Osanna ~ Italy

Preludio Tema Variazioni Canzona (Milano Calibro 9). (1974)

---2004

A soundtrack, but hardly sounds like one. Other than a couple of ballad missteps, this has some of the hottest licks Osanna ever committed to tape. And with this band, that's saying something! Closest to Palepoli in sound and structure.

---4/11/23

Yep - that's about right. As with all the classic Osanna albums, they have a tendency to shift gears too fast before letting a good section marinate for awhile. It's also a bit harsh in sound, considering the guitar tone and sax squeal. There's a bit of romantic whiny singer songwriter in here as well, that detracts a bit. Overall, it remains a solid 4 star effort.

Ownership: 1974 Fonit (LP). Textured gatefold. Acquired in 2000. 

First copy: 1974 Peters (LP). Acquired in 1988.

1988; 2000; 2004 (notes); 12/3/17; 4/11/23 (review)

Landscape of Life (1974)

Landscape of Life is an album I've grown to enjoy much more than on original impact (1989). The English vocal tracks just aren't what Osanna are about. They still bring some of that crazy Palepoli attitude, but as I noted there, Osanna oddly is a band that never resonated with me much to begin with. One of those "no Italian prog collection is complete without" items, but there's no urgency here either.

Ownership: 1974 Fonit (LP). Textured gatefold. Acquired in 2019.

First copy: 1974 Peters (LP). Acquired in 1989.

1989; 2004; 8/7/13; 12/26/22; 1/9/23 (review)

Palepoli (1973)

If The Free Design represents one of my most favorite bands subjectively speaking, then Osanna represents the objective side. I'd go so far to suggest that Palepoli might be my highest rated album - that I actually don't feel. It has all the trademarks of a classic brilliant Italian prog album - the turn-on-a-dime meter and thematic shifts, the never-know-what's-going-to-happen-next unpredictability. It's not particularly professional and captures the band at the height of their frenzied amateur vision. All things I adore. And yet I always hear it detached. I don't get involved with it in the same manner as a Balletto di Bronzo, Biglietto per L'Inferno, Museo Rosenbach, Semiramis, or Jumbo. But I really don't know why. I guess there's some parts here that sound some like 50s rock n' roll and a little bit of that Italian restaurant "Whats-a-matta-you, HAY!". I dunno - honestly it's a superb slice of Italian prog pie. My rating remains at almost the highest level (4.5 stars), but not at the very top tier.

Ownership: 

1973 Fonit (LP). Gatefold with lyric insert. Acquired in 2003.

2004 Arcangelo (CD). Gatefold papersleeve. Apparently all the reissues have additional music to the original LP, which I have yet to validate. Acquired in 2004.

First copy: 1978 Fonit-Cetra (LP). Acquired in 1990.

1990; 2/27/99; 2004; 6/19/22 (review)

I own and need to review L'Uomo

Also once owned Suddance

6/19/22 (new entry)