Drummer reacts to "Have Your Cake and Beat It" by PFM

[@ShiverHinge]

Way Down Upon The Swanee River! Indeed, very YES-like in their reverence for beauty and emotion.

[@L33Reacts]

You the man bro! Thank you for this! I'm so glad I loved it. I knew I would. Lol

[@pauldover1403]

Italy was a hot-spot of prog. PFM were signed by ELP's Manticore label which brought them international exposure.

[@wendellwiggins3776]

PFM!!!!!!!!!!!! One of the top Pure Progbands & best innovators of the genre! Up there in the league with Genesis, ELP and Gentle Giant but Italian style!

[@PaulMDove2]

I first heard of PFM back in the day through their association with Greg Lake, and I'm most familiar with their songs released in English.
After signing to ELPs Manticore they produced versions of some of their songs with English lyrics. Not translations and probably not as good as listening to the original Italian.
I have to admit My own favorites are "Impressioni di Settembre" - "The World Became the World", plus "L'isola di niente" - "The Mountain" and "La Luna Nuova" - "Four Holes in the Ground".
There are also both Italian and English versions for:
"È Festa" - "Celebration"
"Dolcissima Maria" -"Just Look Away"
"Via Lumiere" - "Have Your Cake and Beat It"

[@martinparker1270]

Their first two Italian albums are both worth a full listen.
É Festa! is a good song to start with.

[@greenbluemonkey]

The World Became the World is another banger from PFM Not as complex, but anthematic and powerful.

[@warrenbutson349]

Got to listen to the English version of River of Life it’s beautiful and complex

[@steveowens2505]

ELP signed PFM to their Manticore label. I went to see them around 1977 opening for J Geils. They went over well even even though the bill was not same target audience

[@gregjones861]

Lee: Almost all prog fans prefer the Italian versions of the PFM albums. I'm definitely in the other camp. Not only were the English lyric versions the only way I ever got to hear of this band, but the English lyrics were written by Peter Sinfield of King Crimson and ELP lyrics fame. The English version of this particular album, called The World Became The World, is in my desert island 10 since it came out. And the track that opens that album, called The Mountain, is one of the greatest pieces of music ever made. The last section moves me like it obviously moved you. Rabbit hole away!

[@Rowenband]

I also prefer the english versions. I find them also more subtle in sound. This my second favorite PFM album after Photos of Ghosts. What a great band. And I think they are still touring.

[@gregjones861]

@@Rowenband Another classic album! I also really love Cook (live).

[@gustavogutierrez9086]

L33! I’ve been checking out and enjoying your reactions for some time and I clicked the subscribe button today. I really enjoyed your reaction to other prog rock bands but now you’re opening Pandora’s box. This story might be lore but it comes from the cousin of the violin player in the band who I knew in high school in 70s. Premiata Forneria Marconi stands for Premium Bakery Marconi. When the band first started they needed financing to produce their first gig and get better equipment and the uncle of one of the band members agreed to finance them as long as the Sy n corporate the name of his business “Forneria Marconi” into the name of the band. And there you have it. As shown in other posts, their albums Storia di un Minuto, Per un Amico, and L’isola di Niente are masterpieces. Enjoy the journey and thank you for a great and authentic reaction every time. The appreciation continues once I fade into the great gig in the sky

[@ta2gypsy]

yes!!! reminds me of Zappa

[@SANPARR1]

Excellent band representing Italian Progressive Rock, Per un Amico, Storia di Un Minuto and L'Isola Di Niente - Masterpiece.

[@warrenbutson349]

And like the other guy said pure fans prefer Italian versions but for me I love the English ones way more and this is the versions that got them fame in uk and USA big time for a couple of years 73-4

[@wowwhywow]

OK... if I had to pick ONE SONG from PFM... surprisingly... it would be one of the songs that exists only in english, and that would be HARLEQUIN...from chocolate kings.

[@wowwhywow]

there ARE chorus vocals at the very end.

[@michaelreich9714]

Wore the grooves smooth on this LP. Next song, "Is My Face On Straight".

[@jamespaivapaiva4460]

Thanks Shiverhinge. Had to wait years to get this and ended up downloading it. Love this record!

[@89lozzi]

PFM, Banco del mutuo soccorso, Le Orme... Extremely talented bands.
I would recommend Area too: they were something special, going beyond prog and jazz/fusion and into vocal experimentation with their singer Demetrio Stratos. Their bassist (Djivas) went to PFM after the first album.

[@richardkarbowski5224]

The first 2 Area albums are great (Arbeit Macht Frei and Crac!). if you want a more current band that wears their Area influence on their sleeves, check out Deus Ex Machina. The singer sings manly in Latin, not Italian (and sounds a lot like Stratos), and band is smoking.

[@Rowenband]

I didn't know Patrick Djivas played with Area. Now I have to dig into that band.

[@89lozzi]

@@Rowenband Only their first album. They became more experimental after Djivas and the sax player left.

[@89lozzi]

Still love Area's later albums

[@Rowenband]

@@89lozzi Yes me too !!!

[@ronlyster5667]

Lee, as a drummer you need to check out "Cheap Sunglasses" by ZZ Top. Super deep pocket!!

[@adrianoamatucci989]

Alcuni musicisti della PFM iniziarono a incidere dischi con il gruppo i Quelli (intorno all'anno 1965).
Stanchi di fare cover di musiche di altri (soprattutto), decisero di fare i session man per chiunque pagasse.
Erano bravissimi e ben presto, con ore ed ore di musica nelle mani capirono che era arrivato il loro momento.
Il rock progressivo all'italiana era pronto ad essere conosciuto, non solo in Italia. Il caso volle ( in verità qualcuno....) che Greg Lake passando per Milano....
Saluti da Roma.

[@lucaverdecchia7919]

Alphataurus band 1973 Dopo l'uragano

[@FireMunki63]

Le Orme is well worth a listen. Some incredible stuff by them. Been lucky to spend time with PFM when they were in Japan, sharing meals with them. They are an amazing group of individuals.

[@Rowenband]

Yes Lee you have to dig into this band more deeply. This is far from their best compositions, although it's a very great piece. Try River of Life, Photos of Ghosts, The World Became the World and also a forgotten piece : Sea of Memories with Peter Hammill on vocals : czcams.com/video/Jv4TAGYUzYo/video.html

[@francobrombal5023]

Sublime! (same word in english and in italian).

[@L33Reacts]

Perfect word for this 👌 I didn't know it was the same! That's awesome.

[@stephentarry4475]

You need schroooms bro to get the full benefit.... Peace and Love....

[@raymondregis6219]

Nothing to see here folks. Just a hybrid of Gentle Giant, ELP, Tull and King Crimson. WOW.

[@richardkarbowski5224]

With pretty much all of the Italian prog bands, the Italian vocal versions are better than the English ones. The Big 3: PFM, Banco del Muteo Soccorso and Le Orme are worth checking out, but for a serious brain melt check out Il Balletto di Bronzo-YS. There are also a ton of excellent current Italian prog bands but I digress. The first 2 PFM albums, Storia Di Un Minuto and Per Un Amico are masterpieces IMO.

[@L33Reacts]

I didn't even realize there was a difference till the end 😳 but I picked up on it eventually lol thanks Wikipedia 😒