Museo Rosenbach - Zarathustra. 1973 Italy

This is one of those albums where I state to myself: "Didn't I write about this album already?" Nope. Uh, wait (takes a look at Gnosis). Oh cool - I did. Yaay. I forgot about that incident, but I was evaluating on whether or not to sell my LP extra copy on Contempo. Anyway, on to that review from 22 years ago:

"Melancholy, thy name is mellotron. And so it is with that, Zarathustra opens in this manner. A dire voice leads to a crashing guitar riff, and Museo Rosenbach has begun the journey to one of the finest albums ever made. Created in the fertile turf of 1973 Italy, Museo Rosenbach were either inspired by or were the inspiration for countless other bands, each vying for the public’s attention. The most creative musical scene in the annals of rock music to ever surface had a new champion. Heavy riffing guitar, bass, drums and various percussion are the instruments of choice. However, the standouts have to be Pit Corradi’s amazing mellotron and Hammond organ work coupled with the brilliant vocals of Stefano Galifi. There are no weak moments to be found, each composition winds its way through the corridors of the listener’s assumed over-active imagination. Whether it’s the side long title track or one of the 3 shorter songs found on Side 2 (especially 'Della Natura'), rest assured the attentive listener will be rewarded lavishly with each spin – a new twist or turn will become apparent. This discovery can go on for years. Certainly one of the all timers, a strong contender for greatest album ever. The perfect musical companion."

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No change in my opinion, and it appears this is the first time I've heard the album in full since then. That's crazy. I can't keep doing this with my favorites. If I wait another 22 years, I'll be 81. Will I even be able to hear then? So far so good, but who knows. In any case, while it's a strong contender for greatest album ever, and I do have a Gnosis 14 on it, it's not #1 for me. The competition from early 70s Italy is so ridiculously great, it's hard for an album like Zarathustra to make the Top 10 in that genre alone. It does for me, but I could make the argument that it's in tenth place. Wow. And yea, that mellotron is so mystical you just want to live in it. My favorite moment of the entire album is when Galifi belts out "SUPER UOMO!" and the band goes nuts afterward. Brilliant. 

Ownership: LP: 1973 Dischi Ricordi. Gatefold textured cover. It's just mind blowing how expensive this album has become. It was hardly pressed in great numbers, but it was imported to the US by Peters unlike the really rare ones like Capitolo 6 and E.A. Poe. But demand is exceedingly high, so Economics 101 has it going for 15 times what it did 20+ years ago. I got mine in the "early days of ebay" (1999) for... $75. I remember showing a guy at work how ebay operates. This was before sniping and other tools existed. So you had to be present to get in your last second bid. I miss those days. It was exhilarating.

LP: 1982 Seven Seas (Japan). Gatefold with obi. Acquired from a friend in Japan (1999). This too is now worth good money.

CD: 2003 BMG (Japan). Papersleeve edition. Love that they perfectly replicated the textured cover. Not the best sound - but neither is the LP.

The first copy I owned was the single Japanese pressing (1989). As noted above, I also owned the gatefold Contempo pressing. And believe it or not, I also had two earlier CD presses. A bit obsessive I suppose. But what shows above has been static for 20 years. I guess 2003 would have been the last listen actually, the year before I started journaling everything.

1989; 4/25/01 (Gnosis); 2003; 11/26/23 (new entry)