LUCIO BATTISTI VOL. 4

Volume 4 was released by Battisti in the fall of 1971. It was a collection of previously unreleased singles teamed with some tracks from his previously released studio albums. His classic punchy rocker "Dio Mio No" appears again from the wonderful "Amore e non Amore" album, which is my favorite Lucio album to date. From his debut there are two excellent tracks in "29 Settembre" and "La Mia Canzione per Maria." The latter is a very catchy pop song and Settembre is lovely and romantic, great choices. There are likewise two selections from "Emozione," "Mi Ritorni in Mente" and "Io Vivro Senza Te." The balance of the songs I believe are previously unreleased to this point. "Le Tre Verita" from 1971 shows the beautiful fragility of Lucio's upper register over some descending guitar lines, conveying a rather moody and uneasy vibe. "Adesso si" has a bit of a western (US) sound to the plucky guitar and harmonica, perhaps Lucio's stab at an old cowboy song with the sun going down over the hills. Sounds like something my old fave Arlo Guthrie would have tried on "Last of the Brooklyn Cowboys." "Luisa Rossi" is a single dating back to 1967 and sounds of the period, pleasant and sunny pop with a bit of horn and a playful Lucio. "Pensieri e Parole" and "Insieme a te sto bene" are the two sides of a 1971 single and both are solid. Volume 4 is not an essential album but it is a very enjoyable collection of tracks which I prefer to the previous collection "Emozione." If you like any of the first several studio albums you are bound to enjoy the mix presented on Volume 4.