Best Italian Prog one-offs

I discovered Rock Progressivo Italiano for myself largely due to ProgArchives.  I am hooked for life to this sub-genre!  This poll is for all lovers of RPI's early 70's flowering.

As I got into the bands, it was a most striking thing to me how there were all these cases wherein great musicians would make one album... then end.  All things must pass surely.  And then I noticed how, on repeated listening, it was usually these albums that I would turn to most, that I would come to call my favorites.

Above I've listed all 11 of the one-off albums that I have.  I'm sorry if I've missed any, but I couldn't honestly represent them anyway.  (For purposes of this poll I consider a band to still be a one-off even if they had one earlier record that was clearly not prog, like Balletto; and even if they did release another album but only decades later, like Celeste; and believe me I struggled over whether to include Il Biglietto per L'Inferno, but after all the recording of "ll Tempo della Semina" is in fact contemporary with their eponimus record.)

The poll is this: please pick out the three that you think are best.  It would be too cruel to ask people to pick just one out of so many great records, but to pick more than three I think would start to muddy the waters.  However I can't make the poll limit you to three so you'll have to do that yourselves kids.

Of course I hope people post something about their picks, perhaps even put them in a first-second-third order.  I'm really curious to see the outcome of this, please participate!  I'll make my picks on, oh I don't know, page five.  (It'd be great if that many people knew and loved this stuff.)

Locanda, Museo Rosenbach, and Maxophone for me... but Ys could easily replace any of those...

American Khatru wrote: Raff wrote: In my opinion, Ys stands head and shoulders above the rest - one of the greatest keyboard albums ever recorded. And to think that in Italy you can find it for under 5 euros! Anyway, if I may offer a suggestion, there is at least another one RPI one-off that deserves a mention: Pholas Dactylus' Concerto delle menti: http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=957 One word of warning, though: the vocals are very peculiar (spoken rather than sung), and the lyrics (in Italian) totally out there. The music, though, is fantastic - very heavy and dramatic, with a strong King Crimson vibe. Wish I knew it.  Awesome cover, really looks like it belongs!  Sorry.  I'll have to find that.

enjoy... one of my favorite albums from the scene...  here's the beginning... it's a 40 minute piece of music with only the break due to vinyl.  Here's the first 10.

1. Museo Rosenbach
2. Il Balleto di Bronzo
3. Semiramis

Museo Rosenbach for me. I'm jealous of Finnforest,Raff and Micky who know this genre so well.  I think i've reviewed most of these but i look forward to soaking in them if you know what i mean.

I prefer the "softer" side of RPI , so the Celeste choice was easy. Celestial!

Alberto Muñoz wrote: What about L' uovo di Colombo??? one of my favorite bands

Semiramis is perhaps the most surprising album Italy has produced. AMAZING if you consider that the influences are few, entirely original... and the average age of the band was 17!!!

Unfortunately my exposure to the one-offs of this genre is rather limited (I only own 4 of these) so I went with:

1 - Locanda Della Fate: Sure its a little cheesy and maudlin at times, I still find it very beautiful, and the first track "A volte un istante di quiete" is one of my favorite instumental songs of any genre.

2 - Maxophone: Recently got this and have only been through it a few times, but really gonna be a favorite on first blush.

3 - Museo Rosenbach: Just an all around great record, but again, a newer acquisition and only have a handful of listens under my belt.

Also have Y's, but I haven't really been able to get it yet...I'm hoping futher listens will open me up more to it.

And apparently, I have more money I gotta spend...

American Khatru wrote: micky wrote: American Khatru wrote: Raff wrote: In my opinion, Ys stands head and shoulders above the rest - one of the greatest keyboard albums ever recorded. And to think that in Italy you can find it for under 5 euros! Anyway, if I may offer a suggestion, there is at least another one RPI one-off that deserves a mention: Pholas Dactylus' Concerto delle menti: http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=957 One word of warning, though: the vocals are very peculiar (spoken rather than sung), and the lyrics (in Italian) totally out there. The music, though, is fantastic - very heavy and dramatic, with a strong King Crimson vibe. Wish I knew it.  Awesome cover, really looks like it belongs!  Sorry.  I'll have to find that. enjoy... one of my favorite albums from the scene...  here's the beginning... it's a 40 minute piece of music with only the break due to vinyl.  Here's the first 10.   Micky, I think there's something wrong here.  I appreciate your posting a YouTube link for the opening of this record and I'm dying to hear it (as may be other members).  I tried to watch it at home on my MacBook but it wouldn't start.  I thought maybe it was my internet connection to blame, so I'm trying it now at work where they have stupid fast and reliable connections.  Still no dice; that wheel just spins and spins, for like ten minutes now.

that sucks man.   Trust me... just order it. Make it your next RPI exploration haha. If you don't speak Italian .... you'll love it.