I was not aware of Baby Records since in Spain they had different distributors depending on the artist (maybe - just out of my head - CBS or Ariola for the bigger ones and the others for smaller ones -.
A few questions
A) Woulld you consider Naggiar the equivalent of Frank Farian (was he also involved on the creative side)?
B) Why did Gazebo give away “La Dolce Vita”? He had already a big hit and this was a perfect follow-up (when you listen it’s start after listening to Gazebo, you think it is him)?
C) Why did Naggiar sell his catalog? I understand he did not want the label, he was tired perhaps?
D) Any special reason why some of these Italian artists chose English sounding names (Gazebo, Ryan Paris, Gary Low…)?
E) Any special bio or character details on Naggiar? A true and honest man who started from scratch working hard and reached the top? Or a crafty businessman who found music as a means to get rich but could not care less about th music (as an opposite to Farian, Moroder and the SAW team, for example)?
We're actively trying to learn more about Naggiar. Consider that if you google his name, the majority of the results are wikipedia, discogs, and a few of our posts.
On Italy's role on being the hotbed of European disco, this is made clear in a French monthly magazine ("Schnock"), where there is a good interview with Patrick Hernandez.
Aside from explainign his early career, his previous band Paris Palace Hotel, the origin, genesis and the creation of "Born to Be Alive" (the vision of Belgian producer Jean Van Loo was fundamental, telling Patrick that his rock song should be turned into a Disco hit), Patrick tells that, at first, no French label wanted to publish and distribute "Born to Be Alive" with a series of excuses one more stupid than the other:
- Bad title
- No glamour artist name
- Reminiscent of low class immigrant music
- Too "couscous"
- Too fast
Van Loo believes in the song. An Italian friend directs him to a milanese distributor called CGD (Compagnia Generale del Disco). The distributor publishes it immediately and it is a hit in a few fays. The song is played in all Italian discos and bootleg copies are sold in the streets. From Italy it goes to Spain, from Belgium it goes to Yhe Netherlands, then finally France and Germany and the resto of the world.
Love those Bimbo Mix covers!
We invented Kids Bop
Excellent article!
I was not aware of Baby Records since in Spain they had different distributors depending on the artist (maybe - just out of my head - CBS or Ariola for the bigger ones and the others for smaller ones -.
A few questions
A) Woulld you consider Naggiar the equivalent of Frank Farian (was he also involved on the creative side)?
B) Why did Gazebo give away “La Dolce Vita”? He had already a big hit and this was a perfect follow-up (when you listen it’s start after listening to Gazebo, you think it is him)?
C) Why did Naggiar sell his catalog? I understand he did not want the label, he was tired perhaps?
D) Any special reason why some of these Italian artists chose English sounding names (Gazebo, Ryan Paris, Gary Low…)?
E) Any special bio or character details on Naggiar? A true and honest man who started from scratch working hard and reached the top? Or a crafty businessman who found music as a means to get rich but could not care less about th music (as an opposite to Farian, Moroder and the SAW team, for example)?
Keep on keepin on!
Naggiar
We're actively trying to learn more about Naggiar. Consider that if you google his name, the majority of the results are wikipedia, discogs, and a few of our posts.
Thank you!It is not often that an Italian record industry person appears when reading about music.
Excellent & informative article !
Thank you for reading it!
On Italy's role on being the hotbed of European disco, this is made clear in a French monthly magazine ("Schnock"), where there is a good interview with Patrick Hernandez.
Aside from explainign his early career, his previous band Paris Palace Hotel, the origin, genesis and the creation of "Born to Be Alive" (the vision of Belgian producer Jean Van Loo was fundamental, telling Patrick that his rock song should be turned into a Disco hit), Patrick tells that, at first, no French label wanted to publish and distribute "Born to Be Alive" with a series of excuses one more stupid than the other:
- Bad title
- No glamour artist name
- Reminiscent of low class immigrant music
- Too "couscous"
- Too fast
Van Loo believes in the song. An Italian friend directs him to a milanese distributor called CGD (Compagnia Generale del Disco). The distributor publishes it immediately and it is a hit in a few fays. The song is played in all Italian discos and bootleg copies are sold in the streets. From Italy it goes to Spain, from Belgium it goes to Yhe Netherlands, then finally France and Germany and the resto of the world.
Any insight from you regarding CGD?
Grazie mille!