| # | Artist | Song (click to play) | Album | Year | CD label |
| 1 | Premiata Forneria Marconi | Chocolate Kings | Chocolate Kings | 1975 | BMG / RCA |
| This is PFM's fourth release, and reportedly their last progressive/symphonic album before they turned more in the jazz direction (?) I have not heard the later albums, though. The ex-vocalist of Acqua Fragile, Bernardo Lanzetti, joined the band for this album and reminds me of Roger Chapman from Family and The Streetwalkers fame. A very nice album with great keyboard work and interesting energetic compositions with a slight Gentle Giant like quirkiness. | |||||
| 2 | Saint Just | Saint Just | Saint Just | 1973 | Mellow Records / Siwan |
| Wild psychedelic folk prog with eclectic vocals by Jenny Sorrenti. Her wide ranging vocal style often reminds me of her brother Alan Sorrenti, who also does a guest vocal appearance on the album. Excellent music that is very energetic and inspired. | |||||
| 3 | The Trip | Formula Nova | Time of Change | 1973 | Vinyl Magic |
| Very ELP influenced keyboard driven prog. What is a bit different about the ELP mimicry of The Trip, though, is that there is some imitation of what I consider the sillier moments of ELP, like the honky-tonk piano. At times, the band picks up and grooves real hard, but, unfortunately it gets a bit tiresome, especially when the bass guitar plays endless eighth notes with no rhythmic variety. The vocals are a bit week. A high point of the group is the drummer Furio Chirico who later joined Arti & Mestieri. | |||||
| 4 | Stormy Six | Roma | Al Volo | 1982 | Fonit Cetra |
| The use of primitive drum machine programming and sequenced synthesizers gives this album a tinge of a new wave synth-pop sound. This group is the Italian contingent of the original Rock-In-Oppostion bands. But, to me ears, there is very little in the musical style that is associated with the other classic RIO bands. The song featured here almost has a Marillion neo-prog style. But, seeing as how this album came out before anything released by Marillion, the influence would go the other way, if there is any. The emphasis of the compositions is on the vocals, and the music seems to be written mainly as a complement to the vocal melodies. I have heard that _Mecchanica Maccheronica_ is the best one to start with, but, I have not acquired that one, yet. _Al Volo_ is nice, but, not essential, IMO. | |||||
| 5 | A Piedi Nudi | Lungo il Sentiero | Creazione | 1995 | Mellow Records |
| A Piedi Nudi's second album, and a major improvement on the first. The music is heavy like Balletto di Bronzo, but, with vocals that remind more of Le Orme. Many consider this to be there best, but, I think I like their latest _Eclissi_ a tad more. | |||||
| 6 | Odissea | Cour di Rubino | Odissea | 1973 | Vinyl Magic / Crime (Japan) |
| Folky, symphonic, gruff vocals. Many of the songs are in a melancholy ballad type format. The music and instrumenation is often quite good, but, I find the vocals to be a bit of a distraction. | |||||
| 7 | Goblin | Flashing (film version) | Tenebre | 1982 | Cinevox |
| This is another soundtrack to an Italian horror movie. It is very digital and modern sounding. The CD has all of the original versions from the soundtrack plus several alternate and additional tracks. As always, the music is all instrumental. | |||||
| 8 | Finisterre | Asia | Finisterre | 1994 | Mellow Records |
| This is Finisterre's fine first effort. Their newest album is on the Musea label and is reportedly more pop sounding. This album contains all the standard rock instruments with the addition of flute. Symphonic prog with flavorings of classical rock and jazzy moments. | |||||