Enunzio Dispiunti is an Italian. On both sides of the family. He lives near Naples in the small town of Feruggia. Which makes him a Neapolitan.
We had heard about Enunzio through friends travelling in Italy. They raved about his singing, although they couldn´t understand a word he sang. The fact is, as we later learned, no one understands Enunzio except his own family who have to interpret what he´s saying. He speaks a dialect that can be traced back to the 15th century when Chinese war lords conquered Italy. You can detect traces of egg roll in his speech, even today.
We asked Enunzio to come to America and record his native songs. He told us he would rather record in Italy since it was grape trampling time (see cover) and he didn´t want to leave his family of sixteen to do the work without him.
To familiarize Enunzio with American song styles, we had sent over eome recordings which he played on his ancient Victrola with a cactus needle. He told us he pushed the record around with his fingers because his machine didn´t have 45 RPM on it. In this manner, Enunzio became acquainted with our songs. He never became acquainted with our language.
When we contacted Enunzio in Feruggia last year, he was reluctant to go to Rome and record. We told him about the people from Italy who had made fortunes in America by singing. We begged him. He shrugged.
"Buon vino fa biusoldi," he said. Which, roughly translated, means, "the grapes come first. Who needs it."
Finally, Enunzio´s family persuaded him to go and we journeyed to Rome by donkey caravan. Enunzio is terrified of modern transportation. All he songs on this album were composed by Enunzio. He also accompanies himself on guitar and mandolin.
He wanted to sing some old songs like "Kitten On The Keys" which he remembers being sung by the fishermen mending their nets when he was a small boy.
But his original songs were so charming and melodic, we decided to do them exactly as he had written them down with a piece of chalk on the wallg of his home.
These are songs of love and work and play. In some of the songs, particularly "Desperarione," Enunzio captures the hysteria and atmosphere of a large Italian family: The wet wash in the room. The screaming wife in a torn, Pucci negligee. The husband, wine bottle in hand, flapping a chicken off the dining table.
In all of these songs you will hear Enunzio´s strange dialect. In all of them, you will feel the warmth, the pianissimo and the fortissimo. A vibrant voice that truly speaks of spaghetti. And romance.
Unlike most Italians, Enunzio was shy about having his picture taken. He didn´t mind big feet. "Feel," he said proudly, "represent man´s conquest over soil erosion." (Something may have been lost in the translation.) Perhaps he meant, grape juice is good for tired feet.
We believe Enunzio has an enormous talent. A great future with American record fans. We hope you enjoy his first album. Ciao!

AUDIO ENGINEER: GIOVANNI ORRINI, SON STUDIOS, ROMA
COVER DESIGN: DA VRIESIATTI, S.A.