Kalimba de Luna


"Kalimba de Luna" is a 1982 single by Italian musician and drummer Tony Esposito. It was written by Esposito with his long-time collaborator Remo Licastro, pianist Giuseppe "Joe" Amoruso, keyboardist Mauro Malavasi and vocalist Gianluigi Di Franco. It was taken from Esposito's album Il grande esploratore. "Kalimba de Luna" was a European success and reached no. 12 in the Austrian chart, no. 6 in the Swiss charts and no. 14 in the Italian charts.

Boney M. version

"Kalimba de Luna" was instantly covered by German group Boney M. for the German market, giving the group their first Top 20 hit in three years, peaking at no. 16. It was added to their current album Ten Thousand Lightyears, seeing it rise to No. 23 in the German charts in October 1984. It was also included on the Fantastic Boney M. and Kalimba de Luna – 16 Happy Songs with Boney M. compilations. With lead vocals by new group member Reggie Tsiboe, the original idea was to release it as a solo single, and a video was shot with Reggie only before the plans were changed to release it as a Boney M. single, and a new video with the group was done. Neither Liz Mitchell nor Marcia Barrett sang on this recording — the backing vocals were done by producer Frank Farian and session singers Amy & Elaine Goff and La Mama.

Releases

7" Single
  • "Kalimba de Luna" – 4:31 / "10.000 Lightyears" – 4:29
12" Single
  • "Kalimba de Luna" 7:07 / "10.000 Lightyears" – 4:29
  • "Kalimba de Luna" 9:15 / "Kalimba de Luna" – 6:40
Note : This single is the first which does not have the name "Boney M." written with the logo created eight years before for the "Daddy cool" single

Other cover versions

  • In August 1984 Boney M. recorded the song on a 45 rpm single, included in the album Fantastic Boney M..
  • 1984 - Pepe Goes to Cuba released a cover for the German market, reaching 17th place in the charts of their country. The song was included in the compilation ¡Que lo baile, Que lo baile!, released in Spain.
  • In the same year also Macho III they released a cover of it, featured on the 2014 album I'm a Man/Roll.
  • 1984 - Dalida recorded two versions: one in English language and one in French, text by Jean-Michel Bériat and Patrick Jaymes, in a single ; the one in English was also remixed posthumously in 2010. The album of origin is Dali.
  • 1984 - Robert Marton in the compilation Super Nonstop - 20 Ulkomaista Hittiä, released in Finland.
  • 1984 - Agnetha Lindh, single for the Swedish market.
  • In 1984 Elvira in the album Top Ten 2 - Internacionalni Hitovi, text by Mišo Doležal, published in Yugoslavia.
  • 1987 - Sunshine Family, single, released in Germany, Portugal and Spain; album España Boot Mix - Vol. 1/Dance Reunion Of The 70's, released in Germany, Portugal and Poland.
  • 1985 - Harry Holland & Dieter Reith, single for the German market ; album Magic Accordion, released in Germany, Israel and the Netherlands.
  • 1985 - 7 Seinähullua Veljestä, single for the Finnish market, lyrics by Raul Reiman ; compilation Kesä-Hitit, released in Finland.
  • 1985 - Party Service Band on the album Neverending Party, released in Germany.
  • 1991 - Saragossa Band on the album Party with Saragossa Band, released in Germany.
  • 1991 - Gipsy Rumba in the album Gipsy Rumba, released in Switzerland.
  • 1994 - L.M. Project in the album Dance in Italy Vol. 2.
  • 1995 - Goombay Dance Band, single, released in Germany; album Caribbean Beach Party.
  • 1996 - The Caribbeans on the album Macarena Party.
  • In 1999 Garcia with an EP released in Germany, included in the compilation Deep 60, released in Germany and Russia.
  • 2000 - Yellow Mellow on the album Good Vibrations, released in Austria.
  • 2009 - In 2009, Martina Majerle, a Croatian singer, lent her vocals as a featured artist to a rendition of "Kalimba de Luna." This version of the song was released as a single and created in collaboration with the Chrisma Project and Mr. B.
  • 2011 - Lorenzo Polidori in the album Kadin.
  • On April 28, 2015 the Neapolitan rapper Clementino used a remixed version as a backing track for the song Luna. Although the lyrics are original by the rapper, the chorus is the same as the 1984 version.
  • 2023 - Puritano feat. Tony Esposito on the album Chi diavolo è Puritano?! .
  • xxxx - The Biggest in the album Hit Radio TV Vol. N. 6, released in France.