As strange as it may seem, I was already familiar with albums by Il Balletto di Bronzo, Jumbo, Celeste, Il Volo, Formula 3, and a few others before I heard the Italian language Premiata Forneria Marconi albums. Though they all happened very close to each other chronologically in my life. As noted in the Live in U.S.A. review, my first exposure to Italian prog in general was PFM's Cook, an album that was beyond my understanding at the time, and really isn't representative of the band's foundational roots.
Another quirk was trying to understand exactly what Premiata Forneria Marconi had released. I had some mail order lists - and many entries from Goldmine - a dizzying array of what early PFM might be. This album, Storia di un Minuto, Premiata Forneria Marconi (which I later guessed to be Storia di un Minuto), Photos of Ghosts, Cook, Live in U.S.A., L'Isola di Niente, The World Became the World, The Award Winning Marconi Bakery. I kind of threw my hands up.
Finally I found a copy at a record show, and knew it was something I didn't own - and needed to own. Now the picture is beginning to form. The album today is considered an all-time classic of progressive rock, regardless of the country. It's not a chops heavy release, nor does it feature the usual raft full of meter breaks. Quite simply Per un Amico is a beautiful album. There are few albums that can invoke peak experiences track after track. In particular, 'Il Banchetto' is stunning. Mellotron is a feature instrument throughout the album, along with acoustic/electric guitar, flute, soft vocals in Italian, and violin. Few albums capture the pastoral countryside of Italy like Per un Amico does. It's a timeless classic. Not to say it doesn't have its critics, most coming from the "show me what you can do" camp. That approach is not going to work with Per un Amico. Wait for the sunset, grab a bottle of wine, sit on a hill in the countryside, and view the village below. The music will provide all the color you need.
Also worth noting is that when we started the Gnosis Project in 1999, Per Un Amico quickly rose to the top as the best album. One year after this, an Italian newspaper - I wish I could recall which one, or had at least preserved the article (so shortsighted!) - noticed the same phenomena that despite being an American based project (though global in scope), the Italian prog albums (sung in Italian no less) had risen to the top. Such is the timeless nature of recordings like this. Specialty archival releases aside, today - some 23 years later - it still occupies 3rd place on Gnosis, a whopping .01 points behind two classic King Crimson albums. This rating can change at any time and find itself right back at the top. Personally I prefer Per Un Amico to the KC albums, but it isn't my all-time favorite album either. It is, without a doubt though, a 5 star / Gnosis 13+ masterwork. Or what I now call "Self-Actualization Achieved".
Ownership: LP: 1972 Numero Uno. Absolutely beautiful gatefold depicting the contents within. Purchased in the summer of 1988 at the Dallas Record Show - not long after acquiring some of the Italian albums at VVV and Recycled.
CD: 2003 BMG (Japan). Exact repro of the above in miniature. This is the copy I usually listen to, last night no exception. There's not really any great reissues, though it's been re-released many times, including in large box sets.
1988; 10/10/22 (new entry)
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