PandaFrontIntroduction

“Panda” (sometimes also referred to as “I Panda”) is an Italian pop group founded in 1974 by main member and singer Osvaldo Pizzoli. Initially the group consisted of 5 members, but over time the band has known many different line-ups.

In 1974 the band released their first 7” single with the song ‘Addormentata’, which they performed at Festivalbar at the Arena di Verona. The song also appeared on their first album ‘Amanti Mai’ that same year. Success came in 1977 when the band moved from RCA to Polydor, and started recording with Niko Papathanassiou, Vangelis’ brother. Their first release, ‘Voglia Di Morire’ soon became one of their biggest hits in Italy. At the end of the year the group traveled to London, at that time consisting of Osvaldo Pizzoli (vocals), Mario Dalla Stella (guitar), Franco Serafini (keyboards), Alfredo de Gennaro (bass) and Gianni Durini (drums). 

During a period of some two weeks the band recorded two songs in Vangelis’ Nemo Studios, with the help of Niko and Vangelis. The first is ‘Notturno’, a song based on the melody of the ‘Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy’ from "The Nutcracker" ballet by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The second is ‘Dimenticare’, a slow ballad composed by Vangelis for Panda, with lyrics by Carla Vistarini. The songs were released on a 7” single in Italy in December 1977, and the song ‘Notturno’ reached the first position in the Italian charts. Despite its success, the sales of the record did not match those of ‘Voglia Di Morire’, and the single marked the end of the collaboration between Panda and Niko Papathanassiou.

Most notably is the use of the Yamaha CS-80 synthesizer on both songs, which may wel be the first time Vangelis used this signature instrument as in this interview, singer Osvaldo Pizzoli remembered: “Vangelis' favorite keyboard, the CS80, entered the studio for the first time right when we were there making our recordings. I have to say I remember this detail very well, because I nearly broke my back helping to carry it into the studio, climbing on the narrow and steep staircase which led to the upper floor.” When returning home it turned out that the tapes of the recordings had been demagnitised during the airport checks, and to resolve this problem the songs had to be newly mastered and mixed.

PandaBackIn 1979 Panda released their second album “Teneramente, Cuore Di Panda”, but the record did not do well at the time and the band decided to split up. In the 1990s Osvaldo Pizzoli revived the band in a new line-up, doing concerts and performances in Italy. Their last release is the single ‘Dimmi Chi Sei’ in 2015.

Both ‘Notturno’ and ‘Dimenticare’ have been included on CD as part of the “I Cantautori Italiani + Band - Gli Anni '70 Vol. 5” boxset. Note that this release is reccommended as the versions included on this CD are the original recordings in Vangelis’ arrangement (unlike other CD’s of Panda that include a re-recording of the ‘Notturno’-song).

 

Tracklist and credits

  • 'Notturno' (3:43)
     Composed by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
     Lyrics by Carla Vistarini.
     
  • 'Dimenticare' (2:24)
     Composed by Vangelis Papathanassiou.
     Lyrics by Carla Vistarini. 

 

Arranged by Vangelis Papathanassiou.
Produced by Niko Papathanassiou.
Sound engineer: Keith Spencer-Allen. 


PandaDimenticareLabelPandaNotturnoLabelDiscography

7” single

LP

  • 1978 Various Artists "Sotto Il Segno Del Sole" (Polydor 2448 073) Italy (includes ‘Notturno’)

CD

 

Recording studio

The songs Notturno and Dimenticare were recorded in Nemo Studios in London, probably in the fall of 1977. The band’s visit to the studio is visible on the record sleeve, showing all five members standing in front of the outside wall of the studio.

 

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