Greatest Italian Prog One-offs

Hello all, it's a pleasure to be part of this community.  I've somewhat recently been introduced, thanks in part to this great site, to the wonderful world of Rock Progressivo Italiano.  I only wish I knew about it sooner!  I was quite young in the early 70's, but had an older brother, and it was his album collection that started my lifelong love of prog: Crimson, Yes, Tull, Genesis, ELP, others.  But he was unaware of the Italian stuff.  And I somehow never learned of it.  Anyway, thank you internet (and some friends of mine)!

Now to the reason for the thread.  I'd like to get people's opinions on the greatest Italian Prog groups that were on-offs, i.e. they made one album, probably in the 70's, and that was it.  You could just list them, or, better yet, give the album(s) and your reasons for adoring it (them).

BTW, I think for the sake of this list groups like Museo Rosenbach and Locanda Delle Fate should count; if a band ended up making another record, but so much later that perhaps we can discount it for these purposes, let's include their initial effort. 

I'll start:

Reale Accademia di Musica - Reale Accademia di Musica
This album fascinates me.  There may be better records, but I love it for the way each song builds upon the last, until you reach the wonder of 'Lavoro in citta'' only to be topped by the inexpressible grandeur and downright Rock of 'Vertigine.'

Museo Rosenbach - Zarathustra
The title track album side is an amazing epic tour de force.  But unlike with Tarkus, side two does not disappoint.  'Della Natura' includes some of the best composition I've heard; truncation of the chord progression the second time through on the vocals pleases me every time.  Great album through and through!

Maxophone - Maxophone (Italian version)
I'm not a huge fan of jazz per se, and there is that influence here.  But I kept realizing that, when I got a hold of a number of Italian Prog albums and listened to them over time, and songs by different bands began to blend together in my head to where I'd lose track of who did what, this would inevitably be the album that I'd cycle back to and find myself saying, "wow, so that's the song that had that section in it!"  From the opening piano arpeggios (a first-inversion C# soon overlaid by a second-inversion D minor) to the gospel strains at the close of 'Antiche Conclusioni Negre', the album bubble with precision and musical wit, great composition.  It may however be too anthemic at times for some, but I can forgive this myself.  Oh, and my advice is try to ignore the bonus tracks on the CD; they add nothing, they even detract.


OK, I'm getting long winded, and I'm really trying to get us all talking and learn what the rest of you think.  I could certainly review other acts, but I'll hold off and not spoil anyone else's fun!

One last thing.  My knowledge of the Italian language is pretty much limited to the words found in music notation.  If your opinion is based in lyrical understanding please say so, and school the rest of us!


Regards,
AmK

Hi AK!!   A favorite subject of mine.  I keep a running list of 25 in my Blog, also noted about 4 pages back in this section of threads.  Not all are "one-offs" but they are the titles I consider underappreciated yet essential for RPI fans. 

hi man, welcome to the site...i promise my list soon, there are lots of RPI bands that did just one album and sadly dissapeared  or disbanded

technically not 'one offs', but both Corte dei Miracoli and Biglietto per L'Inferno released one terrific album in 1972 and 74, though they both later released albums of old work in the 90s

Other great groups with just one album (or a second album released many years later)

ALPHATAURUS: Same (Dietro l'uragano was released until 1994 although it was recorded in the 70's)
ALUSA FALAX: In torno a la mia cattiva educazione
CAMPO DI MARTE: Same
CERVELO: Melos
DE DE LIND: io non so da dove vengo ...
FESTA MOBILE: Diario di viaggio della festa mobile (later became Il Baricentro, but more jazz oriented than progressive)
IL PAESE DEI BALOCCHI: Same
J.E.T. Fede, speranza, caritá
LOCANDA DELLE FATE: Fose le luciole (they relleased a really bad album in 1999)
MURPLE: Io sono Murple (recently they released Quadri di un'esposizione)
RACCOMANDATA RICEVUTA RITORNO: Per ... un mondo di cristallo
SEMIRAMIS: Dedicatto a Frazz
TRIADE: 1988 La Storia di Sabazio

My all time favourite was already mentioned her (MUSEO ROSENBACH) although they made an unfortunate comeback in 2000 with the album Exit.

Rosenbach - hello Mexico City.  What is it that makes Zarathustra your favorite?  Just asking because, well, this is the first real chance I have to talk with people about this!

You mention Semiramis.  I have Dedicatto on right now.  In fact, those chunking guitars just kicked in on 'Uno Zoo Di Vetro'.  This album is wonderful.  First run through, I admit, I was somewhat critical.  But I've come to love its boldness.  There is really nothing like it.  If by the first minute of the last track you don't have yourself fully invested, well you should have your hearing checked.  And that cover grabbed me from the start. 

I'll think about it for a while, but it shouldn't be very hard. Welcome to the site 

I remember the first time i listened Zarathustra (on a bad quality tape in the late 80's) and instantly caught my atention because is so strong, dark, aggressive and emmotional,with a lot of mellotron layers; I would agree with anyone who say this maybe isn't the most technically played album of PRI (i would say Il Balletto di Bronzo would be that), that the lyrics are pretencious (although i understand just a little italian) or that the singer isn't the best from Italy (I vote for Stratos and Di Giacomo) but as a whole for me is perfect from start to end.

On the other hand their comeback album from 2000 was a huge dissapointement.

check this out... great album... 

hahahha...  god I love prog lyrics....