GLI ANNI SETTANTA

I had always wanted to hear the songs from "Photos of Ghosts" in their original form, plus some of PFM's other work, and the 2-CD set "Gli Anni Settanta" (The 70's) seemed to be a good way to do that. And so it proved.

There are 4/7 tracks from "Storia Di Un Minuto" and 4/5 tracks from "Per Un Amico", PFM's first two (excellent) albums. There are 4/5 tracks from "L'Isola Di Niente", another excellent album. Also included is the track 'Chocolate Kings' from the album of the same name, 1 track from the album "Jet Lag" and 2/8 tracks from the album "Passpartu".

All my favourite pieces from "Photos of Ghosts" are here, but sung in the original Italian, plus other songs of equal stature. If you like progressive rock and jazz rock then you will not be disappointed. Violin, flute, keyboards of various types, guitar and percussion are used to form a rich, complex sound. Some tracks have an almost jazzy feel, others are laid back, others heavy; sometimes there is even an Irish sound to the music.

Apart from the more 'progressive' tracks I love the mellow tracks 'Grazie Davvero' and 'Dolcissima Maria' (from "Storia Di Un Minuto" and "L'Isola Di Niente", respectively).

If you are looking for melodic Progressive Rock with class then early PFM is a great choice, and this is a very good collection of their work from the 70's. Highly recommended to those who don't have the original albums but who want a good selection of PFM music. (If this were a 2-CD original rather than a compilation then it would have to be rated as a 5-star release.)

Fantastic compilation!!!

If you are new fan of Progressive Music, and really want to start getting into Italian Progressive Rock; I guess this is one to start, will give you a pretty darn good idea what PFM meant in the seventies and now!!!

Has most of their best moments from early albums, and some mix-bag of later stuff. I got it because, I simply adore everything PFM did...and this is one that I can carry in my car all the time, without messing my originals!

Not essential for the Prog head, unless is a completist of the Italian scene like me...but a good point to start for the newcomer...

Highly recommended!!!!

In the mid 70s I was the happy owner of the first 2 PFM's albums: "Storia di Un Minuto" and "Per Un Amico"; also other band albums were guests (maybe hostages) in my home. Good vinil times! I was really a PFM fan and also liked the Italian prog-scene.

Marriage, kids, cd players and other matters made me lose the vinils I had and return (or liberate) the borrowed ones. For more than 20 years a sensation of loss accompanied me.

Even having the possibility to purchase again the albums that were an integrant part of my youth I have no more a turntable since these works I found at a secondhand store. But then the miracle worked: a CD compilation containing all that stuff of the 70s, with the appropriate name of "Gli Anni Settanta" (The Seventies).

What a pleasure to listen to again to some memorable pages of the entire progressive; not only of the 'Italian prog' - a subgenre I do not understand. Ok, I miss at least one piece: the marvelous 'Dove...Quando...' (parts 1&2), but the material available is great.

Best tracks: 'Impressioni di settembre', a pastoral jewel that is now a classic of the Italian music; 'La carrozza di Hans', a splendid song, full of different and impressive tunes and times; 'Il banchetto', a kind of mini-epic owing nothing to the best epics of other great prog-bands; 'Dolcissima Maria', a beautiful and touching soft song; 'L'isola di niente', grandiose, spectacular; 'Per un amico', a pleasant jazzy track; 'Grazie davvero' and 'La luna nuova', well over the average.

A special word for 'È festa', the song they use to end their gigs and make everyone to rock and roll, exactly as I felt last July when they visited us and I had the unique opportunity to hear them live: Cioccio, Mussida, Djivas & Co. supplied us with an unforgettable show.

Doubtless, an excellent addition to any music collection. Total: 4.

I've had this compilation for a few years now.Contains plenty of Mellotron that will appeal to fans of Trespass and In The Court Of The Cimson King.Not really interesting though if you like your prog a little more harder edged and exciting.Perhaps though I'm missing the point as this does have a lot of atmosphere and a certain folky quality to it.However although the musicianship is top notch not a great deal of it grabs me personally.I think PFM are certainly an acquired taste that I have yet to acquire and the fact that all the songs here are sung in Italian is a problem to me as a non Italian speaking person. In summary this is an excellent addition to your prog collection if you want some PFM but want to avoid shelling out too many reddies.However on the grounds of my personal reservations I cant recommend it whole heartedly.Perhaps best to sit on the fence with a 3 star rating therefore as the musicianship certainly elevates this above 2 star mediocrity.