Hunka Munka -

Hunka Munka was the performance moniker of Italian keyboardist/vocalist Roberto Carlotto, who released three singles in 1971 and 1972, culminating with the Ricordi longplayer Dedicato a Giovanna G. He later reverted to his own name for sporadic releases and live activity.

Background

Keyboardist–vocalist Roberto Carlotto was born in Varese, Lombardia, and performed under the stage name Hunka Munka. Before his solo work, he played in Big 66, I Cuccioli, and later joined Ivan Graziani in Anonima Sound in 1970. His early professional activity included engagements in England, Germany, and Switzerland, where he supported artists such as Rod Stewart and Colosseum. Despite injuries from an earlier aircraft accident, Carlotto established a reputation for technical facility and an advanced keyboard setup that incorporated multiple instruments and early tape-driven rhythm devices.

Hunka Munka began his solo career on Ricordi with the 1971 single “Fino a non poterne più” / “È pura fantasia.” Ricordi also issued a promotional 7″ coupling “La Filanda” / “Fino a non poterne più,” followed in 1972 by the second single “Io canterò per te” / “Cattedrali di bambù.”

A. “Fino a non poterne più” [Until I Can’t Take It Anymore]
B. “È pura fantasia” [It’s Pure Fantasy]

A. “La Filanda” [The Spinning Mill]

A. “Io canterò per te” [I’ll Sing for You]
B. “Cattedrali di bambù” [Bamboo Cathedrals]

Dedicato a Giovanna G

As Hunka Munka, Roberto Carlotto released the 1972 Ricordi album Dedicato a Giovanna G.

The album consists of eleven compact tracks centered on Carlotto’s organ-led arrangements, ranging from orchestrated pop and piano ballads to brief interludes and rock passages. Select tracks veer into heavier territory with sudden dynamic surges, contrasting the prevelant sentimental, lyrical tone. Though presented as a solo work, the album features multiple contributors in supporting roles.

Carlotto handles organ, vocals, and electronic effects, and arrangements. He co-wrote the material with lyricists Annalena Limentani and Herbert Pagani. Dedicato also features guitarist Ivan Graziani and drummer Cuccioletto (Nunzio Favia). Gianfranco Lombardi directed orchestration on “Anniversario.”

“Ruote e sogni” builds from pipe organ motifs and layered fills into an uptempo segment with distorted guitar and heightened drum activity. “Anniversario” opens with sustained organ and a slow bass pulse, eventually breaking into a brief instrumental swell. “Cattedrali di bambù” blends acoustic guitar and vocal harmonies with orchestral flourishes. “Giovanna G.” contrasts the ballads with an upbeat, acoustic folk rhythm and clipped phrasing.

A1. “Nasce un giorno” [A Day Is Born] (1:30)
A2. “Ruote e sogni” [Wheels and Dreams] (5:50) — opens with pipe organ and cymbal splashes; shifts to a forceful back half with distorted guitar over organ and layered drumming
A3. “L’aeroplano d’argento” [The Silver Airplane] (4:10) — piano-led song with midtempo motion and balladic vocals
A4. “Cattedrali di bambù” [Bamboo Cathedrals] (4:20) — acoustic guitars under orchestral swells and multitracked vocals
A5. “Anniversario” [Anniversary] (5:00) — organ pulse and tom-toms set a slow pace; chorus echo and reverbed guitar close the second half

B1. “Io canterò per te” [I Will Sing for You] (4:40) — strings and piano set up a vocal ballad that drops into minimal tempo and soft phrasing
B2. “Intermezzo n.1” (0:53) — piano and voice vignette
B3. “Giovanna G.” (2:05) — brisk acoustic strum with rhythmic staccato vocals; folk-leaning bounce
B4. “Intermezzo n.2” (1:15) — organ-backed chant over fading cadence
B5. “Il canto dell’amore” [The Song of Love] (3:08) — orchestrated love ballad with sentimental vocal and flowing strings
B6. “Muore il giorno muore” [The Day Dies, It Dies] (1:15) — playful finale with a music hall-like coda

Sessions occurred in early 1972 at Ricordi Studios in Milan with producer–engineer Guido Lombardi. Ivan Graziani and Hunka Munka co-mixed the album.

Dedicato a Giovanna G. features a die-cut cover design that folds open like a toilet seat lid, revealing a candid photo of the musicians inside. The art style and physical concept mirror novelty sleeve trends of the early 1970s Italian LP market.

Ricordi lifted two tracks for single release: “Io canterò per te” (b/w “Giovanna G.”), issued in 1972 concurrent with the album.

Carlotto joined I Dik Dik the following year and later formed a duo with Cuccioletto. In 1984, he issued an electronic album, Promise of Love, as Karl Otto.

Discography: