Artist

CIRCUS 2000

1970-71
Silvana Aliotta (vocals, percussion)
Marcello "Spooky" Quartarone (guitar, vocals)
Gianni Bianco (bass)
Roberto “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 people at the time thought they were an english or american band. 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 so many other bands throughout the world had to do, Circus 2000 had to alternate between the most original and inventive material (sung in english) on the LP and more commercial tracks (in italian) on 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 came in 1972, still in english but with a slightly 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 the choice proved to be not successful. 
Original drummer Johnny Betti founded the small Shirak label and formed Living Life along with guitarist Quartarone. The latter was also involved in the Il vangelo secondo Barabba album.
Drummer Dede Lo Previte played with Duello Madre, Nova and Kim & the Cadillacs.

Both albums by Circus 2000 are now rare and expensive, probably pressed in small quantities. All their production came on RiFi label.
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 laminated sleeve.

Counterfeits exist for both albums, pressed in late 80's, but these 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, the CD version of An escape from a box containing two unreleased tracks, Dove va la mia gente and L'ultimo paese, both also on the Boxing circus mini-LP.

Some of Circus 2000 records have also been released abroad at the time: in Spain a single was released in 1972 on RiFi (MO 1291), with Hey man pt.I & II, housed in a nice picture cover.
Oddly, some of their records were issued in Turkey, the debut album was released in 1972 on Diskotür (DTLP 20002) with a different cover, and then two singles on the same label, both with picture covers and included in the above discography being unreleased in Italy.
Both singles have an odd detail, along with the Diskotür catalogue number they carry a RiFi number on the label and on vinyl, that in the first single corresponds to another official release, Hey man, as if they had been also released in Italy.

Circus 2000 - LP
Circus 2000 - LP label
An escape from a box - gatefold cover
Io la strega - 7" single cover	I am the witch - 7" single cover
Regalami un sabato sera - 7" single cover	Hey man - 7" single cover
Boxing circus - 10" LP cover
Circus 2000 - LP (Turkey)
Exotic nights - 45 giri (Turchia)
Mañana - 45 giri (Turchia)
Hey man - 7" single cover (Spain)

Many thanks to Miguel Rodriguez and to Laura Albergante for scans and precious infos on some singles