Artist
VARIOUS ARTISTS' COMPILATIONS
While the compilation LP's have always been very popular in Italy since the early sixties, the rock and progressive scene of the 70's didn't produce many interesting titles, especially for what unreleased material is concerned.
Below there is a small number of various artists' LP's
and CD's with (where available) recording details and track listings.
Along with official releases, even two “private pressing” CD’s have been
included, being the first (and probably the best) of a long list of rarities’
compilations created by collectors, and among the very few to have been released
in multiple, numbered copies.
PIPER 2000
LP - ARC ALPS 11020 - 1969
A nice beat/pop compilation, this includes an unreleased track by The Trip, Bolero blues. Also interesting because it includes some British artists that had a successful career in Italy, Mal (from the Primitives), Camel, The Senate.
The
Trip - Bolero blues All studio recordings, many of these were released on singles. |
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PIPER POP
PARTY
LP - RCA PSL 10487 - 1970
(also on CD RCA/BMG 74321 36426-2 - 1997)
Another beat/pop compilation, this includes
two tracks by The Trip from their first album, Incubi and Riflessioni. Three of the tracks are also included on other
RCA/Arc compilations mentioned here.
The LP was issued in promotional form, allegedly in 2000 copies, to promote the Piper 2000 club in Viareggio, which appears on the cover.
The 1997 CD was released in a limited
numbered issue and is now difficult to find.
The
Trip - Incubi All studio recordings, many of these were released on singles. The two tracks by The Trip were also included in their first LP. |
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SOUND '70
MC - RCA LPK 21105 - 1970
One of just two cassette-only releases included in this page, Sound '70 is a rare compilation, very important because it includes the first recordings ever released by Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, which were later reissued on vinyl only in 1989. Along with these, the compilation, one of many issued by RCA with a rather dull artwork, contains an interesting selection of tracks by Balletto di Bronzo, The Trip and The Showmen.
It's likely, but not confirmed, that Sound '70 was also issued on 8-track cartridge.
The
Trip - Visioni dell'aldilà All studio recording, many of them had already been issued on LP or on singles. |
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COLLEZIONE NUMERO UNO
LP - Numero Uno ZSLN 55012 - 1970
(also on LP Numero Uno/Sony Music
01943 97967 418 - 2020)
One of many samplers issued by record companies to promote their artists, this is rather rare in its original form but significant because it was reissued to launch the newly-born Numero Uno in 2020.
Formula 3 - Io ritorno solo All tracks taken from singles. |
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TERZO
CANALE - AVVENTURA A MONTECARLO
LP - RCA PSL 10485 - 1970
Released as soundtrack of the eponymous film, the album is worth mentioning because it includes some good tracks, only available on singles, by The Trip (that are the main characters in the film) and New Trolls, along with some mainstream pop.
New
Trolls - Il nulla e la luce All studio recordings, many of these were
released on singles. |
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AL FESTIVAL
POP VIAREGGIO 1971
LP - Ariston AR/LP 12053 - 1971
Usually considered one of the most
important festivals of the time, the 1st "Festival d'Avanguardia e Nuove
Tendenze", held in Viareggio in June 1971 was used by Ariston
as a title for this LP aimed at promoting some of the label's progressive
artists. In fact the LP offers a very limited
picture of the festival, only including three groups.
The Nuova
Idea track, the side-long Come, come, come was also included in
the group's first album, In the beginning, released the same month as this
compilation, while tracks by Stormy Six
(with La manifestazione, a concert
favourite, here in a longer different version than on their second album L'unità) and
I Top 4 (2 of the 3 songs
included) are unreleased.
Particularly interesting are the tracks by I Top 4, a group that had only
released three commercial singles in 1970-71 on Victory label; the three tracks
included here could have been the start of a new career, but the band
disappeared from the musical scenes.
Nuova
Idea - Come, come, come All studio recordings, the Nuova
Idea track was
also released on their first album In the beginning, while Immagine
by I Top 4 was also on a Victory single. |
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NUOVI
COMPLESSI D'AVANGUARDIA DA RADIO MONTECARLO
LP - Fonit LPQ 09060 - 1971
A very rare compilation dedicated by Fonit
to Radio Montecarlo, a very important source of good music for Italian fans.
This popular radio station organised a rock contest for unknown artists in 1971
and some of the bands that took part in it were featured in this compilation,
most of them with otherwise unreleased tracks. The only well known band in this
album are Delirium
(still in their beginnings back in 1971) with their first
single Canto di Osanna, but there are some very interesting moments like Nel
giardino di Tamara by La Quinta Faccia or the 8-minute long Mi è cascato
addosso by Le Macchine per Sognare with an extended organ-led instrumental part.
Delirium
- Canto di Osanna All studio recordings, the tracks by Delirium, Le Macchine per Sognare, Jimmy M.E.C. were also released as singles. |
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O.K.COMPLESSI
MC - IRT TS5 20 - 1971
Another cassette-only compilation (but an 8-track cartridge also exists with no. I8T 120) for the unknown IRT label, connected with other minor companies such as Ventotto, Cooper, Grand Prix.
O.K.complessi (not to be confused with another with a similar name, OK complessi, issued on LP in 1972 by CBS and featuring I Pooh, I Profeti, I Califfi, I Camaleonti, The Tremeloes and Christie) is a very rare and interesting compilation including many tracks from singles (though some of them credited to other artists) and some unreleased covers of British groups' tracks.
Alta Società - Occhi chiari Most tracks here were released in 1971 on singles. Only three of them were unreleased: Black sheep of the family, Up on the ground (both remakes from Quatermass' LP) and In the wake of Poseidon, a cover of the King Crimson's track. |
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TARZAN
LP - Bla Bla BOP 90001 - 1972
(also on CD Artis ARCD 043 - 1992
and CD BTF/Vinyl Magic VM120 - 2007)
Conceived as a budget price sampler of the
newly born Bla Bla label, the Tarzan compilation has
gradually become one of the rarest and most expensive items on that collectible
label. It includes singles tracks by the likes of Capsicum
Red and Osage Tribe along with the lesser
known Well's Fargo and
Black Sunday Flowers.
Whether the compilation is worth the high price demanded is up to you, the CD
reissue is much cheaper.
A new CD reissue on BTF, with gatefold mini-LP cover and 6 bonus tracks, has
been released in 2007 to replace the old Artis re-edition, which was now
impossible to find.
Capsicum
Red - Tarzan bonus tracks (only on CD reissue by BTF): All the tracks by Capsicum
Red, Well's Fargo and Black Sunday
Flowers came from singles released by Bla Bla. |
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FREE
DIMENSION
LP - RCA CKAY 27134-
1973
A sampler of most avantgarde-oriented RCA
releases, Free Dimension included tracks by four bands, the Italian Living
Music, N.A.D.M.A. and Perigeo
and the international group Brainticket
that was based in Italy at the time.
Not too rare to find and including tracks already on the LP's, this album is
interesting because it has a newspaper cover in the same style as Jethro Tull's Thick
as a brick.
Living
Music - Haiku All the tracks come from the albums released by the above artists on RCA in 1972-73. |
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TRIANON '75
- DOMENICA MUSICA
2 LP - RCA TCM2-1178 - 1975
A mid-price double album with gatefold
cover, this included all live recordings (all in mono and not great sound
quality) taken from a series of concerts held at Rome's Trianon in 1975 to
promote young artists.
Some of these have since then become very popular (Antonello Venditti, Lucio
Dalla, Paolo Conte, Ron that was then known as Rosalino Cellamare, Francesco De
Gregori, the late Rino Gaetano), others disappeared with no trace. There's very
little rock or prog in this compilation, but some interesting jazz-rock tracks
by the likes of Perigeo and Toni
Esposito and a good appearance by Stradaperta
both on their own and as backing musicians for a young Antonello Venditti.
Perigeo
- Via Beato Angelico All unreleased live recordings. |
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PARCO
LAMBRO
LP - Laboratorio LB/LP 201 - 1976
CD - Stampa Alternativa RP02 - 2005 (sold with book Area - Musica e
rivoluzione)
Taken from the 6th edition of the
"Festa del proletariato giovanile" organized in Milan, at Parco Lambro in
June 1976 by the Re Nudo magazine, the album is a faithful document of what open-air festival were about
in mid 70's, with strong political contents going over the music. Included are
some good rock and prog tracks (Sensations' Fix, Ricky Gianco,
Eugenio Finardi),
folk (Taberna Mylaensis and Canzoniere del Lazio), jazz-rock (Area,
Toni Esposito
and Agorà),
protest songs (Carrozzone) and avantgarde (Paolo Castaldi), with the musical
tracks being separated by spoken extracts from the meetings held on the four
days of the festival. The result is very fragmented and can be boring at times
for the rock fans.
The album was only reissued on CD in 2005, with a different cover, as a free
bonus with Gianpaolo Chiarichò's book Area - Musica e rivoluzione (see Books
page)
Ricky Gianco - Questa
casa non la mollerò All unreleased live recordings. |
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1979:
IL CONCERTO
2 LP - Cramps 5203 001 - 1979
(also on 2 LP Cramps/De Agostini 5203 001 - 2018,
CD Akarma AK 1026 - 2002 and Edel CRA0136532 - 2002
and on 2CD+DVD box set Edel CRS BOX 001 - 2009)
Organised to raise funds to help Area's
singer Demetrio
Stratos in his expensive treatments against his illness, the concert became a
tribute to the singer after his sudden death.
Held in Milan, at Arena Civica on
14th June 1979, it was attended by around 60,000 people.
Many of the artists were last minute additions to the concert set, and the
overall feeling coming from both the double LP and the TV broadcast released at
the time is of an improvised happening. Once again, as in the Parco
Lambro LP, the musical contents seem to play a minor part, in this case against the
sadness that emerges from many artists' exhibitions.
Kaos Rock
- Basta basta All unreleased live recordings. |
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RACCOMANDATO DI VINILE
LP - L'Orchestra OLPS 55555 - 1981
A rare and little-known label sampler especially made by L'Orchestra for radio stations to promote some of the Italian artists signed to the label, along with the international group Art Bears. All the tracks come from LP's except Uccellin del bosco by Picchio Dal Pozzo, only issued on a rare flexi-disc included with the early copies of their second LP Abbiamo tutti i suoi problemi.
| Art Bears -
Moeris, dancing Art Bears - Rats and monkeys Mamma Non Piangere - Un cactus nel bidè Stormy Six - Pianeta Picchio Dal Pozzo - La sgargianza Picchio Dal Pozzo - Uccellin del bosco Alessandro Carrera - Piazza S.Ambrogio Strumentoconcerto - La ville de La Rochelle Ensemble Havadià - El kolo go balà All the tracks are taken from LP's and singles. |
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70-74-90
CD - Vinyl Magic VMBOOK01 - 1990
A rare to find beautiful CD compilation that was included with one of the first pressings of Paolo Barotto's book Il ritorno del pop italiano, and sadly never reissued.
| Gli
Alluminogeni - Orizzonti lontani Panna Fredda - Strisce rosse Free Love - Sandy Zauber - Musica Dalton - La donna e il bambino Panna Fredda - Delirio Officina Meccanica - Amanti di ieri Gli Alluminogeni - L'alba di Bremit Panna Fredda - Una luce accesa troverai Free Love - Il tempo di pietra Dalton - Il vuoto Officina Meccanica - Insieme al sole Panna Fredda - Vedo lei All tracks from singles and unreleased on LP. |
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PROGRESSIVE
VOYAGE
CD - Mellow MMP 164 - 1993
An out of print sampler from Mellow, mixing old and new Italian prog artists, this includes, among the others, the rare Dietro Noi Deserto (Antonius Rex) single tracks.
Quella
vecchia locanda - Io ti amo |
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FIRENZE
SOGNA
CD - Materiali Sonori MA.SO.90055 - 1993
(also on 2 LP Spittle SPITTLE98 - 2019)
A compilation CD with an accompanying book
on the evolution of rock in Florence since the 70's, this mainly concentrates on
the late 70's-early 80's new wave scene but also includes tracks by Sensations'
Fix and Bella Band.
Reissued as double LP in 2019, without the book.
Sensations'
Fix - Music is painting in the hair |
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PROGRESSO ITALIANO
CD - Sony/Columbia 50997 47565 328 - 1994
A not particularly interesting compilation, which includes album and singles tracks, this is aimed at beginners on their first approach to the Italian Prog style. It was also released on cassette at the time.
Premiata Forneria Marconi - Impressioni di settembre |
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PROGRESSIVE
ROCK
CD - Vinyl Magic VM 058 - 1995
A compilation of singles' tracks from Ariston archives, this CD compilation can be your only chance to hear some very good tracks like the debut singles by Nuova Idea and Claudio Rocchi.
Claudio
Rocchi - I cerchi |
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BEAT POP
CD - Vinyl Magic VM 059 - 1995
Mostly beat, this CD compilation also includes some early singles by Stormy Six.
Equipe
84 - Vai amore vai |
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METEORA
CD - Private pressing MTRC 9701 - 1997
If this compilation could ever have a
commercial release it would be a great seller!
For sure one of the best singles compilation ever made on the Italian prog, this
includes such beautiful and rare cuts as Lydia e gli
Hellua Xenium's first single, Bambini innocenti by Officina
Meccanica, Autostrada by New Trolls,
the singles by
I Fholks (later Reale Accademia di
Musica) and
Le Aquile.
Released in just 50 hand numbered copies, it was sold at record fairs around 1997-98.
In 2021 a limited reissue was released, in 70 numbered copies with a mini-LP gatefold cover with colour artwork; this was replicated in 2022 with a cassette issue, again in 70 numbered copies.
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I Maya - Salomon I Maya - Yucatan Lydia e gli Hellua Xenium - Guai a voi! Lydia e gli Hellua Xenium - Invocazione I Fholks - Mi scorri nelle vene I Fholks - Cerchi Le Aquile - Il tuo splendido amore Le Aquile - Agnus dei The Underground Set - Una lettera The Underground Set - Libitum Il Punto - È il mio mondo Il Punto - Ragazzi che scappano Officina Meccanica - Bambini innocenti Officina Meccanica - Bambini innocenti (strum.) I Salis - Chissà se la luna ha una mamma I Salis - Cronaca di una cosa New Trolls - Autostrada New Trolls - Il nulla e la luce De De Lind - Signore dove va? De De Lind - Torneremo ancora All tracks are from singles and unavailable on LP. |
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SENZA
TEMPO NOI
CD - Totem 01 - 1998
Another ultrarare private compilation of singles'
tracks,
released in only 35 numbered copies with an individually hand-painted cover,
like Meteora this has never been repressed.
Though this compilation includes mostly unknown bands compared to the previous
one, there are some great rarities like the Antonius
Rex/Invisible Force single.
| La Bottega del Fabbro - Perché tu non vuoi La Bottega del Fabbro - Solo con te Invisible Force - Morti vident Invisible Force - 1999 mundi finis Theodoro Re dei Poeti - Jumbo rock Theodoro Re dei Poeti - Preparati bambina Crema - Sei sempre tu Crema - Se io fossi Anonima Sound - Io prendo amore Anonima Sound - Cerchi Paradiso di Robots - Paradiso di robot Paradiso di Robots - Non si torna indietro I Vermi - Collina (pt.I) I Vermi - Collina (pt.II) Ora Esatta - Confilandia Ora Esatta - Giostra infame Scala Mercalli - Una come te Scala Mercalli - Una donna Reattori Caldi - Il mio cuore è un reattore Cugini di Campagna - Hallo cousins All tracks are from singles and unavailable on LP. |
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QUELLI DELLA NUMERO UNO
10 CD - BMG/Numero Uno CFD01080 - 1999
A nice 10 CD box set dedicated to the popular label, it contains tracks from singles and LP's and surely deserves a reissue.
This was in fact the CD version of an old series of 10 compilations that only appeared on cassette and 8-track between the end of 1970 and 1974. The artwork, even in the 1999 CD reissue, is very limited and with no information on the artists, but the musical quality is very high, though not all strictly progressive.
Formula 3 - Questo folle sentimento All the tracks were already issued on singles and LP's. |
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POP
VILLA PAMPHILI
2 CD - RCA 7432 195067 2 - 2002
Though the Italian major companies have never shown much interest in their old
70's rock and prog releases, it seems that, from time to time, they find out to
have in their archives something that can help them to sell.
This seems the reason why RCA/BMG have released this
"Greatest Hits of the Italian Prog" compilation, officially to
celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Villa Pamphili Pop Festival held in Rome
on 25-27 May, 1972.
Along with a few foreign groups like Van Der Graaf Generator and Hawkwind,
around 50 of the best Italian artists of that time played in that festival,
that's still considered as one of the best ever held in Italy.
This compilation includes 32 tracks,
mostly taken from LP's, and even a couple of hidden treasures that only appeared
on (now very rare) singles, like Finché le braccia diventino ali by
I Krel (before they changed their name to Premiata
Forneria Marconi), and the only singles by I Fholks and
I Fiori di Campo.
Apart from these, the 2-CD set (sold in Italy at half price) is not essential
for the prog collector, but a great starting point for the beginner.
The 16-page booklet contains little relevant information on the festival and no pictures at all; the notes on the artists included (written in Italian only) contain many errors.
| Banco del Mutuo Soccorso -
R.I.P. (Requiescant
in pace) Il Balletto di Bronzo - Eh eh ah ah The Trip - Una pietra colorata New Trolls - Autostrada Festa Mobile - La corte di Han Acqua Fragile - Morning comes Cervello - Melos Perigeo - Fata Morgana Quella Vecchia Locanda - Villa Doria Pamphili Capitolo 6 - Grande spirito Hunka Munka - Fino a non poterne più I Krel - Finché le braccia diventino ali Osanna - L'uomo Museo Rosenbach - L'ultimo uomo J.E.T. - Il prete e il peccatore Premiata Forneria Marconi - Impressioni di settembre Il Volo - Il calore umano Biglietto per l'Inferno - Confessione Reale Accademia di Musica - Il mattino I Fholks - Mi scorri nelle vene Napoli Centrale - Campagna Rovescio della Medaglia - La mia musica Area - Luglio, Agosto, Settembre (nero) Fiori di Campo - Fuori città Gli Alluminogeni - La stella di Atades Nuova Idea - Svegliati Edgar Pierrot Lunaire - Ouverture XV Delirium - Canto di Osanna Raccomandata con Ricevuta di Ritorno - Su una rupe Semiramis - Luna park Jumbo - Dio è Le Orme - Sguardo verso il cielo All tracks are from albums and some from singles. No unreleased tracks. |
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PROGRESSIVAMENTE
1973-2003
CD - Progressivamente GMP 002 - 2004
A beautiful compilation from the Progressivamente
label, containing all unreleased tracks, though some of these are already known
in different versions, and a few real treasures, like Luna park from a
Semiramis acetate. Also included some more recent Italian artists like Ezra
Winston and Virtual Dream.
The CD is housed in a very nice cover by
Osanna's singer Lino Vairetti, and contains a detailed booklet with
rare pictures and information, in Italian and English. That's how prog
compilations should be always made!!
| Gianni Leone - Frammenti
di Ys Metamorfosi - Porta dell'inferno/Caronte/Spacciatore di droga Sinfonia - La follia che diventa realtà Osanna - Non sei vissuto mai Ezra Winston - The painter and the king Hydro - Worry Alberomotore - Capodanno '74 Metamorfosi - Mururoa Vittorio De Scalzi - La storia dei New Trolls - La prima goccia bagna il viso Virtual Dream - Frengo Leo Nero - Il castello (English version) Semiramis - Luna park All unreleased tracks. |
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ROCK PROGRESSIVO ITALIANO
CD - Amarkord/Mediane AMD 5003 - 2006
Compilation included in the book by Paolo Barotto and Marco
d'Ubaldo Rock progressivo italiano - The complete discography and
presented in a very nice package. The cover has a painting by Walter Mac
Mazzieri, author, among other things of the cover design for Uomo di pezza
by Le Orme.
No unreleased tracks in the CD, but an interesting oddity is a track by
Motowns, from their last album,
issued in 1971.
| Osanna - Vado
verso una meta Delirium - Deliriana New Trolls - Venti o cent'anni Quella Vecchia Locanda - Il cieco Raccomandata Ricevuta Ritorno - Un palco di marionette Area - Gioia e rivoluzione Panna Fredda - Scacco al re Lot Le Orme - Gioco di bimba Procession - Ancora una notte Metamorfosi - Sfruttatori Genco Puro & Co. - Nebbia Osage Tribe - Arrow head Libra - Shock Cherry Five - Country grave-yard Motowns - A trip around the world All tracks already issued on LP or single. |
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ITALIAN PROG BONUS CD
CD - AMS/BTF AMS100 - 2008
Sold as a bonus CD with the first 500 copies of the Italian Prog book, taken from this website, this compilation includes 19 mostly unreleased tracks, along with some rarities from singles.
Raccomandata con
Ricevuta di Ritorno - Io e lui pt.1 All unreleased tracks, except the ones by E.A.Poe (Jaws, main title & Jaws, end title), Gli Esseri, Latitudine 45, taken from singles. |
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ARTISTI PER RE NUDO
CD - Vololibero VL1002CD - 2010
This is included in the Re Nudo Pop & altri festival box set, that also contains a book by Matteo Guarnaccia and the DVD Alpe del Viceré 1973 e Re Nudo.
Simon Luca & L'Enorme Maria - Miss Rebel Tutti brani inediti registrati tra il 2003 e il 2010, ad eccezione di quelli di Battiato (1970), Claudio Rocchi (1972), Donatella Bardi (anni '70) e Martin & Jutta (ex-Analogy, 1978). |
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THIS IS ITALIAN PROGRESSIVE ROCK
LP - TIP 001 - 2010
A vinyl compilation of unknown origin, that contains eleven tracks taken from singles and a few alternate versions of already recorded songs. The album was allegedly issued in 600 numbered copies (300 on black vinyl, 300 on red vinyl) but some unnumbered copies exist.
Officina Meccanica - Bambini innocenti The Balletto di Bronzo songs are in the Spanish-sung version. |
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PROG EXHIBITION - 40 anni di musica immaginifica
7 CD + 4 DVD - Immaginifica/Edel ARS IMM 1004 - 2011
A box set with CD's and DVD's taken from the concerts held in Rome on November 5-6, 2010.
Sinestesia - The birth, the death, trance by the river All the tracks are recorded live. |
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PROG EXHIBITION 2 - Il festival della musica immaginifica
2 CD - Immaginifica/Edel ARS IMM 1010 - 2012
2-CD boxset taken from the concerts held in Rome on October 20-21, 2011.
Stereokimono - Zone d'ombra All the tracks are recorded live. |
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PROGRESSIVAMENTE STORY 1970-2014
2 CD - Sony Music 88875 00544 2 - 2014
A mixed quality double CD compilation containing some rarities and unreleased recordings by 70's and contemporary groups, released by Sony Music to promote a series of 30 Italian prog album reissues.
Some tracks deserve a mention: both sides from the Fholks' only single and Bambini innocenti by Officina Meccanica in its integral version, but there are also some tracks from the 1979: il concerto album and others already issued on CD.
Fholks - Cerchi |
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PROGRESSIVAMENTE
1974-2019
CD - Progressivamente/Mondadori GMP 004 - 2019
Like the previous compilations with the Progressivamente logo, this collects tracks by old and new Italian progressive artists. The recordings are mostly from the 2000's, with an exception for Opus Avantra’s Il pavone, and some of them already appeared on the Progressivamente 1973-2003 CD.
The CD has a mini-LP gatefold cover and was sold through newsagents as part of a series of 25 CD’s called Prog Italia. Il Rock Degli Anni ’70.
Saint Just & Alan Sorrenti - Vorrei incontrarti |
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Thanks to Franco Oriolo for pictures and information on the Sound '70 cassette and to Alessandro Cristini for pictures and information on the O.K. complessi cassette
