Alberto Radius

This summer, dive with us into the often-overlooked sea of late ‘70s/early ’80s Italian Soul, AOR and Disco. Compiled by journalist, producer and digger extraordinaire David Nerattini (with a little help from our own Pierpaolo De Sanctis), PAISA’ GOT SOUL is the smooth and near-danceable soundtrack to a decade that is somehow still with us. A time of gentle grooves, summer loves and sweet escapism – one beautifully captured by Claude Nori in his photographs of Italian beaches and summer holidays. Welcome to the mood of an era.

Third album by this Italian prog band that circled around Alberto Radius, Gabriele Lorenzi, and drummer Toni Cicco. Radius and Lorenzi were later members of IL VOLO. "Sognando e Risognando" is said to be their most progressive and best album…

Formula 3 were one of first and most popular Italian rock bands of the late 60's/early 70's era and their debut LP (released in February 1970 by Numero Uno label) without a doubt is the best psychedelic album ever recorded in Italy! Musically this trio was similar to early Deep Purple, Procol Harum and Vanilla Fudge - with heavy emphasis on Hendrix-like guitar (by Alberto Radius - one of the best Italian guitarists ever), tasteful Hammond organ passages and really fine vocals. The 7-minutes long title track is an amazing piece of dark, intensive and heavy psychedelic rock and must be heard to be believed! Other songs were divided for ambitious pop-psychedelia and heavy, intense pieces including fine rendition of classic Walk Away Renee. It's an album which can‘t be missed!

Usually described as a "supergroup", Il Volo was a studio band formed by very popular musicians all coming from famous bands: Alberto Radius and Gabriele Lorenzi from Formula Tre, Mario Lavezzi from Flora Fauna Cemento and Camaleonti, Bob Callero from Osage Tribe and Duello Madre, Gianni Dall'Aglio from RIBELLI, along with composer Vince Tempera who also had his own band Pleasure Machine. With such a pedigree it's obvious that both albums are very well played, and enjoyable but not memorable, lacking originality. An obvious similarity with Formula Tre is evident, along with a certain jazz-rock feel present throughout both albums, whose only distinctive element is the voice, missing on "Essere O Non Essere?" The group disbanded soon after the second release.

Formula 3 (also spelled as Formula Tre) is an Italian prog-rock band, mainly successful in the early seventies. The group formed in 1969; produced by Lucio Battisti, they were the group that accompanied Battisti in his rare live concerts, and was originally made ​​up of Alberto Radius (guitars and vocals), Tony Cicco (drums and vocals) and Gabriele Lorenzi (keyboards). Their first hit was the song "Questo folle sentimento", which ranked fifth at the Italian hit parade in 1970, and which was followed by a series of top 20 hits, notably "Io ritorno solo" (third at the Italian hit parade) and "Eppur mi son scordato di te" (second at the Italian hit parade), all composed by the same Battisti.

Formula 3 (also spelled as Formula Tre) is an Italian prog-rock band, mainly successful in the early seventies. The group formed in 1969; produced by Lucio Battisti, they were the group that accompanied Battisti in his rare live concerts, and was originally made ​​up of Alberto Radius (guitars and vocals), Tony Cicco (drums and vocals) and Gabriele Lorenzi (keyboards). Their first hit was the song "Questo folle sentimento", which ranked fifth at the Italian hit parade in 1970, and which was followed by a series of top 20 hits, notably "Io ritorno solo" (third at the Italian hit parade) and "Eppur mi son scordato di te" (second at the Italian hit parade), all composed by the same Battisti.