franc'O'brain

Distorted guitars and mellotron, visionary lyrics... a milestone of prog rock! NOT, however, the first prog album. The Moody Blues and Deep Purple were already experimenting with the fusion of pop rock and classical music. And there was also the curious "A Whiter Shade of Pale" from those who would later become Procol Harum. However, "In The Court..." was certainly the album that had the most influence on the emerging genre (the progressive; often simply called "the new music") on an insular level (Yes, Genesis, ELP, Gentle Giant, Van der Graaf Generator, Jethro Tull) and then also on a euro-continental scale. Especially in Italy. (Re)listen, to believe, to the early albums of PFM, those from the period 1972-74.

Reading 'Beautiful Losers' to understand the true genius of Cohen the writer. A courageous, raw, sweaty, spermatic, and blood-tinged novel. After seven years spent on Hydra, a small island in the Aegean, Lenny decided to "go down among the people," dedicating himself to pop music with the confessed intention of making money. As stated in "Tabba In D-Shirt," these early songs of his are masterpieces out of time, and the highest rating is mandatory. But later, other masterpieces will come... Regarding the alleged "apolitical" stance of Cohen, it is obviously not true. The Canadian from Montreal was, for example, a member of the Communist Party... among other things.

"Trout Mask Replica" is his undisputed masterpiece, yes, but this "Safe As Milk" was the forerunner. Van Vliet alias Captain Beefheart lives today in Southern California and is said to have multiple sclerosis. Since leaving the world of music, he has devoted himself exclusively to painting. Here on his homepage is a gallery of several of his works: Whoops, can’t find that page » Captain Beefheart Radar Station

The belief that "Blonde On Blonde" is the first double LP in the history of music (rock) has already been largely debunked. Zappa's double "Freak Out" dates back to the same year, 1966, and according to various sources, it was released before "Blonde On Blonde." (I just noticed this observation - fusillo also pointed it out). Other than that, excellent and useful review. Well done!

I have this masterpiece on vinyl but I no longer own a turntable (mea culpa!). If I remember correctly (I think I read it in 'Mojo'), this double album was the Düül's attempt to conquer America, but the operation turned out to be - obviously! - a bit of a flop. And it's no surprise: their sounds are not easy listening. Recently I saw on ARTE (the Franco-German broadcaster) Ulrich Leopold on guitar and singer Renate Knaup. They now look like zombies, but they are still and again "out of sync" (let's say rather: avant-garde) like in 1970. He still has long hair (even if it's now gray): a miracle that they aren't arrested every time they step out onto the street in Germany...

A great record, just like the one that followed. I know both of them by heart. And then... what happened to Sorrenti? What a sad evolution for him! From "Serenesse" to "Figli delle stelle." It brought him a ton of money, for sure, but also tons of invective from those (like me) who loved him for his two "progress" LPs (the song "Vorrei incontrarti" still gives me chills even today). I know a guitarist who played live with him "after" the transfiguration. He says that Sorrenti (unlike, for example, Ivan Graziani, who treated musicians as his equals) was an eminent t.d.c. Maybe it was the drugs... who knows!

For Raffo: the lyrics of The Lamb in Italian can be found here: link rotto

The ones in English here: link rotto

"From Genesis To Revelation" is a well-known album, that's for sure. Jonathan King (just released from prison for a nasty business involving pedophilia) had it reissued by various labels with different titles and covers, and even added some previously unreleased tracks. Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Anthony Phillips, Mike Rutherford, and John Mayhew (the drummer; he’s now a carpenter in Australia) were all 17-18 years old at the time, and these debut songs already showcase their compositional greatness. Moreover, it’s worth noting that the backing vocals and orchestration a la Bee Gees were added without their knowledge (King was a fan of bubblegum pop and the Gibbs brothers, who at that time were still far from Saturday Night Fever). Many tracks, like "The Silent Sun," "In Hiding," and "In The Wilderness," along with those already mentioned by the author of this review, are sweet and beautiful... with that mystic-apocalyptic imprint that will characterize the band's more mature works.

Along with Atom Heart Mother, Ummagumma is absolutely the best work of the group – at least from the "early period." Pink Floyd are also great as a "prog" band, but listening again to their psychedelic grooves in the Third Millennium is a "terrific" experience (in a positive sense). I agree with puntiniCAZpuntini: one of the 10 best albums of all time.

I'm told that "Paradiso" is also a very successful album. I'll get my hands on it. Of course, now Spitalieri will have to conclude the trilogy. I hope it won't take him another quarter of a century (especially considering his age).