Love, Italian Style Explained

Love, Italian Style
Type:Studio
Artist:Connie Francis
Cover:Love, Italian Style.jpeg
Released:January 1967
Recorded:October 12–14, 1966
Studio:Milan Ricordi Studios, Rome
Genre:Pop
Label:MGM
E-4448 (mono)/SE-4448 (stereo)
Producer:Pete Spargo
Prev Title:Connie Francis and The Kids Next Door
Prev Year:1966
Next Title:Happiness - Connie Francis On Broadway Today
Next Year:1967

Love, Italian Style is a studio album recorded by American pop singer Connie Francis.

Background

During October 1966, Francis recorded several Italian language tracks at Milan Ricordi Studios in Rome, Italy. Some tracks were Italian language cover versions of her current US hits, such as "Spanish Nights and You", while others were of Italian origin, such as "Regent's Park" (the theme song for an Italian television miniseries Melissa) and "Canta ragazzina," her entry for the 1967 edition of the Sanremo Festival.

The album was produced by Pete Spargo and engineered by Val Valentin; the orchestra was conducted by Iller Pattacini. The album consists of traditional Italian songs brought up to date with combined arrangements of traditional Italian instruments (e.g. mandolins) and modern instruments (e.g. electric guitars).

Francis sings all songs either entirely in Neapolitan, or bilingually in Neapolitan and English.

Track listing

Side A

TitleSongwriterLength
1. "Souvenir d'Italie" ("Souvenir of Italy") 2.38
2. "Chella llá" S. Taccani, U. Bertini, A. Hoffman, D. Manning 1.45
3. "I' te vurria vasà" V. Russo, E. Di Capua 3.31
4. "La Violetera" Traditional 1.37
5. "Passione" Traditional 2.42
6. "Tango delle Rosa" Albert Gamse, Schreier-Bottero 2.00

Side B

TitleSongwriterLength
1. "Statte vicino a 'mme" E. Barrata, A. Ciervo, A. Delle Grotte 2.57
2. "Piscatore 'e Pusilleco" ("The Fisher of Pusilleco") E. Marolo, E. Tagliaferri, O. Paul 2.20
3. "Tarantella" ("Lucky, Lucky, Lucky Me") M. Berle, B. Arnold 1.45
4. "'Na voce, 'na chitarra e' 'o poco 'e luna" C. A. Rossi, U. Calise, A. Stillmann 2.05
5. "Scalinatella" ("Stairway to the Sea") G. Cioffi, S. Bonagura, A. A. Beach 2.39
6. "Terra straniera" Traditional 3.08