01	I Can't Believe						02:36
	02	Try To Live						03:40
	03	Must Walk Forever						03:52
	04	Sun Will Shine						01:56
	05	I Just Can't Stay						02:39
	06	I Am The Witch						03:22
	07	Magic Bean						02:05
	08	While You're Sleeping						02:50
	09	Try All Day						02:33
	10	The Lord, He Has No Hands						03:44
	11	Io La Strega (bonus)						03:21
	12	Pioggia Sottile (bonus)						02:36
	13	Ho Regalato I Capelli						05:01
	14	Regalami Un Sabato Sera						03:02
	15	Hey Man						06:19
	16	You Aren't Listening						05:01
	17	Our Father						06:18
	18	Need						08:41
	19	When The Sun Refuses To Shine						07:44

Silvana Aliotta: lead vocals, percussions
Marcello "Spooky" Quartarone: electric and acoustic guitar, vocals
Gianni Bianco: fender bass, vocals
Franco "Dede" Lo Previte: drums

Circus 2000 [Italy]
Circus 2000 (70), An Escape From a Box (72)

This 70's Italian band (vocals in English) employs some unique ideas in their sound, as well as some progressive tendencies, including rapid shifts from soft acoustics to hard rocking electrified guitar jams, etc. Some folk influences are also apparent in the sound, as well as typical late sixties psychedelic folk-rock type harmonies led by lead vocalist Sylviana Aliotta.
A classic Italian psych band. Both albums are similar, though An Escape From a Box sounds a little more mature. Psych fans should be sure to give them a listen. Overall, I like them pretty well, though it depends on my mood. Sometimes they sound a little too much the same. Pretty balanced between the female vocalist and electric and acoustic guitars. It grows on you, though.
The first LP was really commercial and the lyrics in english. The second LP was much better and the voice of Silvana Aliotta is wonderful.When the band dissolved, Franco Lo Previte went to Nova and then Kim and The Cadillac.

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CIRCUS 2000



1970-71
Silvana Aliotta (vocals, percussion)
Marcello Quartarone (guitar, vocals)
Gianni Bianco (bass)
Johnny Betti (drums)

1972:
Betti replaced by
Franco "Dede" Lo Previte (drums, vocals)



One of the few american sounding italian bands, and so convincing that even Vernon Joynson, in his 1988 book The Flashback included them in the US psychedelia section!

Circus 2000, from Turin, were formed in 1970 and released late that year both their first album and single (containing italian versions of two songs from the LP). The album had no line-up references on the cover, and many thought the band was english or american. It contains ten songs, with a very short running time, with strong californian psych influence and the beautiful female voice of Silvana Aliotta above all. A mediocre album, not representative of the italian style, yet it's regarded by many as a very nice one. I am the witch (also on single in the italian version Io, la strega) is one of the best cuts.

As many other bands have to do, Circus 2000 had to alternate between original LP and commercial singles, and they released Regalami un sabato sera in 1971 (backed by a very nice Ho regalato i capelli) used in a popular TV series.

Second album is from 1972, still in english but with a slighly more polished sound and some progressive influences. An escape from a box is again a very short album, around 33 minutes, but the five songs are longer and the opening Hey man (also released as a single) the best track.

After 1973 singer Silvana Aliotta tried a solo career (as Silvana dei Circus 2000) with some singles but this proved to be not successful.
Original drummer Johnny Betti founded the small Shirak label and formed Living Life along with guitarist Quartarone.
Drummer Dede Lo Previte played with Duello Madre, Nova and Kim & the Cadillacs.

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LP
Circus 2000 RiFi (RFL-ST 14049) 1970 single cover
Akarma (AK 1021) 1999 as above
An escape from a box RiFi (RFL-ST 14215) 1972 gatefold cover
Akarma (AK 1022) 1999 as above
Both albums also reissued on CD by Vinyl Magic in 1989 (VM 014 - VM 015) and recently on Akarma (AK 1021 - AK 1022)

Boxing circus Akarma (AK 2014) 1999 a 10" compilation with six singles tracks plus two unreleased cuts

SINGLES (with picture sleeves)

Io, la strega
Pioggia sottile RiFi (RFN NP 16424) 1970 both tracks from first album but sung in italian
I can't believe
Must walk forever RiFi (RFN NP 16...) 1970 both tracks from first album
Regalami un sabato sera
Ho regalato i capelli RiFi (RFN NP 16444) 1971 both unreleased tracks
Hey man pt.I
Hey man pt.II RiFi (RFN NP 16466) 1972 a track from second album in two parts





Both albums by Circus 2000 are now rare and expensive, probably pressed in small quantities.
Circus 2000 has a distinctive single matt black cover with fluorescent red/orange/green design. The same picture that appears on it was also used for the two singles reproduced below.
Second album An escape from a box came in a gatefold sleeve.

Both albums have been counterfeited in late 80's but are easily recognised due to the very bootleg-looking white labels (originals have the black RiFi label with rainbow coloured rim).
They have also been reissued by Akarma with a much better quality. No foreign issues exist.