Single flashback

Zappacosta - Overload [1987]

Born Alfredo Zappacosta in 1953 - Salò, Italy - we now know him by last name only.

Alfie learned guitar as a young boy and was playing wedding gigs at 12.

After a few disco records in the late 70s with different groups, Zappacosta formed his own band - Surrender. An LP and EP followed, with little success.

The group were sent to LA by their label Capitol Records for one last shot, but the project was shelved and Surrender gave in.

Returning to Canada, Alfie found new management and repurposed those old songs into a debut, self-titled solo record.

David Foster must have been impressed, as Zappacosta was recruited for the Canadian famine relief record ‘Tears Are Not Enough’.

‘A To Z’ was the followup album and launched a few singles that hit the mid-40s on the RPM Chart.

It was at this point that Alfie was given the type of break that would set a guy up for life. He was asked to contribute a tune to the ‘Dirty Dancing OST’. You know, the one that went 18x platinum in the USA and sold more than 30m worldwide.

Remember when Swayze smashes in the window of his own ‘57 Chevy? That’s ‘Overload’

Zappacosta - Overload

The synth bass and saxophone come hard in this track, as do the vocals. Alfie seems to be channelling Robert Palmer?

Do you remember consuming a lot of your music via original soundtrack records - you know, like Ben Wyatt in Parks? Share your favourite one in the comments!