Moroder is the undisputed progenitor of Italo. The uncanny resemblance to SNL's Father Guido Sarducci notwithstanding, Moroder is a synth god. More machine than man, Moroder is to Italy as Kraftwerk is to Germany.

Although Moroder made some Taleggio over the years, From Here to Eternity is an early Italo masterpiece. First published as an LP in 1977 on US-based Casablanca Records, near mint copies of this album are still widely available for about $20. Synthspotters love this video...

SCHEMATIC: Some Moroder TV appearances, a Casablanca Records promo video, more details...

Moroder's discography is longer than the Dead Sea Scrolls. Among other massive hits, Moroder was behind Donna Summer's 1977 smash, I Feel Love.

He also did the theme song for the crazy-ass movie Midnight Express in 1978. Below is a classic German TV show (check out those mics!) introducing Moroder and his oscar-winning track, The Chase, which is 13 minutes of mind-warping synthesizer amazingness. In this all-too-brief clip, Moroder goes from laying it down in German to working a Minimoog in an ultra-rare LIVE performance.

Here is the original 8-minute 45RPM version of the track. I can't seem to find the 12" version, so will upload mine.

Here is the Casablanca Records promo where Moroder demonstrates his vocoder skills.

Moroder produced everyone and everything in the 1980s. Beyond rescoring the 1920s Fritz Lang film Metropolis, he was responsible for Top Gun (along with German protégé Harold Faltermeyer), Blondie's Call Me, Irene Cara's What a Feelin' LP which included Romance '83 (and Flashdance), The Neverending Story and so forth.

This decidedly bizarre pre-Spike Jonze/Michel Gondry video features mutants, naked chicks à la Rio, a vintage Rolls-Royce and a kick-ass rainbow-coloured acrylic drum set. Supernature is a cautionary post-apocalyptic tale of scientific hubris and genetic experimentation gone awry. Although there are numerous tracks from the 70s and 80s that pay homage to space, robots and computers (thank God), few disco/synth tracks really drop earth science. Me like! Me like!

http://youtu.be/QgGK4qBTwpw

SCHEMATIC: High quality extended vinyl rip MP3, lyrics, cover art...

The Cerrone 3 LP is readily available on vinyl for only $10 or so. The LP version of the song is nearly 10 minutes long, but is actually only the first of three movements that comprise a totally epic Side A. Not really sure what happened on Side B, but who cares?!! The tracklisting and run times are:

a1) Supernature (10:20) a2) Sweet Drums (3:30) a3) Into The Smoke (4:40):

[audio:http://www.innernerd.de/audio/Cerrone/Cerrone_Supernature.mp3|titles=Supernature + Sweet Drums + In The Smoke (Side A)|artists=Cerrone]

Once upon a time Science opened up the door We would feed the hungry fields Till they couldn't eat no more

But the potions that we made Touched the creatures down below And they grow up in a way That we'd never seen before

<chorus>Supernature, supernature Supernature, supernature</chorus>

They were angry with the man Cause changed their way of life And they take their sweet revenge As they trample through the night

For hundred miles or more You could hear the people cry But there is nothing you can do Even God is on their side (God is on, God is on, God is on their side)

<chorus>Supernature, supernature Supernature, supernature</chorus>

Cars will break the light Come flowing in the air The creature will decide Who goes where

How can I explain Things are different today Darkness all around No one makes a sound Such a sad affair No one seems to care

<chorus>Supernature, supernature Supernature, supernature</chorus>

Better watch out There's no way to stop it now You can't escape It's too late Look what you've done There's no place that you can run The monsters made We must pray

Maybe nature has a plan To control the ways of man He must start from scratch again Many battles must he win Till he earns his place on earth Like the other creatures do Will there be a happy end Now that all depends on you

<chorus>Supernature, supernature Supernature, supernature</chorus>

Synthpunk Elvis? People just didn't make this kind of music in 1977. Yet here it is. While France and Québéc were making space disco, NY was outputting high concept industrial synthpunk blues. Legends Alan Vega and Martin Rev, tearing it up...

SCHEMATIC: Another live version and a brief documentary excerpt...

Silver droids + wall of speakers + dancing space chick = hot video. Leave it to a Frenchman (Barclay manager Fabrice Cuitad) to put out a super-cool concept 7", 12" and LP based on the iconic film Star Wars. This video covers Part I. Part II has a funkier vibe.

SCHEMATIC: HQ vinyl rips of Part I and Part II, sources, cover art...

This is a very affordable, and relatively available record as a 7". I totally recommend picking it up from discogs or ebay.

(Do You Feel) The Force Part I

[audio:http://www.innernerd.de/audio/The Droids/The Droids_(Do You Have) The Force Part I.mp3|titles=(Do You Feel) The Force Part I|artists=The Droids]

(Do You Feel) The Force Part II

[audio:http://www.innernerd.de/audio/The Droids/The Droids_(Do You Have) The Force Part II.mp3|titles=(Do You Feel) The Force Part II|artists=The Droids]

Renditions of this killer track keep popping up. What is really strange, however, is that multiple bands released the same track in the same year. Kébekélektrik (aka Gino Soccio) released Journey Into Love in 1977 on Les Disques Direction Records from Montreal. The track, re-released as Magic Fly later that year, is nearly identical to Space's Magic Fly, but with a slightly different production feel. 

SCHEMATIC: Record scans, photos and YET ANOTHER VERSION...

Pink Project is like Pandora's Box, so I'll open that up on another post. In the meantime, you will hear Magic Fly at around 1:00 and again throughout this Italo track from 1982 that sounds like something from The Neverending Story. Thanks for posting this video Ignacio!