SUPERSTAR

Superstar is not an ufficial album: is an anthological Lp (with some unreleased pieces) published in 1982 by Armando Curcio Editore on concession of the PolyGram label. It was sold in newsstands, combined with a short monograph on the singer written by Adriano Mazzoletti.

This record includes some performances published only on 45 laps at the end of the sixities.

First side. 1) E' l'amore (It is love), the first song (2:31, text by Franco Battiato, music by Giorgio Logiri and Guido Lamorgese), is a melodic song, a different version from the 45 laps (here there are the violins). 2) Fumo di una sigaretta (Smoking a cigarette), 2:43 (text by Franco Battiato, music by Giorgio Logiri and Guido Lamorgese) is another melodic song sixties style. 3) Lacrime e pioggia (Tears and rain), 3:39 (text by Vito Pallavicini, original text by Boris Bergman, music by Vangelis Papathanassiou) is an unrealesed cover of the success of the Aphrodite's Child "Rain and Tears and Candlelight". 4) Sembrava una serata come tante (It seemed like an evening like many), 3:16 (text by Franco Battiato, music by Giorgio Logiri) is a boring song. 5) Gente (People), 3:13 (text by Giovanni Bonoldi, music by Giorgio Logiri) is a trivial piece. 6) "Iloponitnatsoc", that is the contrary of Costantinople, 1:53 (text by Franco Battiato, music by Giorgio Logiri) is a fragment of Gente. The songs are just passable.

Second side. 1) Bella Ragazza (Beautiful girl), 3.10 (text by Franco Battiato, music by Giorgio Logiri and Federico Mompellio) is a beat song, in a different version respect the 45 laps. 2) Lume di Candela (Candlelight), 3:04 (text by Franco Battiato, music by Giorgio Logiri) is less than passable. 3) "Occhi d'or (Golden Eyes), 5:38 (text by Paolo Farnetti, music by Giorgio Logiri and Federico Mompellio) is terrible. 4) Hot wind - 3:07 (text by Franco Battiato, music by Pëtr Il'ič Čajkovskij: it is the re-elaboration of a theme from the Concerto n. 1 for piano and orchestra in B flat minor Op. 23 by Pëtr Il'ič Čajkovskij, arrangement by Franco Battiato). No words. 5) Sidewalk - 2:57 (text and music by Franco Battiato).

In this album, which is more than anything else a historical repert, we listen to Battiato melodic and beat singer (the beat in Italy was dominant until 1970). Battiato has neither the voice nor the propensity to Italian melodies similar to lyrical arias and in fact in this role of interpreter (the music is almost always of other musicians) Battiato is completely out of place, and in fact the results are terrible. Fortunately, a few years later, Battiato will go to progressive. With other results.

Rating album: 5. One star.