BUON VECCHIO CHARLIE

BUON VECCHIO CHARLIE's one and only recording is a 30 minute journey into pure prog heaven. Interesting to note that this album's lineup was the backing group of songwriter Claudio Baglioni who received the support to record what was intended to be an instrumental album. When the record producers found out it was a progressive rock recording they shelved the lalbum and it sat dormant for a long time until it was uncovered. Lineup was Luigi Calabrò (guitar, voice), Richard Benson ( voice, guitar), Sandro Cesaroni (sax, flute), Paolo Damiani (bass guitar), Sandro Centofanti (keyboards) and Rino Sangiorgio on the drums. The album opens with an ode to norwegian composer Edward Griegs "In the hall of the mountain king" and then quickly jumps and stays in a prog jazz rock vein. Considering the age of this gem, it has been masterfully re-mastered and sounds clean and fresh. Musically BUON VECCHIO CHARLIE ebbs and flows between soft and very aggressive themes and tempos. The album is essentially one long track divided into 5 pieces. Musical allusions include JETHRO TULL and Italian cousins OSANNA with traces of Luciano Battisti. A great album and essential for lovers of 70's Italian Progressive Rock .