COOK [AKA: LIVE IN THE USA]

This album, along with "Chocolate Kings" was my introduction to the music of Premiata Forneria Marconi. After finding both albums together in a used record store, it would be years before I located any other albums by this fantastic band.

This album does a nice job of showcasing the talents of PFM, who appeared to use a foundation built primarily on the music of Yes and Genesis, and use that to crate a style of their own.

Every musician plays excellently, but I am particularly impressed when Mauro Pagani plays a violin solo that rivals Jean-Luc Ponty. The best tracks are Four Holes In The Ground, and Alta Loma Nine Till Five, which turns into a nice rendition of Rossini's William Tell Overture.

As it was for me, I recommend this as an introduction to PFM.