Progarchives, the progressive rock ultimate discography
Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso - Capolinea CD (album) cover

CAPOLINEA

Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso

Rock Progressivo Italiano


From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

Bookmark and Share
michele@acse.
3 stars The title of this first live album by Banco is very meaningful: although it simply recalls the name of the jazz club where the album has been recorded, it sounds like the last hallo to the progressive era (Capolinea means terminus, end of the run). The song are selected from the highlights of the band and the only new, in the name but not in the substance, track ("Capolinea") is a jam session based on the theme of "Fino alla mia porta". Even if quite pleasant to hear, the album is interesting mostly for its historical meaning.
Report this review (#12592)
Posted Tuesday, December 7, 2004 | Review Permalink
soundsweird
PROG REVIEWER
1 stars I seem to remember hearing (in 1979) that this live album was a commercial sellout, but I went ahead and bought it anyway. How bad is it? I listened to it ONCE (in utter disbelief, I might add), and immediately got rid of it. So, it's hard for me to remember exactly how each song was changed, but I do remember a distinct DISCO beat on at least one song. Of course, now we can all laugh and breathe a sigh of relief because that was long ago, and Banco (and PFM) have returned to their prog roots. But, at the time this was a very depressing development for my friends and me. I feel better having exorcised this demon.
Report this review (#12594)
Posted Tuesday, April 19, 2005 | Review Permalink
silvertree
PROG REVIEWER
1 stars This is a live album. Even though the band performs classics from their earlier albums, they have transformed them to sound like... disco ! Just how low can you get... The horns first heard on Canto di Primavera are abused of in this live recording, as well as female backing vocals. Even the song "R.I.P." sounds like disco... I just can't believe it. Well, if you're a collector like me... otherwise, stay away from this one.
Report this review (#12595)
Posted Wednesday, April 20, 2005 | Review Permalink
2 stars This one is a bit of a let down.

Can just imagine - it's end of 70's, disco is becoming more and more powerful by the day, and guys called Banco del Mutuo Soccorso are sitting and discussing what they are going to do tomorrow, when no one will be interested anymore in high quality symphonic progressive rock, but rather all go to disco-clubs. And suddenly one of them suggests: "OK, guys, time is changing, let us change with the time. Let's try and re-play all our symphonic rock masterpieces in meaningless disco manner." Others agree to try it, and, here we go - guys go on stage and Capolinea is born.

Sorry for my fantasies here, but frankly I can't see any other half-sensible explaination to this album. Actually rating should be as follows: 1 star for newbies not familiar with Banco yet - stay away from this album, and 3 stars for people who already know that Banco are genius. And the average is 2 stars which fits perfectly here - for collectors/fans only.

Report this review (#41187)
Posted Monday, August 1, 2005 | Review Permalink
memowakeman
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR
Honorary Collaborator
2 stars First live album, but not that good.

Yesterday i read Mandrakerootīs review of this album and wanted immediately to review it, but i had no time until today, anyway this is an album that i wanted to review since the very first time i listen to it because it was my first experience with a live album from this magnific Italian band, actually i havenīt listened to this for some months, but i remember very well itīs content.

Knowing the beauty and quality of the music that this group of musicians, any italian prog lover, or any prog lover would be interested on listening to a live album from one of the most well known bands in the 70īs, i was interested as well, so i managed to get it and was happy, then obviously i put it on my cd player and what happened?

I enjoyed it very much, but since the first song i noticed something different which didnīt make me as happy as i would have wished, this live album was released in 1979, in the dying days of the 70īs, in the preamble of the 80īs, and that was... this live act was sadly "infected" by the pop - disco sound of the late 70īs early 80īs, and you will notice it as well. At first, i tried to enjoy it ( and enjoyed it actually) becuase it was the first time i listened to their music in a live album, but then after the third, fourth and fifht times i was very dissapointed, this album has nothing to do with the beauty of their 70īs masterpieces, no matter the lineup with the unique voice of Di Giacomo, and the always talented Nocenci brothers, the music isnīt the same.

You might think that the album itself is good because of the songs performed, which are from their early releases obviously, well im sorry to say that despite being the same songs, the sound is different, that leads me to say that this live album called "Capolinea" is not recommendable, only RPI lovers might enjoy it, so 2 stars for me, actually i think it is not that bad, but compared with what it should be, definitely itīs bad, collectors and fans only.

Report this review (#118070)
Posted Wednesday, April 11, 2007 | Review Permalink
ZowieZiggy
PROG REVIEWER
2 stars WHEN BANCO PLAYS DISCO...A TOTAL FIASCO !

I could hardly believe it when I was listening to the opening number "Il Ragno". When "Banco" meets "Saturday Night Fever". Absolutely awful. A disco /beat ! Yes, "Banco" playing disco. Disgusting. Horrible. Incredible. To be avoided or shown as an example in music schools to show what NOT to do. Shame on you "Banco".

Hopefully not all the songs will be that bad. But don't expect some brilliant album. "Banco" is far from bringing us to heaven here (we are really close to hell). Even if" Canto..." is a good version and the wonderful "750.000..." is superb.

But the joy will be VERY short. Just listen to the infect "Capolinea" to get an idea. Atrocious. Same stupid beat with jazz flavours. Fully jam-oriented. And the worst is to come. Another funky / disco version of the great "RIP". Fortunately, there is a studio version to confirm that "Banco" was an Italian symphonic band, otherwise you wound't believe it. Shame on you again "Banco". What did you do to my song? Ils ont changé ma chanson !

There is one positive point with this album : it is very short, so your nightmare shouldn't be too long while listening to this. But there is no reason to do so. The second great song is the closing number . The subtle, tender, passionate and beautiful "Non Mi Rompete". Sublime (although that the finale is not on par).

Why did "Banco" not played more of their repertoire in their original format ? A mystery. Two stars but really difficult to digest.

Report this review (#140373)
Posted Monday, September 24, 2007 | Review Permalink
NotAProghead
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR
Errors & Omissions Team
3 stars Better than many people say

''Shame!'', ''Disco!'', ''They betrayed prog ideals!'', ''Why Banco did not kill themselves after this record?'' - is what we often read here and there about ''Capolinea''. Is this album really that bad? I don't think so.

On the contrary, we have here perfectly sounding live record of BANCO. Yes, with its highs and lows. The opener ''Il ragno'' has funky beat, pretty good for this uplifting song. Then we hear a decent version of ''Canto di primavera'', quite close to studio original. There are excellent melodic bass lines (fretless bass I guess) throughout the whole song and contrasting heavier part in the end of ''750.000 anni fa ... l'amore'' from ''Darwin!''. Nice! ''Capolinea'' is an instrumental jam based on ''Fino alla mia porta'' theme from the album ''Come in un'ultima cena''. Good live version again.

The only obvious flaw is, in my opinion, new arrangements of ''R.I.P.''. Funky (or, if you like, disco) beat and jazzy scats ruin dramatic atmosphere of one of the band's greatest songs, additionally reduced here to 4 and a half minutes. From the other hand, it's musicians' right to play their own music in some different way. Probably such significant song like ''R.I.P.'' was a wrong choice for experiments while in case of instrumental ''Garofano rosso'' new arrangements work quite well.

One of the best versions of ''Non mi rompete'' closes this short live album. I don't know whether this record presents the whole concert. Back then, in vinyl days, it was a risky move to make a double album. If other songs from that gig were recorded and longer CD will be released one day I'll be among those who orders a copy.

Report this review (#427356)
Posted Sunday, April 3, 2011 | Review Permalink
2 stars The live album and double shock for a listener. A progressive rock band that has released solid prog rock albums now, comes with a disco-beat based live album? Let's be open, the live performance is solid, even though there are no echoes of their first three albums. There are new songs and some short older cuts from the second half of the 70's. Their hit "Canto di primavera" with distinct southern flavour is well accepted and it has a nice percussion section. "Capolinea" are two instrumental tracks, of course simplified to fit into 1979 but still worth listening. I can't grant 3 stars because I would have to reclassify all my previous reviews, so 2 it will be :-).
Report this review (#2271385)
Posted Sunday, October 20, 2019 | Review Permalink

BANCO DEL MUTUO SOCCORSO Capolinea ratings only


chronological order | showing rating only

Post a review of BANCO DEL MUTUO SOCCORSO Capolinea


You must be a forum member to post a review, please register here if you are not.

MEMBERS LOGIN ZONE

As a registered member (register here if not), you can post rating/reviews (& edit later), comments reviews and submit new albums.

You are not logged, please complete authentication before continuing (use forum credentials).

Forum user
Forum password

Copyright Prog Archives, All rights reserved. | Legal Notice | Privacy Policy | Advertise | RSS + syndications

Other sites in the MAC network: JazzMusicArchives.com — jazz music reviews and archives | MetalMusicArchives.com — metal music reviews and archives

Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.