Alan Sorrenti’s “Figli Delle Stelle” was one of the most iconic Italian pop songs of the Seventies. Every Italian citizen would recognize its classic electric guitar intro, played by Jay Graydon, and sing along with the song’s catchy refrain. In 2017, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of “Figli Delle Stelle,”

Sorrenti released a special edition of its parent album that included remastered versions of all the songs on the original album plus  new renditions of “Figli Delle Stelle” along with the original instrumental tracks. Graydon and David Foster were key figures on Figli Delle Stelle and their now-classic deluxe L.A. pop sound clearly influenced the album’s recording. Graydon’s inventive arrangements brought life to Sorrenti’s material with the essential support of Foster’s refined keyboard ideas that gave Figli Delle Stelle a timeless atmosphere. This achievement can be appreciated on the instrumental tracks as well. For this week’s review, the instrumental version of a beautiful ballad titled “E Tu Mi Porti Via” was picked.

Originally the b-side of “Figli Delle Stelle,” “E Tu Mi Porti Via” delivered a breezy, nocturne mood that featured Foster’s magnificent acoustic piano playing. The meticulous craft of the track was on the same level that Foster and Graydon did when working with musical giants including the late Al Jarreau (1941-2017), Boz Scaggs or their own seminal Airplay project. The song’s beautiful refrain immediately carries listeners to a beach in Santa Monica or Malibu in the late Seventies.

The a-side single, “Figli Delle Stelle,” became an incredible hit and chart topper. A previous review of this classic ballad can be found in the archives.

Listen

Guitars: Jay Graydon
Piano & Keyboards: David Foster
Drums: Ed Greene & Walter Martino
Bass: David Hungate & Dino Cappa
Percussion: Steve Forman

Arranged by Jay Graydon
Produced by Corrado Bacchelli
Co-Produced by Alan Sorrenti & Rick Heenan

Lyrics

No Lyrics

“Figli Delle Stelle” was released in 1977 and was a phenomenal hit that reached the top on the Italian charts. This record started a string of big hits for Alan Sorrenti, a singer/songwriter from Naples. Sorrenti started out in the early seventies making progressive music and ended up as a trendy pop/dance act by the end of the decade.The title track is an evergreen in Italy and is still played on radio today. It is one of those songs that never grow old. The first 40 seconds are all Foster; his beautiful piano doubled by synthesizers with an instrumental crescendo that leads to Graydon playing one of the most memorable guitar riffs in the history of Italian pop music. Sung by Sorrenti, it showcases his falsetto voice that is clearly influenced by The Bee Gees and the disco sounds of that era.
After “Figli Delle Stelle,” Alan Sorrenti released another couple of very successful albums, always with Graydon’s help but without Foster. The first one, “LA & NY,” was a good example of quality pop with a few songs co-written by the singer and Graydon with Steve Kipner. The last collaboration arrived in 1980 with “Di Notte.” It wasn’t up to the standards of the first two records and was the last breath of Sorrenti’s chart success.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/figli_delle_stelle.mp3|titles=Figli delle stelle|artists=Alan Sorrenti]

Lead Vocal: Alan Sorrenti
All Guitars: Jay Graydon
Acoustic Piano, Fender Rhodes & Synths: David Foster
Drums: Ed Green
Bass: David Hungate
Percussions: Steve Forman
Arranged by Jay Graydon
Produced by Riccardo Bacchelli
Co-Producer Rick Heenan & Alan Sorrenti

Lyrics

Come due stelle noi
soli nella notte noi
ci incontriamo
come due stelle noi
silenziosamente insieme
ci sentiamo

Non c’é tempo di fermare
questa corsa senza fine
che ci sta portando via

E il vento spegnerà
il fuoco che si accende
quando sono in te
quando tu sei in me

Noi siamo
figli delle stelle
figli della notte che
ci gira intorno
noi siamo
figli delle stelle
non ci fermeremo mai
per niente al mondo

Noi siamo
figli delle stelle
senza storia senza età
eroi di un sogno
noi stanotte
figli delle stelle
ci incontriamo
per poi perderci nel tempo

Come due stelle noi
riflessi sulle onde
scivoliamo
come due stelle noi
avvolti dalle ombre
noi ci amiamo
io non cerco di cambiarti
so che non potrò fermarti
tu per la tua strada vai
addio ragazza ciao
io non ti cercherò
dovunque tu sarai
dovunque io sarò

Noi siamo figli delle stelle
figli della notte che
ci gira intorno
noi siamo figli delle stelle
non ci fermeremo mai
per niente al mondo

Noi siamo figli delle stelle
senza storia senza età
eroi di un sogno
noi stanotte figli delle stelle
ci incontriamo
per poi perderci nel tempo