Flea - Topi o uomini 1972 (Italy, Heavy Prog)
One group that has released three albums with three different names, first as Flea in the Honey, with musicians identified only by pseudonyms English, then as Flea, and finally the name of Etna.
The group was Sicilian, but he moved to Rome, and was one of many to participate in the historic (and for that reason often mentioned in these pages) Viareggio pop festival in 1971, and later that year released their first album for ’ Delta label, with short songs, a style influenced by hard rock and totally sung in English.
The members of the group were hidden by English names, and the record company probably attempted to promote them as one of many foreign groups in search of fortune in Italy. However, there are good moments, such as Mother Mary also released as a single with Louise (my little ship) (a song also recorded by Cyan and Middle of the Road), but generally the album lacks personality.
After other live appearances, as in the Villa Pamphili festival, the group shortened its name to Flea and released a second album for Fonit, moving toward a more progressive sound.
Mice and men is a much more mature and successful previous work, with side A containing the long title track about 20 minutes and three shorter songs on side B.
The sound of the group is much more original, with good parts sung in Italian and long instrumental parts, usually dominated by guitar.
After mice or men, Elio Volpini left the group to enter the Egg of Columbus, and was replaced by Fabio Pignatelli (from the Roman group The Revelations), who played with Flea in two tours and then train the Cherry Five and then the Goblins .
The original group reformed again in 1975 under the new name of Etna, releasing a self-titled album that still marks a radical change of style.
Etna is a nice job of inspiring jazz rock, containing seven totally instrumental pieces, which show clear influences of bands like the Mahavishnu Orchestra and getting closer to the style of similar Italian bands like Nova or The Center of gravity.
Soon after the album drummer Agostino Marangolo entered the Goblin and has also had a great career as a studio musician, while Pennisi played briefly with the Mediterranean.
Tracks:
All tracks written by Antonio Marangolo and Carlo Pennisi.
01. Topi o uomini - 0:00
02. Amazzone a piedi - 20:20
03. Sono un pesce - 24:29
04. L’angelo timido - 30:57
Antonio Marangolo - Tony (vocals, keyboards, flute, harp)
Carlo Pennisi - Charlie (guitar, vocals)
Elio Volpini - Nigel (bass, guitar, vocals)
Agostino Marangolo - Dustin (drums, percussion, vocals)