From my vantage point, Jumbo's third effort Vietato ai Minori di 18 Anni? is the single greatest Italian prog album ever made. And that's quite a bold statement when considering the competition, but one that has held true for me going on 20+ years now. But it wasn't my initial reaction. In the late 80s, with scant few other examples, I had no reference point for Jumbo. It was beyond my grasp. Oh make no mistake, I knew I had something special, and treasured the LP even back then - but it would continue to grow leaps and bounds in my mind. I've written quite a bit about albums such as Semiramis, Alphataurus, and Il Balletto di Bronzo's Ys in the past - even Jumbo's DNA - and they all have that unidentifiable something that makes the Italian early 70s scene so special. There's a randomness to it, yet it's cohesive, dynamic, and heavy. Right from the get, 'Specchio' is designed to make you feel uncomfortable. No one could sing like Alvaro Fella. He's an old folk busker who breaks out into yelling fits when he feels like it. His voice has the classic gravel tone many Italian vocalists possessed back then. 'Come Vorrei Essere Uguale A Te' is the jawdropper here. It's as heavy as any rock piece from the early 70s, while it goes into 100 different directions. A real headtwirler if there ever was one - like Sabbath playing the music of Semiramis. And it has the single best use of trombone in recorded rock history. The word gravitas comes to mind. 'Il Ritorno Del Signor K.' is a fun short sendup of the DNA album. This leads to 'Via Larga' which is classic Jumbo. Starts off in pastoral folk mode, something like Formula 3's La Grande Casa, only for Fella to break off into the punk rock field by throwing a tantrum. 'Gil' opens side 2, and we're off into druggy lala land, with Battiato's VCS3 buzzing about. And Asian tabla's and other foreign percussion to add an exotic vibe. 'Vangelo!' goes deep into the Twilight Zone and combines all of the above. As does the final two tracks. The ideas are endless here, and multiple close listens will reveal a different album each time. It's a mindblowing album to the nth degree, but it does require deep study.
Ownership: LP: 1973 Philips. Arguably the single most important LP in my collection. Once again, it's a time and place discovery. As noted in Il Balletto di Bronzo's Ys entry, Italian prog was still a new dimension for me. One month after that event, I had made the decision to visit every single record store in Dallas. Whether it was in a southern hardcore ghetto, or in a far reaching suburb, I was going no matter what. One of those stores was called VVV, which was right smack dab in the heart of the gay part of Dallas. But I was determined, and off I went for the first visit. What I found when I walked in is exactly what was expected - disco 12" singles, lots of 80s music, and records for the local populace. Then I wandered into the back room. And there, in a lonely bin, was a full selection of brand new sealed imports. Apparently a store in Wichita Falls (NW of Dallas) had gone bankrupt many years ago, and they ended up buying out some of their inventory. It was a goldmine, but I didn't really know what the hell I was doing yet. And I could afford only so much each visit (and I was unemployed - great combo!). Fortunately no one, and I mean no one, went to this store. Prog collectors I mean of course. So I was able to go back many times and continue to research and buy items. There was no internet, so I had to call some folks on the phone. Of all the great finds from that store, Vietato ai Minori di 18 Anni? is the crown jewel. And as noted at the top, it may be my all time favorite LP to own. Comes in a thick textured gatefold with a lyric inner sleeve. It's a beautiful package to behold, and it's still stone mint, just like the day I found it.
CD: 2001 Philips (Japan). Papersleeve edition that replicates the LP to the finest detail. There really aren't any great CD reissues of this album (and most Italian prog albums in general), so I'm more than happy to own this version.
3/88 (first listen); 8/22/21 (review/new entry)
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