I QUELLI (PRE PFM): FLASHBACK: I GRANDI SUCCESSI ORIGINALI

Really strange situation that I faced in ProgArchives for this compilation. In fact there are all kinds team included with ProgArchives and of course there is that of the ISP. But none on this team has 10 seconds to try to find this compilation! I could go further but I want to write these notes without cause complaint against me. I Quelli first are the first incarnation of the PFM. If I become PFM is only because of the traumatic divorce between Mogol and Bsttisti and Ricordi (cause the policy and Colombini producer) who formed Numero Uno label (Lucio Battisti, Formula 3, PFM, Acqua Fragile...). Certainly I quelli are not prog. But only because I quelli recorded with this monicker from 1965 to 1967. With I Quelli one of the guitarists was, for few time, Alberto Radius. I Quelli played typical Italian Beat with English covers sung in Italy (but 'Hush' is sung in English directly). For a proghead, a good proghead the better songs are sure: 'Lacrime E Pioggia (Rain And Tears)' (original by Aphrodite's Child), 'Questa Città Senza Te (Even the Bad Times Are Good)', '15 Anni', 'Quattro Pazzi' (Heavy Proto Prog! Great furious guitar), 'Hush' and 'Tornare Bambino (Hole In My Shoe)' (original by Traffic). Interesting also 'Una Bambolina Che Fa No No' (original by polnareff) that is an evergreen of Italian POP. Other to music, that is Beat but extreme technical (and tis was not found in other Italian Beat bands) I Quelli are important band in Italy because is the first band that use a Mellotron in Italy.

For me this compilation is fundamental for all who love Italian prog and symphonic prog. But clearly is not a masterpiece and 4 stars are only in function of the historical merit.