| # | Artist | Song (click to play) | Album | Year | CD label |
| 1 | Premiata Forneria Marconi | Impressioni di Settembre | Storia Di Un Minuto | 1972 | RCA |
| PFM, and especially because of this album, are regarded as one of the guiding lights of Italian progressive rock music. This album perfectly melds pastoral classicism, with elements of rock and touches of jazz with hints of influence from groups like Van Der Graaf Generator and the Moody Blues. | |||||
| 2 | Apoteosi | Prima Realta | Apoteosi | 1975 | Mellow |
| This is a wonderful symphonic album with female vocals that sound remarkably like those in Quidam. The music is very well written and original. Much of the album has such melodicism that it seems as though I have been listening to this album for many years. Laser's Edge has this listed in his catalog for $8 - a steal! The music does remind a bit of Camel's _Mirage_ and _Snow Goose_ albums. But, not a copy, in any sense of the word. | |||||
| 3 | Il Baricentro | Sconcerto | Sconcerto | 1976 | Mellow |
| An all-instrumental fusion/prog band with dual keyboards. In a similar vein as early Brand-X and Nova. It also has a funky element to it, perhaps like Weather Report. There also seems to be an influence of early Cobham solo material. This is very good fusion album and recommended to dedicated fusion fans, but, for someone new to fusion, there are many other better things to check out first. This album has apparently gone out of print, so it may be difficult to get soon. | |||||
| 4 | Area | Cometa Rossa | Caution Radiation Area | 1974 | Cramps Records |
| I was initially scared off from checking this band out because of the descriptions of the wild vocal theatrics and the avant-garde nature of the music. But, I read enough rantings and raving about the group to know that I had to at least check them out. The first cd that I purchased from them was _Crac!_ and I was instantly bowled over. The music is as ferocious and Mahavisnu's _Birds of Fire_, but, with many more twists and turns. Maybe Frank Zappa's work would be an apropo comparison. There is definately an element of humor in the compositions. The vocals, while unusual, are truly remarkable and highly original, sometimes resembling yodeling. | |||||
| 5 | Le Orme | L'Equilibrio | Felona E Sorona | 1973 | Philips |
| Loads of beautiful keyboard work and melancholy vocals. When I saw A Piedi Nudi at Progday last year, the vocals reminded me alot of those on this Orme album. The compositions sound melancholy, as well. The songs flow effortlessly for a true classic of keyboard based progressive music. This album is totally awesome, dude. | |||||
| 6 | Metamorfosi | Introduzione | Inferno | 1972 | Vinyl Magic / Siwan |
| Heavy keyboard classic. The ELP influence is obvious, but, it goes far beyond that. The operatic vocals remind of Banco, except that Spitaleri's voice is much deeper. The album concept is apparently about Dante's Inferno. The music does very well at transporting you to other worlds in the manner of Geneis' _Nursery Cryme_ for example. Many dark and beautiful moments. | |||||