PAISA' GOT SOUL - Soul, AOR & Disco in Italy (1977-1986)

PAISÀ GOT SOUL – A Sophisticated Slice of Italian Yacht Pop (1977–1986)

Released June 10, 2022

Double Vinyl LP | Rare & Remastered Tracks

Between the late 70s and early 80s, pop music stood at a stylistic crossroads. Rock was evolving into new wave, discowas on the wane, and the electronic revolution was well underway, pushing the music world from analog warmth to digital precision. Amid this transition, a hybrid genre briefly bloomed: an elegant, emotive style fusing soul, folk-pop songwriting, and jazz sophistication.

Often referred to today as “yacht rock”, this smooth yet musically rich sound was pioneered by artists like Christopher Cross, Michael McDonald, Gino Vannelli, and Kenny Loggins. While rooted in North America, the movement's waves reached across the Atlantic – including Italy, where it was reinterpreted through the lens of local cultural sensibilities, melodic traditions, and the country’s deep affinity for soulful expression.

Italian pop artists didn’t merely replicate these international influences – they reimagined them. The result was a unique Mediterranean-flavored take on West Coast sophistication, full of laid-back grooves, introspective lyrics, and high-end arrangements.

"Paisà Got Soul" is a lovingly curated compilation that sheds light on this underappreciated moment in Italian music history. It features both pop veterans like Peppino Di Capri, Mario Lavezzi, and Alberto Radius, and lesser-known but equally remarkable talents such as Enzo Carella, Franco Camassa, Enzo Cervo, and Massimo Stella. From Italo-disco crossovers to Brazilian-inflected boogie, each track reveals a deep engagement with the soul-pop aesthetic.

Several of the artists included went on to international careers, like Beppe Cantarelli, who wrote for Aretha Franklinand Mariah Carey. Others remain hidden gems, their songs long out of print or only available in rare original vinylform.

This collection aims to give these artists and tracks a well-deserved second life — whether you're a crate-digging DJ, a fan of Italian pop, or a yacht rock devotee seeking new horizons.

Side A

Side B

Side C

Side D