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Welcome to The Day After The Sabbath 156. It's been an age since I last turned my attentions to Italy. The first time was back in 2011 with v37: Fellas Buona (link), so another collezione italiana is way overdue. That previous volume contained all album cuts, mostly long-form songs from bands that are well-known and highly regarded within Italian prog. Aside from a few exceptions, this volume looks further afield to some more obscure albums, and singles from acts that were very short-lived or didn't make albums.
Italian prog is synonymous with long complex songs, often inspired by classical music to the point of becoming operatic in their tumultuous composition. This volume has some of that sound, but it has turned out to contain more short, punchy hard rock and heavy prog tracks, which should satisfy all the proto-metal fans out there. For the prog fans there is still plenty of the artistry and dynamism that Italy is famed for. I think it strikes a good balance.
Italian prog is synonymous with long complex songs, often inspired by classical music to the point of becoming operatic in their tumultuous composition. This volume has some of that sound, but it has turned out to contain more short, punchy hard rock and heavy prog tracks, which should satisfy all the proto-metal fans out there. For the prog fans there is still plenty of the artistry and dynamism that Italy is famed for. I think it strikes a good balance.
Number 156 presents fifteen acts that are new to the series. Some examples of the variety on show here are the hard prog riffs of I Califfi and Le Mandri, the cool cinematic suspense of Mirageman, the psychedelic pop hooks of Riccardo Cocciante's first single, the dramatic theater of Formula 3 and Dalton, and the galloping rock n roll of I Top 4 and Il Segno Dello Zodiaco.
The cover art is from a striking piece of Italian street art called "The Scream Of Vallicaldi" by Diego della Posta, aka Mr Thoms (link). I must thank the long-standing resources at italianprog.com (link) which is where I researched most of the facts included here.
TRACKS
single
02. Le Madri - Mary Flying (1970)
single
03. Il Segno Dello Zodiaco - Mio Padre (1974)
from album Il Segno Dello Zodiaco
04. Dalton - Visione Di Una Notte D'Estate (1975)
from album Argitari
05. Mirageman - Hallucination (1972)
from album Thunder And Lightning
06. Track - How Foolish You (1974)
from album Track Rock
07. Richard Cocciante - Rhythm (1971)
single
08. Formula 3 - Nessuno Nessuno (1971)
from album Formula 3
09. I Top 4 - Immagine (1971)
single
10. Roberto Righini - Non Era Un Sogno (1971)
single
11. Theodoro Re Dei Poeti - Preparati Bambina (1974)
single
12. Il Balletto Di Bronzo - Un Posto (1970)
from album Sirio 2222
13. La Seconda Genesi - Vedo Un Altro Mondo (1972)
from album Tutto Deve Finire
14. Ricordi D'Infanzia - L'Eden (1973)
from album Io Uomo
15. Latte E Miele - Giuda & Il Re Dei Giudei (1972)
from album Passio Secundum Mattheum
12. Il Balletto Di Bronzo - Un Posto (1970)
from album Sirio 2222
13. La Seconda Genesi - Vedo Un Altro Mondo (1972)
from album Tutto Deve Finire
14. Ricordi D'Infanzia - L'Eden (1973)
from album Io Uomo
15. Latte E Miele - Giuda & Il Re Dei Giudei (1972)
from album Passio Secundum Mattheum
The Records
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| I Califfi - Cobra (1971) |
Our opener is a heavy hammond-assisted rocking b-side. Interestingly, the a-side seems to have been the theme tune to a popular TV Quiz show "Chissà Chi Lo Sa?" which pitted teams of students against each other. We had a similar show in the UK called University Challenge. The writing credits for "Cobra" are shared between the same names as for the a-side; Franco Boldrini (band leader and bass player), Moreno Signorini (of Antenati & Extra) and the screen writer duo of Mario Casacci & Alberto Ciambricco.
italianprog.com: "Almost two completely different bands used this name, Florence band I Califfi included in their first line-up the future Area and Electric Frankenstein guitarist Paolo Tofani and Campo di Marte drummer Carlo Felice Marcovecchio and were a very popular band in the 60's, before disbanding at the turn of the 70's. They released an album on RiFi and no less than eleven singles.
The band was reformed in 1972 by bass player Franco Boldrini, the only member from the original line-up, for a new recording deal with Fonit Cetra, that only produced an LP. "Fiore Di Metallo" is a good prog album, based on organ and moog sounds, even if the lyrics are a bit naive and too close to the typical Italian beat themes. Some interesting keyboard passages, as in the instrumental "Varius" or the opening track "Nel Mio Passato", make this album well worth hearing."
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| Franco Boldrini - I Califfi |
The band was reformed in 1972 by bass player Franco Boldrini, the only member from the original line-up, for a new recording deal with Fonit Cetra, that only produced an LP. "Fiore Di Metallo" is a good prog album, based on organ and moog sounds, even if the lyrics are a bit naive and too close to the typical Italian beat themes. Some interesting keyboard passages, as in the instrumental "Varius" or the opening track "Nel Mio Passato", make this album well worth hearing."
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| Le Madri - Fresco / Mary Flying |
Here's another hard rocking b-side with great hammond. Interestingly, Franco Falsini was briefly in the band before he became an electronica wizard with Sensation's Fix. Falsini appeared here on TDATS way back on volume 69 (link) with some solo work, and you can read his comments about Le Madri in an interview he did with Psychedelicbaby (link).
italianprog.com: "An interesting group from Florence that only released a single in 1970 with an Italian-sung hard rock sounding B-side. They included the future Perigeo guitarist, American born Tony Sidney. When he left the group, the others, with Flavio Cucchi on guitar, changed name to "Le Madri Superiori" and played at 1971 Festival Pop in Viareggio, but didn't last long." Incidentally another band coming up in this comp played that fest at Viareggio; I Top 4.
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| Il segno dello zodiaco 1974 |
Here's a piece of straight up galloping rock n roll, one of the less progressive in this set. It does however have a melodic bridge, showing the Italian penchant for mixing things up.
italianprog.com: "Formed by the four Borra brothers, this group from Vercelli, Piemonte, was initially called I Fratelli, and changed its name to "Il Segno Dello Zodiaco" around 1972, producing some singles and a debut album in 1974. Their style was mostly melodic pop but there are some tracks with rock and progressive influences (Mio Padre, Dormi Cara and Odio, Amore, an Italian version of Geordie's "Black Cat Woman"). A second album in 1977 was much lighter than their first."
Incidentally, Geordie appeared in TDATS vols 7 (link) and 121 (link).
Incidentally, Geordie appeared in TDATS vols 7 (link) and 121 (link).
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| Dalton |
After a few great rockers, here is the first piece of sweeping hard-edged prog, the type that Italy produced with masterful artistry, using a range of instrumentation to conjure a seamless blend of pastoral folk and hard rock.
italianprog.com: "Three of the musicians, Aronne Cereda, Giancarlo Brambilla (on bass and then keyboards) and Rino Limonta had previously played with the group I Puritani, that also included two future members of Pholas Dactylus; Valentino Galbusera and Giampiero Nava. They released a very good debut album entitled "Riflessioni: Idea D'Infinito". With a great use of flute and good guitar riffs, the album has great moments with Jethro Tull influences. The band had a moderate success and even won the first prize in a Pop Festival in Zurich.
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| Dalton – Argitari LP |
Also included is an unusual rendition of Bob Dylan's Blowin' In The Wind, called "La Risposta", and one of the best tracks, "Visione Di Una Notte D'Estate" (with old member Alex Chiesa on flute) is in fact a reworking of the single La Donna E Il Bambino with a different mix and lyrics, whose original subject had been considered too irreverent, causing the track to be discarded from Italy's prestigious Sanremo Festival set-lists."
.jpg "Giovanni Fenati (Mirageman)") |
| Giovanni Fenati (Mirageman) |
Here's a compulsive instrumental with that cinematic quality that would go perfectly with a car chase in some '70s heist movie. This is precisely the type of library music that I love to encounter, a subject that will probably be my next Italian comp, as they were so good at this type of thing!
italianprog.com: "Pianist and composer Giovanni Fenati (from Romagna) had an intense recording career since the late 50's. Starting with an orchestral repertoire, his style began including contemporary elements around the end of the 60's, and he released some albums under the nickname Mirageman for the Ariston label. Under this name, three were issued between 1970 and 1972.
italianprog.com: "Pianist and composer Giovanni Fenati (from Romagna) had an intense recording career since the late 50's. Starting with an orchestral repertoire, his style began including contemporary elements around the end of the 60's, and he released some albums under the nickname Mirageman for the Ariston label. Under this name, three were issued between 1970 and 1972.
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| Mirageman - Thunder And Lightning |
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| Track Rock 1974 |
Here's another piece of straight up groovy hard rock and little progressive tendency. With the curiously anonymous band name, basic presentation (by Italian rock standards) and cover songs, it has the ring of a library / "rock sound" exploitation record. This may be understandable as it features two members of Nuova Idea, a band who did something similar (and better) as their alter-ego, The Underground Set. Maybe this LP was just practice sessions, or a statement of intent that didn't go any further?
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| Ricky Belloni |
Their album was released in 1974 on Ariston and included nine tracks, all sung in English, with covers of the Doobie Brothers' "Long Train Running" and Status Quo's "Caroline". Almost all the album offers boogie-influenced rock'n'roll, the most progressive track is an instrumental called... Track. Belloni released his only solo single after this album in 1974. He joined New Trolls soon after, for their "Concerto Grosso n.2" album, later playing with Nico Di Palo in his group Il Mito Dei New Trolls."
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| Richard Cocciante - Rhythm |
On first impression this 45 b-side sounds like pure pop, but throughout it has plenty of hard rock moves and excellent playing with addictive hooks. I love finding rocking pop such as this and intend it to be a TDATS theme some time!
italianprog.com: "Absolutely not a progressive artist, this Vietnam born French-Italian keyboardist is a very popular commercial singer in Italy with a long career and many hit singles and albums, some of which also released in foreign countries where he kept the name of Richard Cocciante, soon changed to Riccardo in Italy. According to notes on a youtube video, regarding the film this single was used in, "Roma Bene", the backing band on this single was "Godfather", about which I cannot find further details.
italianprog.com: "Absolutely not a progressive artist, this Vietnam born French-Italian keyboardist is a very popular commercial singer in Italy with a long career and many hit singles and albums, some of which also released in foreign countries where he kept the name of Richard Cocciante, soon changed to Riccardo in Italy. According to notes on a youtube video, regarding the film this single was used in, "Roma Bene", the backing band on this single was "Godfather", about which I cannot find further details.
But his debut, a concept album called "Mu", housed in a marvelous cover, is very good symphonic prog, with help from many guest musicians, including Brainticket's leader Joel Vandroogenbroeck and keyboardist Paolo Rustichelli (from the Rustichelli e Bordini duo), and great instrumental parts. This can be a very nice listen for keyboard-driven prog fans, if you like Cocciante's voice (which may be too reminiscent of his later pop successes for many Italian listeners!)."
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| Formula 3 1971 |
I couldn't make this comp without a 10 minute epic. As most will already know, Italian prog bands are experts in dramatic and wildly expressive long-form songs that run the full gamut of emotions. The songs winds through many shades of light and dark, with the ominous organ work grinding away at all times. This is the first time that Milan's Formula 3 (F3) has appeared in a TDATS volume, but LibertyCaps (a vintage rock cohort from the old stonerrock.com days) included F3's doom-laden opus "Dies Irae" in his popular 10-part "Doom That Time Forgot" series, which I have hosted here on TDATS (link).
italianprog.com: "One of the most popular bands in Italy at the beginning of the 70's, not only among rock fans, because of their long collaboration with singer Lucio Battisti, who took them to the newly formed Numero Uno label producing their first album. "Dies Irae" (1970), housed in a nice psych-inspired sleeve, introduced the typical Formula 3 sound, based on the guitar/organ interplay (the band used no bass, the bass parts being played by keyboardist Gabriele Lorenzi), with the nice lead voice of founding F3 drummer Tony Cicco.
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| Formula 3 LP - 1971 |
Their second album, entitled "Formula 3", was entirely based on songs by Lucio Battisti and contained two more classics, "Eppur Mi Son Scordato Di Te" and the long "Nessuno Nessuno", also released as a short-form single. They continued to be very successful and there is no one in Italy who isn't familiar some of their songs, to this day."
After more albums, reformations and related acts, founding F3 guitarist Alberto Radius passed last year (2023). Drummer Tony Cicco is still touring in 2024 and you can read an interview with him at PsychedelicBaby (link).
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| I Top 4 - Imaggine 1971 |
Similarly to Il Segno Dello Zodiaco, here's a galloping side of rock n roll, but this time using an extra fuzzy guitar tone, with that wavering pitch that gives it a stoned quality I really dig! All the digital versions of this track I could find have a sound quality issue where one of the channels has an overbearing bass tone that ruins the stereo image and muffles the whole song to boot.
This may be an issue with the original recording of course, I have ordered a CD including this track in the hope it will sound better. In the mean-time I have loaded it up in Audacity, dialed down the bass on the left channel slightly and moved the balance nearer to center. Its still not perfect as the original bitrate wasn't the best to start with, but it's a noticeable improvement and this is now the best-sounding version you'll find online, in my humble opinion.
italianprog.com: "Their singles were halfway between pop and soft prog, but I Top 4 from Parma were also featured in the Ariston label's "Al Festival Pop Di Viareggio 1971" compilation with three good tracks, only one of which, Immagine, had also been released on single. The group formed in 1966, played at Viareggio and Travagliato festivals, and included guitarist Roby Facini, later with Dik Dik and for a short while in Acqua Fragile before the end of that group. In 1973, I Top 4 changed their name to Ozymandias and became the backing band of singer Riccardo Fogli."
Here's a very obscure 45 that has two brilliant sides. Either could have been included here! The single is perfectly produced and composed heavy psych, to the same standard as any of the best Italian bands. There are so many parts and layers to the songs. Most bands would happy to have this much variety in a whole album!
italianprog.com: "This artist, that had previously played with beat group I Girasoli, released a rare and beautiful psych-inspired single in 1971, but it went unnoticed. Righini reappeared with a more commercial mini-LP in 1980, Melinda, a 12-inch 'Q-disc' with four tracks."
italianprog.com: "This artist, that had previously played with beat group I Girasoli, released a rare and beautiful psych-inspired single in 1971, but it went unnoticed. Righini reappeared with a more commercial mini-LP in 1980, Melinda, a 12-inch 'Q-disc' with four tracks."
Discography:
45 - Mondo Malato/Non Era Un Sogno (Delta ZD 50077 - 1971)
EP - Melinda (RCA PG 33406 - 1980)
Here's a groovy stomping b-side from a drummer, singer and composer called Rosario Sferrazza. He made various styles of music under different stage names, of which "Theodoro Re Dei Poeti" was one. One of his acts recorded this song again in the later '70s. This new rendition is also very good, after consideration I used the 1974 version here as it's a tad more raw and heavy.
italianprog.com: "Sicily's Rosario Sferrazza was briefly influenced by the progressive style during his long and eclectic career. After some 1960s singles with his beat group I Cavernicoli, he reappeared for a 1974 single under the name Theodoro Re Dei Poeti. It contains a rock'n'roll track on the a-side, while flipside "Preparati Bambina" has a flute part closer to progressive sounds. The same song, with different lyrics and titled "Jump On The Motorcycle" is also included on a single by another name he used, Theodorking Group, circa 1978, containing "Young Amazzonia" on the a-side. Other names he used on record were Theodorking Sax and Diego Pepe. A CD compilation was released in 2007, dedicated to all his groups, entitled 'Theodor King Group Collection 1974-1980'."
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| Il Balletto Di Bronzo in studio 1970 |
This track is just fantastic all the way. The propulsive and funky rhythm section gets down to work straight away and never lets up. On top of that, the song is littered with mini breakdowns and small melodic guitar diversions that are always taking it to new places. This is one that contemporary stoner rock fans of Kyuss et al are going to love I think!
I probably use this example too often, but again we have a band that effortlessly packs more creativity in to a three minute song than many bands can summon up for a whole album. This is as good an example of what Italian bands excel at as any other track here, and the production has to be equally praised for enabling these ingredients to hit the ears in a coherent way.
I probably use this example too often, but again we have a band that effortlessly packs more creativity in to a three minute song than many bands can summon up for a whole album. This is as good an example of what Italian bands excel at as any other track here, and the production has to be equally praised for enabling these ingredients to hit the ears in a coherent way.
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| Il Balletto Di Bronzo - Sirio 2222 |
The long suite "Missione Sirio 2222" is one of the best tracks, while most of the others are in the 3-minute length, typical of the time. Some collectors consider it as one of the best LPs in the Italian prog field, others think it's still not a mature group's work. Without doubt it's a very important one.
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| Il Balletto Di Bronzo - Ys |
Balletto split in 1973 due to artistic differences, the last concerts and a final single, "La Tua Casa Comoda", were played by Leone and founding drummer Giancarlo Stringa, as a duo. Leone had a short solo career under the name of Leo Nero, the others went to live in Sweden and left the Italian scene."
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| La Seconda Genesi - Tutto Deve Finire |
Here's a track that accompanies the proceeding track from Il Balletto Di Bronzo very well, released a couple of years later in 1972, but also having a sound equally representative of the late '60s. It's another superbly tight 3 minute package, cramming a lot into its short length including a wider range of instrumentation with flute and hammond organ. The rest of the album on the other hand, is quite different to Balletto and more jazz orientated, veering further away from the usual TDATS territory.
Thus far, there are no band photos of La Seconda Genesi publicly available, and there is no singular album cover to show, as every individual copy had it's own unique hand-made paint splatter design.
A band from near Viterbo in the Lazio region of Italy, Seconda Genesi have become famous among prog fans for one of the rarest (and much sought after) Italian albums of the 70's, "Tutto Deve Finire", released in 1972 in just 200 copies, all with different painted covers, that finally achieved a vinyl reissue decades after its initial release.
The group formed in 1971 by musicians coming from various experiences: Paride De Carli (guitar) and Pier Carlo "Sandro" Leoni (drums) had played for a few years on cruise ships in a band called Mhanas. Alberto Rocchetti (keyboards, vocals) and Giambattista Bonavera (sax, flute) had previously played in I Rokketti. La Seconda Genesi made a one live appearance, at the 2nd "Festival d'Avanguardia e Nuove Tendenze" held in Rome in June 1972. Then they broke up soon after but all the members continued in musical careers. Keyboardist Alberto Rocchetti has long played with Italian singer Vasco Rossi.
You can read an interview with Pier Carlo "Sandro" Leoni and Paride De Carli conducted c.2005 at canino.info (link). More collectors information can be read at italianprog.com (link).
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| Ricordi D'Infanzia |
This comp nears the end with two examples of the classical & operatic influence that is abound in Italian prog. Ricordi D'Infanzia expertly combines the tragedy of opera and fury of hard rock seamlessly into the three minutes of "L'Eden".
italianprog.com: "A five-piece from Brianza, Ricordi D'Infanzia only released an album and a couple of singles in 1973. They had previously played under the name of Gli Aspidi and were also present on the Fonit compilation "Nuovi Complessi D'avanguardia Da Radio Montecarlo". Becoming "Ricordi D'Infanzia" in 1972, they supported bands such as I Pooh and Le Orme.
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| Ricordi D'Infanzia - Io Uomo LP |
The album went unnoticed due to lack of promotion from the record company. The group had a line-up change, with newcomers Gianni Bari (sax) and Ugo Biondi (keyboards) replacing Franco Cassina and Maurizio Vergani, and they played until 1976."
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| Passio Secundum Mattheum LP (1972) |
Our closer starts with caustic, thrashing riffage which transmutes into some gorgeous vintage Moog sounds, and ends in a short but sweet guitar solo that sees out TDATS volume 156 perfectly...
italianprog.com: "A group from Genova, this young three-piece was one of the Italian bands with the strongest classical influences. They were formed in 1971 by guitarist Marcello Giancarlo Dellacasa, who had previously collaborated with I Giganti on their Terra In Bocca album. Drummer Alfio Vitanza was only 16 years old! A keyboard-orientated trio in the same style as ELP or Le Orme in Italy, their first album was "Passio Secundum Mattheum", with Bach-inspired music and lyrics on the Gospel of Matthew. An ambitious work, which has its moments.
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| Latte E Miele |
The band had a good live activity, and even supported Van der Graaf Generator in one of their Italian tours. A good 1974 live recording was made available by Mellow with their Latte e Miele Live CD."
Latte E Miele disbanded in 1974 but reformed in 1976, with only Alfio Vitanza from the original line-up. After the album "Aquile E Scoiattoli", best known for its 23-minutes-suite "Pavana", they gradually abandoned the progressive style and approached pop-rock. After disbanding in the early 1980s, the original line-up reunited in 2008.
That's all for this episode! If you like what I do then please take a look at my social links below and sign-up or support as you please. I upload great music regularly to Youtube (link) and Mixcloud (link), and followers are welcome to share their own obscure heavy favourites in the Facebook group.
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TDATS social links
Further listening:
The Day After The Sabbath 78: I Was Only Dreaming [Flutes in prog special]
The Day After The Sabbath 78: I Was Only Dreaming [Flutes in prog special]
The Day After The Sabbath 137: Tierra del Fuego [Argentina part 1]
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