maiola won back the rights to the "Koto" name and continues to produce music under this name. His latest tracks were: "Koto Is Still Alive" (2001) and "Blow The Whistle" (2003).
Koto was a one man project driven by Anfrando Maiola. Stefano Cundari was part of the producer team Zanni & Cundari, producing most likely all music for the record label Memory Records. Anfrando wrote the music, Zanni & Cundari produced it......
KOTO - Visitors (best audio)ItaloDiscoKing2008-06-24 | One of my all-time favs!
Koto is an Italian synth pop group that originally consisted of Anfrando Maiola and Stefano Cundari. Their most popular songs were "Visitors", "Dragon's Legend", "Chinese Revenge" and "Jabdah", released in 1983-1988. Koto is often associated with a genre of music called Spacesynth, a music style streamed from Space Disco. Unfortunately, it has been reported that Stefano Cundari died some time between 1991 and 1992 from a brain tumor.
Anfrando Maiola and Stefano Cundari helped to form Memory Records, an Italian record company which specialised in mainly Italo Disco releases. Koto's "Chinese Revenge" was the first record to be released on the Memory label. It sold over 10,000 copies in Italy alone.
Both artists also helped to write, mix, and produce for a range of other artists signed to the Memory Records label, including "Challenger" and "Happy Song" for the band Baby's Gang. Stefano Cundari is also known for his participation in the group "Hipnosis" from 1982-1987. Following their successful debut with "Chinese Revenge" both Maiola and Cundari helped remix the Vangelis track "Pulstar" for Hipnosis. Their remix of Pulstar reportedly sold over 200,000 copies worldwide.
By 1986 the mood of the record buying public was starting to change. House Music was becoming increasingly popular, and the demand for Italo Disco tracks appeared to be in decline. Memory Records, along with other Italo record companies of the time, started to suffer financially. Although attempts were made to respond to the changes by releasing House Music and Eurobeat tracks, the change was not successful and Memory Records went out of business.
In 1989, the German record label ZYX Music bought the rights to the entire Memory Records catalog, including the "Koto" name and recordings. They then brought in Dutch record producer Michiel van der Kuy to re-record and remix some of the old Koto tracks. He then released several other albums under the alias "Koto" in which he remixed science fiction movie themes and other songs, like "Koto Plays Synthesizer World Hits" and "Koto Plays Science-Fiction Movie Themes". Michiel van der Kuy is also a member of the group Laserdance and producer for the likes of Alice DeeJay.
In recent years, Anfrando Maiola won back the rights to the "Koto" name and continues to produce music under this name. His latest tracks were: "Koto Is Still Alive" (2001) and "Blow The Whistle" (2003).
Koto was a one man project driven by Anfrando Maiola. Stefano Cundari was part of the producer team Zanni & Cundari, producing most likely all music for the record label Memory Records. Anfrando wrote the music, Zanni & Cundari produced it......
Nova was a Dutch electronic musicband (with synthesizer), who reached the number 1 position in the Dutch Hitparades in 1982 with a song called Aurora. Nova consisted of Rob Papen, Ruud van Es and Peter Kommers. Later in 1982, the group scored another hit called Sol. The three members of the band also performed under the name Peru. Nova was the "commercial" branch of Peru. After Nova's success, the group went on as Peru. Using this name, the group had another modest hit in the Dutch Hitparades with the song "Africa". Rob Papen and Ruud van Es are still active in producing music, albeit no longer under the names Nova or Peru.STYLOO - Pretty Face (Best Audio)ItaloDiscoKing2010-03-10 | 1982/83 The band was officially formed by: Alberto Signorini (nickname Kid) - lead vocal, keyboards, programming Tullio Colombo (nickname David) - vocals, guitars, keyboards, programming Maurizio Lucci - vocals, drums, programming
1983 Maurizio Lucci left the band and the dj Ryn'o is the new member. The first single PRETTY FACE is released (in September) with the production of Roberto Turatti and Micky Chieregato, same producers as Den Harrow and Tom Hooker
1984 Band worked around an album called RAIDERS OF THE LOST CHARTS! never released. In the meantime MISS YOU is the second single. On the b/side, a live version of Pretty Face, recorded during a Rai Tv show in Potenza. It's the last single together: Ryn'o left the band.
1986 Time Records published the Styloo third single, WHY?. On the b/side, the strange Alberto Signorini-Tullio Colombo's composition THE GHOST IN ME.
1988 Discomagic published the single PRETTY FACE RE-EDIT, a remix version by the Factory team Mauro Farina and Giuliano Crivellente. On the b/side a new composition called RADIOGAME, probably the originally a/side of this record.
1991 Discomagic celebrating the italo-disco era and published this 2 GOLDEN HITS with the original versions of Pretty Face and Miss You.
1992 MY DREAMS is the new single. No original Stylòo member appeared in this record.
1993 PRETTY FACE '93 REMIX is another Pretty Face remix. On the b/side a new composition called NO WORDS.
"Eddy Huntington or (Eddie or Edward, all of which are me) was born on the 29th October 1965 in the North East of England. I was born the son of a coal miner and a housewife. I have three sisters, Anne, Enid and Sheila. I went to local schools in Peterlee and then to the local grammar school.
At 18 I left home to go and live in London. This was the start of a big change in my life. I started working in Pineapple Dance studios and did some work modelling and as a video extra. During this time I made contact with Baby Records in Italy. I listened to a demo of USSR and decided to record it. In Milano I made lots of new friends. Den Harrow, Tom Hooker, Jennifer Munday, Sharon, Baltimora and many others.
The eighties were fantastic, with good music, lots of fun and a little madness. I remember running around the streets of Verona with Den in the early hours of the morning shouting and singing at the top of our voices. I met a lot of big stars and had the priveledge to work with some very professional people.
My favourite Italo songs of that time would have been Spagna, Easy Lady; Tom Hooker, Looking for Love; Swiss Boy; and Sabrina, Boys Boys Boys. I had and still have a very commercial taste, which is probably why my songs all are fun and very commercial.
In the nineties, I was working in America, and Japan with a more distinctive HINRG sound; Meet my Friend and May Day. I also met Paris who I later married and had a baby with.
James Huntington, my son, was the start of a new beginning and the rest of my life. I gave up music and trained to be a teacher in order to have a proper family life. I never regretted that decision, as I have a fantastic son (born 3rd May 1991) and although I am no longer with his mother, she left me with this one fantastic gift.
As a qualified teacher, I now teach young children (currently 8 and 9 year olds) and I love it! The kids are great fun and the staff I work with are very good to me too!
Music is a hobby now and I can combine a little music with my other work. I have to be realistic too. It is not the80's and I am not getting any younger, so I should just take it for what it is and enjoy it like the rest of you!
No personal biography, would be complete with out mentioning Cliff Richard. He has been a major inspiration to me and although our published music is far removed from each others, I still enjoy both and will continue to play Cliff's songs side by side with my favourite dance tunes.
The highlight of my life today however has to be my wife, Lois. We were engaged and married within months during 2001. I am very much in love and continue to have a fantastic life in Thailand with her. I will always sing, even if only to Lois and James (in fact anyone who wants to listen), but whatever I do from now on will have to be for Lois and James as well as for myself."
(Excerpts from http://www.geocities.com/eddyhuntington )GRANT MILLER - Colder Than Ice (best audio)ItaloDiscoKing2009-05-23 | Grant Miller is well know artist from the 80's, who's performed German's Italo music. Grant today lives in Indianapolis, who's 12th largest city in USA in the state of the Indiana. It is near where Grant grew up and where his family resides. He was born in hospital in Marion, Indiana, in the same hospital where James Dean was born. Grant's disco story began in 1984 in Europe, to be exact in Italy. How he came in Italy? „Within two years, my show business journey brought me to Europe with a Broadway tour of the music SHOWBOAT. We traveled all over Europe, appearing in many of the most famous opera houses, and I LOVED it and I knew I was there to stay. I had always heard about Munich being a great place to make dance music and that was my dream...and destination! So, I cashed in my return plane ticket after SHOWBOAT ended. The rest of the cast flew back to New York from Palermo, Sicily. But I took the first train (California train) to Munich! In Munich I turned out right away where the music industry people would go out to (clubs, restaurants, bistros, etc.) and that's where I entered into the beginning of my "Italo Dance Music" career. Grant made huge modelling success and he did, among others, runaway show with model Eva Herzigova in Milan. This was only one among many shows. On the shows he met, of course, many famous people from fashion world, for example Donatella Versace. They became, I could freely say, good friends and he will make some nice favores to her and her family in the coming years. She asked Grant to sing at several of her dinner parties and he once serenaded her children. After years of modelling Grant became in 2001 the face of „Nivea" in 35 countries in Europe.
More info at: http://www.italo-interviews.com/GrantMiller_Story.htmlTHE DROIDS - The Force Part I (vinyl sound)ItaloDiscoKing2009-05-22 | An early piece of french space disco, coming from 1977; lately widely remixed.JACNO - Triangle (best audio)ItaloDiscoKing2009-05-21 | Jacno, born Denis Quilliard in Paris on 3 July 1957 is a French musician.
Best known for his mega-hit "Rectangle"-lately covered by Gigi d'Agostino's "La Passion"), Jacno left us some other remarcable low-fi themes, like these one, "Triangle"; an post-italo theme that reminds of formerly disco low-melody tracks. Quite simple, quite good.SPAGNA - Easy Lady (Best audio)ItaloDiscoKing2008-07-17 | Spagna (born Ivana Spagna, 16 December 1954) is an Italian singer and songwriter.
Spagna was born in Verona, Italy. She started her career singing in English. In the early '80s she provided vocals (with Angela Parisi) and wrote songs for a pop duo project called Fun Fun [1] as well as writing songs for many other disco projects until 1986 when she embarked on a solo career.
Her first dance song "Easy Lady" (1986) was a hit throughout Europe. In 1987 she released her second successful hit, "Call Me" : the song ranked 1st in the European Top Chart, hit Number two in the UK Singles Chart (and it is still the highest position ever achieved by an Italian singer in the UK), and made #13 in the Billboard Dance Chart.
The same year her first album, featuring the two singles, was released. Dedicated To The Moon sold 500,000 copies, and won an international prize for having been the best-selling album on Compact Disc that year.
After a dance-rock album, You Are My Energy (1989), and one more minor hit in the UK chart ("Every Girl and Boy"), by 1990 Spagna, supported by Sony Music, moved to the U.S.. She lived in Santa Monica, working on her new pop album No Way Out. This collection featured a song written by Diane Warren ("There's A Love"), and the two singles which she released in the U.S. - "Love At First Sight" (also released in the UK) and "Only Words".
In 1993 Spagna moved back to Europe again, and recorded Matter Of Time, considered by many her best album in english, featuring new eurodance rhythms and ballads and spawning the two successful singles "Why me" and "I always dream about you".
In 1995, after the release of her last European hit ("Lady Madonna") as a single, she started singing in her native Italian. She took part several times in the Sanremo Festival, the most important Italian song-contest, ranking 3rd in 1995 with the song "Gente Come Noi", which became the biggest hit of the year in Italy.
From that year onwards, Spagna released many successful albums sung in Italian (including hit singles such as "Siamo in due","E io penso a te","Lupi solitari","Indivisibili","Dov'eri","Il bello della vita-World Cup Song","Con il tuo nome") until 2003, when she left Sony Music in order to sing in English again. She joined an independent Swiss record label (B&G), and recorded Woman, a dance-pop album featuring eight new songs in English, a couple in Spanish and one in French, which spawned the three singles "Never say you love me", "Woman" and "Do it with style". In 2004 a new remixed version of "Easy Lady" was released, and played by radio stations throughout Europe.
Spagna's fourteen albums have sold a total of over 10 millions copies worldwide.
In February 2006 she took part in the Sanremo song contest, with the song "Noi Non Possiamo Cambiare", and in May 2006 ranked third in the Italian reality show "Music Farm". She is currently (April 2008) working on her next album which is scheduled for release in late 2008.
(Extracted from the Wikipedia.BRIAN ICE - Talking to the night (best audio)ItaloDiscoKing2008-06-29 | Fabrizio Rizzolo (real name for Brian Ice) explains his own history:
"After writing some 50 songs, Gianni Miroglio, a phisician who loved being a theatrical director as well, asked me to star in his musical, when I was 18. My debut at "Astiteatro" is in Ulixes' shoes in "Back to Itaca?".
But in 1985 "Talking to the night", (by the nickname of Brian Ice), is released by MEMORY RECORDS. Thus huge success in Europe leads me back to the music.
A couple of years and 100 concerts later, I begin writing and producing by myself. "I'm allright" by katherine E. and "Helping hand" by Arthur Miles, Zucchero's vocalist, fly straight to the top of UK charts.
I also write for Tony Esposito and Gloria Gaynor, and then with Roberto Sabatini, Linus Binello e Luca Frassetto I fund the "Farinei dla Brigna" band, with which I participate to San Remo Giovani (RAIUNO), Festival Italiano (CAN 5), and 7 tours.
In 1999 I arrange the Tokyo Disney's Dance Classics, before getting back to musical being Don Silvestro in "Aggiungi un Posto a Tavola" directed by Piero Fassio.
In year 2000 I start together with Gabriele Stillitano, Susi Amerio e Cristina Fassio the "Compagnia delle Coincidenze", with which I write and produce 3 musical comedies working with the great scenographer Eugenio Guglielminetti.
In 2002 I fly to Los Angeles for Dave Rodgers's album, where I work with Steve Lukather (Toto) , Tony Levin (Bowie, Gabriel), Michael Landau, Johnny Five.
In 2003/2004 I compose the soundtrack for "Sketch - the musical", by Angelo D'Alessandro, where I also play the role of Dillo.
In november the biggest musical company in Italy (Compagnia della Rancia) calls me for " The Sound of Music" starring Michelle Hunziker and Luca Ward, and for "Cinderella", directed by Saverio Marconi.
In march, 2005 I am Oliver Warbucks in the musical "Annie".
(For further info, please refer to http://www.fabriziorizzolo.it)MAX COVERI - One More Time (best audio)ItaloDiscoKing2008-06-29 | ...DIGITAL EMOTION - Go Go Yellow Screen (best audio)ItaloDiscoKing2008-06-26 | One of the classics in ever italo-party! Digital Emotion is one of the many productions of Cat Music, a Dutch production team consisting of the members of a former 70s rock band, called Catapult. After prior success with Catapult, the team changed strategy and started producing. Acts are Rubberen Robbie, Tower, The Monotones, Master Genius, X-Ray Connection and... Digital Emotion. All hits of Digital Emotion are written and produced by Adams & Fleisner.
(Excerpts from www.last.fm)DAVID CHRISTIE - Saddle Up (best audio)ItaloDiscoKing2008-06-26 | (LYRICS)
Saddle up and ride your pony
Sit around and you'll be lonley
Saddle up and make the dust fly
Sit around and you will just cry.
The first step is the longest
When the windis blowin' strongest
Check out from heartbreak hotel
Saddle up your horse and ride like hell!
Saddle up and ride your pony
Sit around and you'll be lonley
Saddle up and make the dust fly
Get on your high horse and ride
No use herding blues at rancho, rauncho
Put on your sombrero an your - poncho
Don't stay where trouble will find you
Go... while the getting is good
You'll find the end of a rainbow
Just as soon as you've understood.
Saddle up and ride your pony
Sit around and you'll be lonley
Saddle up and make the dust fly
Sit around and you will just cry.
The first step is the longest
When the windis blowin' strongest
Check out from heartbreak hotel
Saddle up your horse and ride like hell!
Saddle up and ride your pony
Sit around and you'll be lonley
Saddle up and make the dust fly
Get on your high horse and ride
No use imitating the love ranger
You don't have to act just like
A stranger
Hard times can easily drown you
Go... don't let blues surround you
Good times are there for the taking
Hit the trail there's no mistaking
Saddle up your horse and ride like hell!
Saddle up and ride your pony
Sit around and you'll be lonley
Saddle up and make the dust fly
Get on your high horse and ride
Saddle up and ride your pony
Sit around and you'll be lonley
Saddle up and make the dust fly
Sit around and you will just cry.
The first step is the longest
When the windis blowin' strongest
Check out from heartbreak hotel
Saddle up your horse and ride like hell!
Saddle up and ride your pony
Sit around and you'll be lonley
Saddle up and make the dust fly
Get on your high horse and rideALAN ROSS - Valentino Mon Amour (Extended) (best audio)ItaloDiscoKing2008-06-25 | Credits by Gino Caria, Sandro Oliva, Stefano Cundari, Alessandro Zanni.
LYRICS:
Not many reasonsValentino Mon Amour - Alan Ross
to be movin' tonight
Not many chances
to have it together
You never give me
any beautiful night's
And now I'm feeling
we're dancing together
Because the light of your eyes,
looks like a million little stars
when you're talking about
you got to feel you full of
full of emotions,
full of romantic dreams
who leave together
like many of yours,
like many of yours freinds,
who leaves forever...
(Bridge)
Valentino mon amour,
everybody dream somebody,
everybody want to say,
Valentino, Hey - HeyWISH KEY - Last Summer (best audio)ItaloDiscoKing2008-06-25 | Wish Key was the key project of Massimo Berti. Last Summer may be his only-one succeded song.BRAND IMAGE - Love In A Summernight (best audio)ItaloDiscoKing2008-06-25 | Label: Time Records
Catalog#: TRD 1012
Format: Vinyl, 12", 45 RPM
Country: Italy
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic
Style: Italo-Disco
Credits: Co-producer, Arranged By - Brand Image
Executive Producer - Giacomo Maiolini
Mixed By - S. Oliva*
Producer - G. Crivellente* , M. Farina*
Written-By - M. Scarabelli* , S. Brignoli*
Notes: Produced for Time Records
Recorded at Regson Studio (Milano)
Mixed at Factory Sound Studio (Verona).LASERDANCE - Fear (best audio)ItaloDiscoKing2008-06-25 | Laserdance is a dutch studio project of two producers: Michiel van der Kuy and Erik van Vliet. In 1983 Laserdance published their first single, simply called "Lazerdance". It was a very succesful all over Europe. In 1987 Galaxis (a sub-label of ZYX Germany) published the first Laserdance album, entitled "Future Generation". The album was a big success selling approximately 150 000 copies and generated a lot of interest in synthdance music at those times.
Between 1987 and 1995, practically every year, a new CD from Laserdance was being published. Unfortunately, later albums were a little boring, because of repeating the same tunes and melodies again and again. Some of them, however, were very good and Laserdance had many fans up to 1995. In 1995, Erik van Vliet decided to follow the techno trend and included some techno tracks on "Guardian of Forever" album. Although the rest of the CD was filled with synthdance music, the reaction from fans was very cold. This led to stopping the activity of Laserdance for next five years.
With the 80's revival and italo comeback, Erik van Vliet decided to ressurect Laserdance project. While Michiel was busy as a producer of Alice Deejay and his own project Rygar, Erik searched for a new composer.
In 2000, Laserdance returned with new album, called "Strikes Back". It was released by ZYX Music Germany and categorized as "trance". The CD, however, contains only pure synthdance music composed by newcomer, Julius Wijnmaalen. His songs are good, but not up to the level of former Laserdance tracks. He also uses quite different synthesizers, so the album simply sounds different. We have to wait and see if there will be any new Laserdance albums in the future, because since 2000, nothing new hasn't been published under this project name.
(Extracted from www.spacesynth.net)ROSE - Magic Carillon (best audio)ItaloDiscoKing2008-06-24 | Dated 1984, "Magic Carillon" is one of the masterpieces of Rose, often considered the best female voice of the Italo Disco sound.X RAY CONNECTION - Get Ready (best audio)ItaloDiscoKing2008-06-24 | No info available over the net, sorry.Ken Laszlo - Hey Hey Guy (best audio)ItaloDiscoKing2008-06-24 | Ken Laszlo, born as Gianni Coraini, is an Italodisco singer who commenced his music career in the 1980s.
Ken started his musical interests early in the '80s by playing and singing in discos and clubs. He was interested in music at a young age, but had his first big hit in Europe in 1984 with the single Hey Hey Guy.
Other songs he is well known for are Tonight and Don't Cry.
Ken has quite a number of other Eurobeat songs that have been produced under his name and under many pseudonyms by various labels, some being Ric Fellini, K.L. Jones, DJ NRG, Mike Freeman, Gordon Jim, Maltese, Danny Keith, Jean Corraine, J. Corraine, Ken Hunter, Franz Tornado and Alvin.
(Extracted from the Wikipedia).
*Song copyrighted to WMG.MITO - Droid (best audio)ItaloDiscoKing2008-06-24 | Mito: Italo Disco studio group from the heyday of Italo in the early 80's.
Here you have his greatest hit: "Droid". A remixed version was recorded on 1987.Fake - Frogs In Spain (best audio)ItaloDiscoKing2008-06-24 | Fake was born when two Swedish musicians, Erik Strömblad and Stefan Bogstedt, founded their own band, then called Size 46, in 1977. The band grew over the next years, with metal drummer Stefan Sverin and singers Tony Wilhelmsson and Ulrica Örn, and more and more synthesizers were added to their rock music.
The group's second single, "Donna Rouge", was a major hit in Italy and the remix became a disco-classic. The band performed on the Discoring television show in 1984 and Festivalbar in 1985. An album, New Art, was also released that year. Another single, "Brick", released a year later, was also a big success internationally reaching for example no. 1 in Italy and Greenland and no. 6 in France.
After the recording of "Brick" the band split up, but in 2001 plans were made for a reformation.
(Extracted from the Wikipedia)
For further information on the band, please refer to: http://web.comhem.se/~u13403502/Fake%20unofficial%20homepage.htm