Artist
OFFICINA MECCANICA
Luciano Maiozzi (vocals)
Gianni Barbati (guitar)
Luigi Canini (trumpet)
Vincenzo "Bitto" Bentivegna (sax)
Randolfo Canini (bass)
Bruno Dionisi (drums)
A six-piece from near Rome, Officina Meccanica deserve a mention because judging from their Bambini innocenti single and the TV clip that was released at the time, they could have been a very important group had they ever had the chance of recording an album.
The band only released five singles, the first three on the elusive Picci label that also produced La Seconda Genesi. They mixed brass rock influences (including in the line-up a horn section) like in Stranger in his country or Signora Marisa, with a dramatic prog feeling, like in the marvellous Bambini innocenti or Un prato e poi sognare.
The band came to its end in 1978, and three of the
original members (Maiozzi, Barbati and Bentivegna) formed rock band Stazione
Termini (from the name of Rome central railway station) with three new members,
being augmented by Officina Meccanica bass player Canini in 1985.
Guitarist Gianni Barbati now plays in Genesis cover band Estro.
A nice tribute to this group has arrived in 2007 with the release of the La follia del mimo di fuoco CD, including some of the singles tracks and many unreleased recordings, that show their strength, unfortunately unnoticed at the time.
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| La follia del mimo di fuoco | BTF/AMS (AMS 116CD) | 2007 | compilation of singles tracks and unreleased recordings - mini-LP gatefold cover |
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| Signora Marisa La mia strada in periferia |
Picci (LG 3014) | 1972 | red label |
| The land of a thousand
dances Un prato e poi sognare |
Picci (LG 3020) | 1973 | red label |
| Bambini innocenti Bambini innocenti (strumentale) |
Picci (LG 3029) | 1973 | black label |
| Stranger in his country Un attimo di vita |
BASF (06-13306Q) | 1974 | |
| Amanti di ieri Insieme al sole |
Vedette (VVN 33285) | 1977 | |
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| Signora Marisa | Picci/Bla Bla (JB 102) | 1973 | jukebox single - backed with Zeudi Araya/Oltre l'acqua del fiume |
| Stranger in his country | BASF (03-17002) | 1974 | jukebox single - called Strangers in his own country on the label - backed with The Soul's Soul/Guardian angel |
| Amanti di ieri Insieme al sole |
Vedette (VVN 33285) | 1977 | promo white label single |
All the singles by Officina Meccanica are very rare, especially the first three on Picci. The third single was also included in the Meteora CD compilation privately released in 1997.
Two unreleased tracks by former Officina Meccanica members Luciano Maiozzi and Gianni Barbati have been included in 2008 in the bonus CD sold with the ItalianProg book, published by AMS/BTF.
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Signora Marisa - 7" single cover |
The land of a thousand dances - 7" single cover |
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Bambini innocenti - 7" single cover |
Strangers in this country - 7" single cover |
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Amanti di ieri - 7" single cover |
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La follia del mimo di fuoco - CD |
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Guitarist Gianni Barbati's current band Estro, a Genesis tribute band, has a website, www.estroband.it,with a full Officina Meccanica story and pictures.
