Pino D'Angiò - ...Balla!

2018 Limited Edition, Red vinyl

Year Released: 1981

Genre: Italo Disco, Funk, Disco

Description:

...Balla! is the debut studio album by Italian singer-songwriter Pino D'Angiò, released in 1981. The album is a foundational piece of the Italo Disco genre, a form of European electronic dance music that was gaining popularity in the early 1980s. While Italo Disco is often associated with purely synthesized sounds, D'Angiò's music on this album is a unique fusion of disco and funk with a distinct, humorous, and theatrical Italian flair.

The album is best known for its lead single, "Ma quale idea," a song that became an international smash hit. The track's iconic bassline was famously sampled from the instrumental break of "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" by McFadden & Whitehead. "Ma quale idea" is a perfect example of D'Angiò's style: it combines a funky, danceable groove with his unique, spoken-word vocal delivery, which is more like a sarcastic and playful monologue than a traditional sung performance.

The album's title, which translates to "...Dance!", is a direct invitation to the listener to get on the dance floor. The rest of the album continues this playful, tongue-in-cheek style, with tracks like "Signorina" and "Okay Okay" showcasing his distinctive vocal style and witty lyrics. D'Angiò, who was an advertising executive before becoming a musician, brought a sharp, observational eye to his songwriting, often critiquing social stereotypes and the absurdities of daily life. The album's success cemented D'Angiò's place as a key figure in the Italo Disco scene and made "Ma quale idea" one of the most recognizable and enduring songs of the era