Spirito DiVino

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Spirito DiVino is the seventh studio album by Italian blues-rock singer Zucchero Fornaciari, released on May 27, 1995, by Polydor. It followed Miserere (1992) and marked a more hopeful period for Zucchero after his divorce. The title is a wordplay on “Spirito Divino” (Divine Spirit) and “Spirito di Vino” (Wine Spirit).

The album includes notable guest appearances, such as The New Orleans Gospel Choir, Clarence Clemons, David Sancious, Jeff Beck on Papà perche, Sheila E. on Alleluja (lyrics by Jovanotti and Mark Addison), and Francesco De Gregori, who wrote the lyrics for Pane e sale. It was released in Italian, with partial Spanish editions and an English edition titled Spirito DiVino: Stray Cat in a Mad Dog City.

Spirito DiVino was a commercial success. It topped the Italian charts for four weeks in 1995 and reached No. 39 in 1996. It sold about 1.1 million copies in Italy over two years and was certified 11× Platinum there. The album also reached the Top 5 in France and Switzerland, earning Platinum in both. Worldwide sales surpassed 2.5 million copies by December 1996.

Spanish editions featured translations by Fito Páez and Carlos Toro; the English edition’s translations were done by Pat MacDonald, Angelo Palladino, Tena Clark, Mark Addison, Alberto Salerno, and Frank Musker.

Promotion included the Spirito DiVino World Tour (1995–1996), with over 150 concerts across Europe and North America and an estimated 1.4 million attendees.

Critical reception was generally positive. AllMusic’s Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave the Italian edition 3/5 stars, praising the production while noting that many songs don’t have instantly memorable melodies, but they showcase Zucchero’s charisma and charm.

All tracks were written by Zucchero Fornaciari unless otherwise noted.