Gianna Nannini "Malafemmina" (1988)

Malafemmina
release date: 1988
format: vinyl (837 097-1)
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,18]
producer: Alan Moulder & Gianna Nannini
label: Polydor Records - nationality: Italy

8th studio album by Gianna Nannini.

Gianna Nannini "Maschi e altri" (1987)

Maschi e altri (compilation)
release date: 1987
format: vinyl (TGN 9) / digital
[album rate: 4 / 5]
producer: various
label: Fonit Cetra - nationality: Italy

Compilation album by Gianna Nannini containing most of her biggest international hits.

Gianna Nannini "Profumo" (1986)

Profumo
release date: 1986
format: vinyl (SMRL 6359)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,66]
producer: Conny Plank & Gianna Nannini
label: Dischi Ricordi - nationality: Italy

7th studio album by Italian artist Gianna Nannini.

Gianna Nannini "Puzzle" (1984)

Puzzle

release date: 1984

format: cd (1995? reissue)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,64]

producer: Conny Plank & Gianna Nannini

label: Metronome - nationality: Italy

Track highlights: 1. "Kolossal" - 2. "Fotoromanza" (4 / 5) (TV appearance - Live 2002) - 4. "Siamo ricchi" - 6. "Fiesta" - 7. "Ballami" - 8. "Se vai via"

6th studio album by Gianna Nannini follows two years after the fine Latin Lover and is like that produced by German sound engineer Conny Plank together with Nannini. It was originally released on Dischi Ricordi for the domestic market and also in Germany - for other international issues the album was issued by Polydor (the Metronome reissue is likely from the mid-90s).

Without making use of a vast group of starring artists as had been the case on the '82 album, the album was recorded with guitarist Rudy Spinello, bassist Hans Baar and drummer Rüdiger Braune as the only recurring instrumentalists apart from Plank's synth constributions. Nannini has written the songs here in collaboration with Italian singer Raffaella Riva (from the vocal group Gruppo Italiano) and Nannini is sole composer on three and has co-composed two tracks with Plank (tracks #2 & #5), three together with Mauro Paoluzzi (#4, #5 & #8), and track #3 with drummer Rüdiger Braune.

Musically, it doesn't fall far from her two most recent albums. There's a stronger presence of electronics (keyboards, synths, emulator, harmonizer, vocodor and drum programming) compared to her more rock-based predecessor, and Puzzle also show Nannini as a bolder "pop" artist.

The album is Nannini's first major hit album peaking at number #2 on the national charts and the first single "Fotoromanza" topped the charts, whereas the second single "Bla bla" (also written together with Riva and without featuring on the album) / "Fiesta" failed to chart. Later on "Bla bla" would become a staple when performing live as well on later "best of" releases. With its broader appeal Puzzle is most likely perceived as her national break-through, but in her extensive discography I do find it a bit of a small step back and basically don't find it quite as appealing as the '82-album, and nor as strong as some of her later studio releases. Having said that, Puzzle is still a fine album with at least one great and two to three fine compositions, and it's truly a fine studio release that points to her future style incorporating her rock-foundation with that of a more mainstream pop / rock outing with traces of italo-pop.

Recommended.

Gianna Nannini "Latin Lover" (1982)

Latin Lover

release date: 1982

format: vinyl / digital (1983 reissue)

[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,78]

producer: Conny Plank, Gianna Nannini

label: Ricordi - nationality: Italy

Track highlights: 1. "Primadonna" (video) - 2. "Wagon-Lits" - 3. "Ragazzo dell' Europa" (5 / 5) (live) - 4. "Latin Lover" (video) - 6. "Carillon" - 7. "Amore amore"

5th studio album by Gianna Nannini following one year after the album G.N., which was an Italian affair made with just a handful of musicians, and as contrary to that Latin Lover is produced by Nannini and famous German ("kraut rock") producer Conny Plank, aka. Konrad Plank, who worked as sound engineer and producer on numerous iconic albums for artists like Kraftwerk, Neu!, Brian Eno, Can, DAF, Devo, Ultravox, Eurythmics, Ideal, and Killing Joke - just to mention a few. The album counts eight songs with a total running time at just below 33 minutes. Here, Plank is credited as co-producer, for synths on one track (#2) and sampling (track #8), and he is credited as arranger on four ( tracks #1, #5, #6 & #8). Apart from Plank, the album feature several international artists, which include Annette Humpe from German band Ideal on three tracks, Hans Bäär (aka Hans Maahn from German folk rock band Hoelderlin), Anni Lennox (from Eurythmics) on keyboards on four tracks, Mauro Pagani (from Italian progressive rock band PFM), and Jacki Liebezeit from Can featuring as drummer on seven tracks (all but #1). All songs are credited Nannini, and three tracks (#1, #2 & #4) are co-written with Italian composer Mauro Paoluzzi.

The album continues the same energetic pop / rock style she demonstrated with the predecessor, and the album is Nannini's second consecutive album to peak as number #24 on the national album charts. The album didn't spawn any noteworthy hits, but it's undoubtedly the album that secured her noteworthy airplay as an international European artist via songs like "Ragazzo dell'Europa" and the title track. The successive album Puzzle (1983) peaked as high as number #2 in Italy, but without Latin Lover that success may seem questionable.

Gianna Nannini may be overshadowed by the success of compatriot Zucchero Fornaciari as Italy's best known rock artist - and yes, he has made ten successive number #1 studio albums in Italy (1987 - 2016) and he is recognised as an international star, and despite my admiration for his life work, imho, Nannini is Italy's absolute best rock-artist. Although this is from her early period and went on and made other fine albums with much better charting performances, Latin Lover remains one of her best ever.

Highly recommended.