Throughout the late '60s and early '70s, Premiata Forneria Marconi worked from their Italian homeland under the moniker of I Quelli. Their first album under the new name was Storia di un Minuto. They followed that one rather quickly with Per un Amico, which caught the attention of ELP's Greg Lake who invited them to visit London. During that visit, the group met Pete Sinfield (King Crimson, Roxy Music). Sinfield was so taken with the group that he decided to come on board writing lyrics and producing them. The result of that collaboration was Photos of Ghosts, but it was really only an English reworking of Per un Amico. Due to difficulties the British press was having with the name of the group, it was then shortened to PFM. The group released a true third album in L'isola di Niente. When it was set loose upon England, it was entitled The World Become the World. In the mid-'70s, Cook, a live album was released. It was renamed Live in U.S.A. for its Italian release. Their next release, after extensive touring and a short break, was Chocolate King. It became the first album to only feature an English version, the group having had done both English and Italian renditions of previous releases. The album, although not a huge commercial success, did generate enough interest to sign the band to Elektra Asylum Records. The next album, Jet Lag, was released in 1977 and was the last U.S. release, as they decided to return to Italy to concentrate on their home roots. They released Passpartù as the first album in their new homeland adventure. They eventually hooked up with RCA Records and released Suonare Suonare on that label. They followed that up with Come Ti Va In Riva Alla Città. The group waited about ten years before doing another album, with Ulisse coming in 1997. 2000 saw the release of Serendipity.
Gary Hill
Per Um Amico (1972-2014)
This is PFM's brilliant follow-up to Storia di un Minuto, and both albums are considered progressive rock classics, for good reason. The diversity, complexity, and integrity of the music here is as fine as anything produced during the early '70s from other prog rock giants such as Yes, Genesis, and King Crimson. The lyrics are in Italian and, while used sparingly, make a valuable contribution to the session's integrity. The music is constantly shifting in style, tempo, and tone, but held together by recurring themes. Mauro Pagani's airy flute is the perfect antidote to Francone Mussida's aggressive guitar, while Flavio Premoli's keyboard work rivals that of contemporaries such as Keith Emerson and Rick Wakeman. The music ranges from avant-garde to hard rock and everything in between. Always intelligent, but without pretension, this is progressive rock in its most literal definition.
Robert Taylor
Tracklist :
1. Appena Un Po' 7:46
2. Generale 4:13
3. Per Un Amico 5:20
4. Il Banchetto 8:34
5. Geranio 8:04
– BONUS TRACKS –
6. Appena Un Pó (Edit Version) 6:52
7. Il Banchetto (Edit Version) 5:17
8. E' Festa (Edit Version) 2:49
Credits :
Acoustic Guitar, Twelve-String Guitar, Electric Guitar, Mandolin, Vocals – Franco Mussida
Drums, Percussion, Voice – Franz Di Cioccio
Flute, Alto Flute, Piccolo Flute, Violin, Vocals – Mauro Pagani
Piano, Harpsichord, Organ, Spinet, Mellotron, Chimes, Vocals, Synthesizer [Moog] – Flavio Premoli
Written-By, Arranged By, Producer – Premiata Forneria Marconi
Storia di um Minuto (1972-2014)
The debut recording from Italy's favorite sons of progressive rock. The band had been appearing as special guests in support of bands such as Procol Harum, Deep Purple, and Yes, in addition to playing several festivals. Their hard work paid off, and the result is this excellent recording. Recorded live in the studio, PFM proved they were every bit as creative and talented as the U.K. bands of the time. Their symphonic prog rock commingles elements of folk, classical, and jazz in a genuine manner. This is achieved by their transcendent and pliant level of musicianship. "Impressioni di Settembre" and the two-part "Dove...Quando" demonstrate the band's ability to create rich harmonies with pop-like melodies. The band can also lay it down pretty heavy, as can be heard on the rocking "È Festa," which turned out to be one of their most requested songs. Storia di un Minuto stands as one of the best progressive rock debuts in history, and along with Per un Amico and Photos of Ghosts, is essential to any serious collection.
Robert Taylor
Tracklist :
1. Introduzione 1:10
2. Impressioni Di Settembre 5:44
Lyrics By – Mogol
3. È Festa 4:52
4. Dove… Quando… (Parte I) 4:10
5. Dove… Quando… (Parte II) 6:01
6. La Carrozza Di Hans 6:46
7. Grazie Davvero 5:53
– BONUS TRACKS –
8. La Carrozza Di Hans (Single Version) 5:42
9. Impressioni Di Settembre (Single Version) 4:18
Credits :
Bass, Vocals – Giorgio Piazza
Drums, Synthesizer [Moog], Percussion, Vocals – Franz Di Cioccio
Flute, Violin, Vocals – Mauro Pagani
Music By – F. Mussida, M. Pagani
Organ, Piano, Mellotron, Synthesizer [Moog], Vocals – Flavio Premoli
Written-By, Arranged By, Producer – P.F.M.
Photos of Ghosts (1973-2014)
PFM were already Italy's premiere progressive rock band when Emerson, Lake & Palmer signed them to the British trio's own Manticore label in 1972 and turned to King Crimson alumnus Peter Sinfield to write English-language words (sung phonetically) for this, the Italian group's debut international release. A phantasmagorical creation, Photos of Ghosts is filled with lush melodies and rich musical textures, all wrapped around Sinfield's frequently surreal lyrics, which seem an extension of some of his better work from King Crimson's Lizard and Islands albums. In contrast to ELP's music of the same period, PFM's music still retains some loud echoes of psychedelia, and the music has a refreshingly airy, open sound, free from the thick, heavy-handed Germanic textures generated by most of the rival U.K. classical rock bands of the period -- this album can stand next to competing works by Genesis, Yes, et al. from the same period. Additionally, PFM were not only unafraid of doing songs that changed time signatures radically, but reveled and thrived in such unusual structures, as demonstrated by "Il Banchetto," the one song on the album transferred -- at least in terms of lyrics -- intact from the original Italian release. The phonetically sung English lyrics also take on a special eeriness on track such as "Promenade the Puzzle." Oddly enough, the group actually became a better rock band in the year following this release, with a shift in personnel and the addition of bassist Patrick Djivas, and subsequent releases rocked harder and better, but they never had a finer, more consistently rewarding body of music in one place to their credit than this album. The various CD editions have been a major improvement over the fuzzy, indistinct mastering (and accompanying poor pressings) of the original 1970s-era U.S. vinyl release. The 2010 CD re-release also features significant bonus tracks, consisting principally of early mixes and unaccompanied backing tracks from much of the album -- all of which bring the running time up past 70 minutes -- and reveal a wealth of inner detail and instrumental textures that were otherwise masked on the finished album, plus the single edit of "Celebration."
Bruce Eder
Tracklist :1. River Of Life 6:56
2. Celebration 3:50
3. Photos Of Ghosts 5:20
4. Old Rain 3:40
5. Il Banchetto 8:34
6. Mr.9 'Till 5 4:08
7. Promenade The Puzzle 7:30
– BONUS TRACKS –
8. Photos Of Ghosts (Instrumental Mix) 5:22
9. River Of Life (First Mix) 7:07
10. Old Rain (First Mix) 3:40
11. Il Banchetto (First Mix) 8:35
12. Mr. 9 'Till 5 (Instrumental) 3:54
13. Celebration (Single Edit) 2:13
14. Mr. 9 'Till 5 (Single Edit) 2:52
Bass Guitar – Giorgio Piazza
Drums, Vocals – Franz Di Cioccio
Guitar, Vocals – Franco Mussida
Keyboards, Vocals – Flavio Premoli
Lyrics By – Pete Sinfield (tracks: 1 to 3, 6, 7)
Producer [English Vocals], Remix [English Vocals] – Pete Sinfield
Violin, Woodwind – Mauro Pagani
Cook (1974-2004) 3CD SHM-CD
They didn't really, at least not at this live set, recorded at a concert
in New York's Central Park. The material lacks the power and beauty of
their best studio work, and performance lacks the power and energy
needed to sustain a live album, and the recording itself seems distant.
Completists may want it, however, as the only live document left behind
by this most interesting progressive band.
Bruce Eder
Tracklist :
Original Album Mix
1-1 Four Holes In The Ground
Written-By – Premoli, Mussida, Pagani, Sinfield
1-2 Dove....Quando....
Written-By – Mussida, Pagani
1-3 Just Look Away
Written-By – Premoli, Mussida, Pagani, Sinfield
1-4 Celebration (Including The World Became The World)
Written-By [Celebration] – Premoli, Mussida, Sinfield
Written-By [The World Became The World] – Mussida, Pagani, Mogol, Sinfield
1-5 Mr. Nine 'Till Five
Written-By – Premoli, Mussida, Sinfield
1-6 Alta Loma Five Till Nine (Including P.F.M.'s Arrangement Of Rossini's William Tell Overture)
Arranged By [William Tell Overture] – P. F. M.
Written-By [Alta Loma Five Till Nine] – Premoli, Mussida
Written-By [William Tell Overture] – Rossini
Live At Central Park, New York
2-1 River Of Life
Written-By – F. Premoli, F. Mussida, P. Sinfield
2-2 Four Holes In The Ground
Written-By – Premoli, Mussida, Pagani, Sinfield
2-3 Is My Face On Straight
Written-By – Premoli, Mussida, Pagani, Sinfield
2-4 Dove....Quando....
Written-By – Mussida, Pagani
2-5 Guitar Solo
Written-By – Mussida
2-6 Just Look Away
Written-By – Premoli, Mussida, Pagani, Sinfield
Live At Central Park, New York
3-1 Mr. Nine 'Till Five
Written-By – Premoli, Mussida, Sinfield
3-2 Alta Loma Five 'Till Nine (Including P.F.M.'s Arrangement Of Rossini's William Tell Overture)
Arranged By [William Tell Overture] – P. F. M.
Written-By [Alta Loma Five Till Nine] – Premoli, Mussida
Written-By [William Tell Overture] – Rossini
3-3.a Celebration
Written-By – Premoli, Mussida, Sinfield
3-3.b Drum Solo
Written-By – Di Cioccio
3-3.c The World Became The World
Written-By – Mussida, Pagani, Mogol, Sinfield
Credits :
Bass, Vocals – Patrick Djivas
Drums, Percussion, Vocals – Franz Di Cioccio
Guitar, Vocals – Franco Mussida
Keyboards, Vocals – Flavio Premoli
Violin, Woodwind, Vocals – Mauro Pagani
Notas
Tracks 1-1 to 1-6 originally released as LP " Cook " in 1974.
This album has also been released under the name "Live In U.S.A." in Italy in 1974 with different cover.
L' Isola di Niente (1974-2014)
Premiata Forneria Marconi's third Italian album (their fourth if one counts the 1973 release Photos of Ghosts, the English version of Per un Amico) came out shortly before ELP's Manticore imprint released its English version under the title The World Became the World. Unless lyrics sung in a language other than English is aggravating to you, by all means prefer the original version. Like for Banco del Mutuo Soccorso and Le Orme, the music of PFM is impregnated with the lyricism of the Italian language. The most confusing of the group's first three LPs, L'Isola di Niente (The Island of Nothing) sees the group pushing its music to a new level of complexity, while giving a first hint at their later jazz-rock orientation. The title track (which will became "The Mountain" on The World Became the World) is a very powerful, almost shocking 11-minute epic, with choir, rolling echo-drenched drums and some of the most theatrical vocal performance you are likely to hear on a PFM record. BMG's 24-bit gold remastered CD reissue has helped clarify the choir sections (murky at best on the cheap vinyl pressings from days of yore), but the impact of the piece is still lessened by the tons of effects the group used. "Is My Face on Straight" is the only track that appeared in English on both LPs. The lyrics of ex-King Crimson's Pete Sinfield match the cadavre exquis-like collage of seemingly unrelated musical sections. PFM exhibit some of their best musical chops on this crazy number. "La Luna Nuova" (retitled "Four Holes to the Ground" on The World) is the track sounding the most familiar in comparison to the group's first two albums. It is also one of their best symphonic progressive rockers, with that sweet Italian flavor the harsh "L'Isola di Niente" eschewed. The ballad "Dolcissima Maria" is little more than that, but still much better in this rendition than its English counterpart "Just Look Away." The closing instrumental "Via Lumiére" (needlessly retitled "Have Your Cake and Beat It" on The World) was this album's enigma. Beginning with a rather free-form bass solo from Jan Patrick Djivas, it evolves into a frantic jazz-rock vamp, before reverting to a Yes-like mid-tempo finale. L'Isola di Niente was to be the group's last masterpiece (the next LP, Chocolate Kings, will show serious signs of fatigue) and remains one of the first Italian progressive rock wave's finest records, but it is more of an acquired taste compared to Storia di un Minuto and Per un Amico.
François Couture
Tracklist :
1. L'Isola Di Niente 10:42
2. Is My Face On Straight 6:36
3. La Luna Nuova 6:21
4. Dolcissima Maria 4:01
5. Via Lumière 7:21
6. Via Lumière (Single Version) (Bonus Track) 3:31
Credits :
Arranged By – Claudio Fabi, PFM
Bass, Vocals – Jan Patrick Djivas
Drums, Percussion, Vocals – Franz Di Cioccio
Guitar, Vocals – Franco Mussida
Keyboards – Flavio Premoli
Lyrics By – Mauro Pagani (tracks: 1, 3 to 6), Pete Sinfield (tracks: 2)
Music By – PFM
Violin, Flute, Vocals – Mauro Pagani
The World Became The World (1974-2014) SHM-CD
PFM were never a group prone to stand still, or repeat themselves from one project to another. Their second international album release, The World Became the World, was a case in point -- rather than continuing in the same precise direction as its predecessor, Photos of Ghosts (1973), it presented a serious challenge to their existing fans even as it pushed the envelope of their sound. There are still places where the band's lyrical side, strongly in evidence throughout Photos of Ghosts, comes through, especially on the softer tunes such as "Just Look Away." But the real emphasis of the group's work, as demonstrated on the opener, "The Mountain," the main body of the title track, and the basic content of the crowd-pleaser "Four Holes in the Ground," lies in a much harder, more aggressive brand of progressive rock and a bolder approach to playing -- they're much more of a hard rock band on this album, which didn't hurt them in finding an audience in the United States on the tour that followed. A membership shift, with French bassist Patrick Djivas (late of the band Area) replacing Giorgio Piazza, also helps this process along -- Djivas not only brings more of a jazz approach to his instrument, but a louder, harder sound that, in turn, toughens up the contribution of drummer Franz di Cioccio. And everybody -- especially Flavio Premoli on the multiple synthesizers and other keyboards, and Franco Mussida's guitars -- follows in turn. What's more, the group succeeds in creating the illusion of a live performance throughout this record; there are obviously multiple overdubs (especially on the electronic keyboards and the layered voices), but one does feel like these guys are playing as hard and loud as they did on-stage, a rare achievement for a lot of prog rock bands of the period. Peter Sinfield's English-language lyrics, wedded to the music by Premoli, Mussida, and wind player Mauro Pagani, have an eerie capacity to haunt the listener, especially given the group's phonetic pronunciations -- "Is My Face on Straight?" may not make much sense lyrically without a lot more analysis than most listeners would give, but it is one great progressive rock showcase and it does stay with you. The original album finished with the instrumental "Have Your Cake and Beat It," which allowed all of the members a chance to explore the jazzier sides of their playing and overall sound, and cross over into what, at the time, would have been considered Focus and King Crimson territory. And even without a Robert Fripp, a Jan Akkerman, or a Mel Collins in their ranks, the piece still grows on the listener without overstaying its welcome, at a comparatively economical (for this sort of track) seven minutes and change.
Bruce Eder
Tracklist :1. The Mountain 10:45
2. Just Look Away 4:01
3. The World Became The World 4:47
4. Four Holes In The Ground 6:21
5. Is My Face On Straight 6:38
6. Have Your Cake And Beat It 7:20
7. Four Holes In The Ground [Single Edit] 3:19
8. La Carrozza Di Hans [Live] 5:59
Credits :
Arranged By – Claudio Fabi, PFM
Bass, Vocals – Jan Patrick Djivas
Chorus – Accademia Paolina Di Milano
Conductor [Chorus] – Claudio
Drums, Percussion, Vocals – Franz Di Cioccio
Guitar, Vocals – Franco Mussida
Keyboards, Vocals – Flavio Premoli
Lyrics By [English Lyrics By] – Pete Sinfield
Violin, Woodwind, Vocals – Mauro Pagani
Written-By [All Titles And Choir Music Written By] – PFM
Chocolate Kings (1975-214) 2CD
This album marked a continued maturing of both PFM's style and their presence in the Anglophone market. It benefits from Premoli's high-speed Hammond organ and synth runs on such all-out prog assaults as the conclusion of "From Under," as well as Mussida's gentle acoustic guitar lines on slower numbers like "Harlequin." The weak point, as in some of PFM's other productions, is in the vocals. Bernado Lanzetti's voice is overwhelmed by the sheer force of the band; indeed, it could be removed to leave behind perfectly acceptable instrumentals. On "Harlequin" and the superb "Out of the Roundabout," the instrumentation of rippling electric piano and delicate nylon-string guitar allows his quavering vocals more space to breathe; but lacking the vocal harmonies that other prog contemporaries relied on, his voice doesn't really stand on its own.
Paul Collins
Tracklist :
1-1. From Under 7:31
1-2. Harlequin 7:50
1-3. Chocolate Kings 4:41
1-4. Out Of The Roundabout 7:55
1-5. Paper Charms 8:32
1-6. Chocolate Kings (Single Edit) 4:06
1-7. Harlequin (Single Edit) 3:48
2-1. Paper Charms 10:20
2-2. Four Holes In The Ground 14:26
2-3. Acoustic Guitar Solo 5:26
2-4. Out Of The Roundabout 7:38
2-5. Chocolate Kings 5:14
2-6. Mr. 9 'Till 5 4:20
2-7. Alta Loma Five Till Nine / William Tell Overture 15:30
Credits :
Bass [Ripper Bass] – Patrick Djivas
Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals – Franz Di Cioccio
Guitar, Backing Vocals – Franco Mussida
Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Flavio Premoli
Lead Vocals – Bernardo Lanzetti
Lyrics By – Marva Jan Marrow (tracks: 1-1, 1-3, 1-6, 2-5), PFM
Music By – PFM
Producer – Claudio Fabi, PFM
Woodwind, Violin – Mauro Pagani
Jet Lag (1977-2014) SHM-CD
As PFM's work showed the increasing influence of electric jazz, the releases showed more impressive chops and yet also became less compelling to listen to. Jet Lag is the first release of theirs to cross this line, as it's noticeably less enjoyable than the previous year's Chocolate Kings. Still, it has its moments-the interlaced electric piano and violin of the lengthy title track and the instrumental "Left Handed Theory" salvage an otherwise forgettable effort.
Paul Collins
Tracklist :
1. Peninsula 2:35
2. Jet Lag 9:09
3. Storia In "La" 6:24
4. Breakin In 4:06
5. Cerco La Lingua 5:31
6. Meridiani 5:56
7. Left-Handed Theory 4:10
8. Traveler 5:40
9. La Carrozza Di Hans 14:45
Credits :
Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar – Franco Mussida
Arranged By [Music And Lyrics Arranged By] – PFM
Bass [Fretless], Synthesizer [Moog B 12] – Patrick Djivas
Drums, Percussion [Wood] – Franz Di Cioccio
Lyrics By – PFM
Music By – PFM
Organ [Pari], Electric Piano, Synthesizer [Micro Moog] – Flavio Premoli
Violin [Acoustic & Electric] – Gregory Bloch
Vocals, Percussion – Bernardo Lanzetti
A.D. 2010 - La Buona Novella (2010-2014) SHM-CD
Tracklist :
1. Universo E Terra (Preludio)
2. L' Infanzia Di Maria
3. Il Ritorno Di Giuseppe
4. Il Sogno Di Maria
5. Ave Maria
6. Maria Nella Bottega Di Un Falegname
7. Via Della Croce
8. Tre Madri
9. Il Testamento Di Tito
10. Laudate Hominem
In Classic Da Mozart A Celebration (2013) SHM-CD
Tracklist :
1-1 Il Flauto Magico - Overture (Including Trazom, Deoama)
Orchestrated By – Bruno Santori
Written-By – W.A. Mozart
Written-By [Trazom, Deoama] – Mussida, Di Cioccio, Djivas
1-2 Danza Macabra (Including Passeggiata Di Fantasmi)
Orchestrated By – Bruno Santori
Written-By – C. Saint- Saëns
Written-By [Passegiata] – Mussida, Di Cioccio, Djivas
1-3 Danza Slava N.° 1 (Including I Monti Slavi, Il Monte Pief)
Orchestrated By – Bruno Santori
Written-By – A. Dvorak
Written-By [I Monti Slavi, Monte Pief] – Mussida, Di Cioccio, Djivas
1-4 Sinfonia N.° 5 IV Mov. Adagietto (Including Adagietto, Adagio Elettrico)
Orchestrated By – Bruno Santori
Written-By – G.Mahler
Written-By [Adagietto, Adagio Elettrico] – Mussida, Di Cioccio, Djivas
1-5 Romeo E Giulietta - Danza Dei Cavalieri (Including Il Potere Dell'amore, Gli Amanti Di Verona)
Orchestrated By – Sandro Mussida
Written-By – S. Prokofiev
Written-By [Il Potere, Gli Amante] – Mussida, Di Cioccio, Djivas
1-6 La Grande Pasqua Russa (Including Danza Della Pasqua)
Orchestrated By – Bruno Santori
Written-By – N.A. Rimskij Korsakov
Written-By [Danza] – Mussida, Di Cioccio, Djivas
1-7 Nabucco - Overture (Including Donosor B.)
Orchestrated By – Bruno Santori
Written-By – G. Verdi
Written-By [Donosor B.] – Mussida, Di Cioccio, Djivas
2-1 La Luna Nuova
Orchestrated By – Oliviero Lacagnina
Written-By – Premoli, Mussida, Pagani
2-2 Promenade The Puzzle
Orchestrated By – Oliviero Lacagnina
Written-By – Premoli, Mussida, Pagani, Sinfield
2-3 Dove...Quando
Orchestrated By – Oliviero Lacagnina
Written-By – Mussida, Pagani
2-4 Maestro Della Voce
Orchestrated By – Oliviero Lacagnina
Written-By – Premoli, Mussida, Di Cioccio, Djivas
2-5 Impressioni Di Settembre
Orchestrated By – Oliviero Lacagnina
Written-By – Mussida, Pagani, Mogol
Suite Italiana
2-6a Sinfonia Nº 4 - Italiana
Orchestrated By – Bruno Santori
Written-By – F. Mendelssohn
2-6b Celebration
Orchestrated By – Bruno Santori
Written-By – Mussida, Pagani, Sinfield
2-6c La Danza
Orchestrated By – Bruno Santori
Written-By – G. Rossini
2-7 Guglielmo Tell - Ouverture Bonus Track (Live)
Orchestrated By – Bruno Santori
Written-By – G. Rossini
Credits :
Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Twelve-String Guitar, Vocals – Franco Mussida
Arranged By, Producer – Premiata Forneria Marconi
Bass, Producer [Pre / Postproduction] – Patrick Djivas
Conductor [Assistant] – Silvio Fantozzi
Conductor [Symphsonic Orchestra] – Bruno Santori
Drums [2nd Drummer], Percussion – Roberto Gualdi
Drums, Percussion, Vocals, Executive-Producer – Franz Di Cioccio
Keyboards – Alessandro Scaglione
Orchestra – Symphsonic Orchestra
Recorded By [Orchestra] – Marco Barberis
Violin, Keyboards [Second] – Lucio Fabbri
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