Mmm, now this is my kind of thread.
Let me put it this way - there's all kinds of Italo-Disco. Here's a good breakdown of the styles:
1980-1983:
This was the time Italo was in it's earliest full form. There was Italian disco that could have been considered Italo-Disco before this (take the group Easy Going, for instance, in 1979) but this was pretty much the beginning.
Notable artists I would recommend from this period are:
Delanua (Very great artist on DiscoMagic, had a quirky voice.)
Gary Low (One of my favorite artists of all time, was very melodically powered.)
1984-1987:
More labels were forming, like the legendary "Time Records" in late 1983 (first release was in 1984.) Many people consider 1986 to be the end of Italo-Disco, but I really disagree.
Notable artists I would recommend from this period are:
Aleph (Definitely in my top 3 favorite artists/groups of all time. Absolutely amazing songs. My favorites are Fly To Me, Fire On The Moon, I'm In Danger, and Black Out)
Ken Laszlo (This was "DJ NRG" before his eurobeat days. Massively successful hits include Hey Hey Guy, Tonight, and Don't Cry)
Michael Fortunati (Famous artist from France. Notable songs include "Give Me Up" and "Into The Night")
1988:
1988 was an important year for Italo. It was it's last year in it's "true form" because Japan took a big interest in the scene just a couple years prior. The whole sound of the music started to shift (mainly led by Mauro Farina) and conformed to the new Japanese market.
Notable artists:
Too many to count. There were so many great songs from so many artists under different names it's crazy. That said, Aleph, Fred Ventura, and Mauro Farina wrote and sang some of the more amazing songs of the year.
1989-1990:
It was all somewhere in limbo between Italo-Disco and Eurobeat. I call it "Italobeat" honestly.
Asia Records, founded by Mauro Farina was very strong in 1989, since most labels weren't producing much Italo at the time (except for Time Records, though it was also producing Italobeat)
Even in 1990 most other labels (mainly Time) were still producing Italobeat, but one label came along and made Eurobeat into what we know it as today: A-Beat C
One could even say Dave Rodgers created "modern Eurobeat" in first person. Way too many notable songs and artists from this time to list (even more so than in 1988!)
Judging by your list, Para_Rigby, I would say you'd like any Italo/Italobeat made from 1987-1990. In that case, "That's Eurobeat" is a VERY good place to start, and I would recommend listening to it.
Although, if you are interested, give the earlier years of Italo a shot. If you want, I can post some youtube links to some of the better songs of the first half of the 80's.
Also, Megan, Italo-Disco is actually very easy to come by. Much easier than even Eurobeat! Just give eBay a quick search for some of the artists I've mentioned and you'll see a ton of results. Oftentimes affordable too, which is the best part. Heck I just bought Call Me by The System Blow and Help Me by Mela on 12" and both were about $7.50