Italian Prog

Cesar Inca wrote:   AREA is missing in this poll!! DEMETRIO STRATOS: you're not gone, just a bit far away.

I wouldn't really consider Area Italian prog. For one, their music can't be classified like other Italian prog groups. They didn't have the italian "sound" For two, they were only half Italian... (three Italians, one French, one Belgian, one greek)

Banco and PFM are the two most well known Italian prog bands, but I find their post 1975 output disappointing.  And don't even touch the English versions of PFM's albums - Sinfield's lyrics are not translations of the Italian and are totally unsympathetic to the music and the vocalists' obvious difficulty with the English language makes the whole thing sound very strained.  The Italian originals of the first 3 PFM albums are the best to go for.  Here's my top 10 list (for what it's worth):

1. Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso - Io Sono Nato Libero (1973)

2. Premiata Forneria Marconi - Per Un Amico (1972)

3. Museo Rosenbach - Zarathustra (1973)

4. Le Orme - Felona E Sorona (1973)

5. Alphataurus - Alphataurus (1973)

6. Biglietto Per L'Inferno - Biglietto Per L'Inferno (1974)

7. Il Balletto Di Bronzo - Ys (1972)

8. Campo Di Marte - Campo Di Marte (1972)

9. Corte Dei Miracoli - Corte Dei Miracoli (1976)

10. Maxophone - Maxophone (1975) (The Italian version, not the English language version!)

By the way, the closest English translation of Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso would be "The Mutual Aid Bank" but the literal translation is "The Self Help Bank", which explains the pun of the money box on the cover of the first album.  Premiata Forneria Marconi is best translated as "Marconi's Prize Winning Bakery" (although don't ask me why they chose this name!)

Banco and PFM are the two most well known Italian prog bands, but I find their post 1975 output disappointing.  And don't even touch the English versions of PFM's albums - Sinfield's lyrics are not translations of the Italian and are totally unsympathetic to the music and the vocalists' obvious difficulty with the English language makes the whole thing sound very strained.  The Italian originals of the first 3 PFM albums are the best to go for.  Here's my top 10 list (for what it's worth):

1. Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso - Io Sono Nato Libero (1973)

2. Premiata Forneria Marconi - Per Un Amico (1972)

3. Museo Rosenbach - Zarathustra (1973)

4. Le Orme - Felona E Sorona (1973)

5. Alphataurus - Alphataurus (1973)

6. Biglietto Per L'Inferno - Biglietto Per L'Inferno (1974)

7. Il Balletto Di Bronzo - Ys (1972)

8. Campo Di Marte - Campo Di Marte (1972)

9. Corte Dei Miracoli - Corte Dei Miracoli (1976)

10. Maxophone - Maxophone (1975) (The Italian version, not the English language version!)

By the way, the closest English translation of Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso would be "The Mutual Aid Bank" but the literal translation is "The Self Help Bank", which explains the pun of the money box on the cover of the first album.  Premiata Forneria Marconi is best translated as "Marconi's Prize Winning Bakery" (although don't ask me why they chose this name!)