I Nuovi Angeli ("The New Angels") were an Italian pop band formed in 1966 in Milan. The name refers to the eponymous drama film directed by Ugo Gregoretti in 1962.
Biography I Nuovi Angeli formed in 1966 from the merging of two bands – Paki & Paki (a pop duo formed in Milan by Pasquale Canzi and Pasquale Andriola) and an instrumental trio from Alessandria consisting of Alberto Pasetti (bass), Renato Sabbioni (guitar) and Franco Verde (drums). The band, initially called Paki & Paki and I Nuovi Angeli, achieved some success when their first single, L'ora più lunga (1966), which was adopted as the opening theme for the RAI TV show "La fiera dei sogni" hosted by Mike Bongiorno.
In 1967 Andriola and Verde left the project due to creative differences, and the band was simply renamed I Nuovi Angeli. Augmented by The New Dada former drummer Riki Rebaioli and lead singer Alfredo Gatti, I Nuovi Angeli recorded two more singles characterized by a beat production. In the late 1960s, following the departure of Gatti, the group replaced Rebaioli with Mauro Paoluzzi and left Durium Records to sign with Polygram. The move coincided with a change of musical direction, with the band turning towards the bubblegum genre.
The classic line-up of I Nuovi Angeli peaked in the early 1970s, thanks to a string of top-ten hits written by Renato Pareti and Roberto Vecchioni, including Donna Felicità (1971), Uakadi Uakadù (1971), Singapore (1972) and Anna da dimenticare (1973). In 1971 I Nuovi Angeli embarked on an Australian tour organised by the impresario Duane Zigliotto and a North-American tour and made their first TV appearance in America on the Ed Sullivan Show. In 1974 I Nuovi Angeli recorded Stasera Clown, a concept album in collaboration with the La Scala Orchestra revolving around the life of a group of circus artists.
With the advent of disco and punk music, I Nuovi Angeli experienced a decline in popularity. In 1978 Paoluzzi left the band to pursue a successful career as producer, songwriter session musician, collaborating with artists like Gianna Nannini and Patty Pravo. Sabbioni and Pasetti left the band a few months later and retired from the music industry. Canzi decided to continue with new musicians.
In 2005 the original members of I Nuovi Angeli met to discuss the possibility of a reunion. The band played a few warm-up gigs and recorded a double live album, "Il nostro concerto" but tragedy struck when Alberto Pasetti suddenly died at the age of 54. Following a legal battle between Sabbioni and Canzi over the property of the name I Nuovi Angeli, Canzi temporarily left the group. Despite numerous lineup changes, the band continued to perform until Canzi passed away in 2026.https://en.ilsole24ore.com/art/paki-canzi-frontman-new-angels-dead-AIf2jAzB
Personnel Classic Line-Up Paki Canzi - vocals, piano Alberto Pasetti - guitar Renato Sabbioni - bass Mauro Paoluzzi - drums
Discography Studio albums 1969 – I Nuovi Angeli 1969 – Un quarto di vita (The album was republished in 1971 with the title Sole buonanotte!). 1972 – Uakadi Uakadu 1973 – Troppo bella per restare sola 1973 – Anna da dimenticare 1974 – Stasera Clown 1976 – I Nuovi Angeli
Live albums 1999 - Live 2008 - Il nostro concerto (2 CD) 2011 - DVD Live Show (also DVD)
Greatest Hits albums 1990 – Voliamo ancora 1995 – Una storia che continua 2000 – Canta Italia 2012 – C'è ancora posto in paradiso 2016 – Tete à tete con i Nuovi Angeli
Selected singles 1966 – L'ora più lunga 1967 – Per vivere insieme 1968 – Questo è un addio 1969 – Ragazzina ragazzina 1970 – Color cioccolata 1971 – Donna Felicità 1971 – Sole, buonanotte 1971 – Uakadi Uakadù 1972 – Un viaggio in Inghilterra 1972 – Singapore 1973 – La povera gente 1973 – Anna da dimenticare 1974 – Carovana 1975 – Stanza dei miracoli 1976 – Mamma luna 1977 – Piccoli amanti 1979 – Now 1980 – Angelo Balù 1984 – Io sto bene con te 1987 – Voi del '96 1988 – Soli soli 1989 – Bella questa storia
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