Banco del Mutuo Soccorso is an Italian rock band. A popular progressive rock band in the 1970s, they continued making music in the 1980s and 1990s. Recently, they were still active, playing live in 2001 and 2008 at NEARfest. Their charismatic frontman, Francesco Di Giacomo, died in 2014.
History
Inspired by progressive rock acts from England, in particular Gentle Giant, Jethro Tull and Emerson, Lake & Palmer, keyboardists Vittorio Nocenzi and his brother Gianni founded Banco del Mutuo Soccorso in Rome, Italy. They later recorded their eponymous debut in 1972, soon to be followed by Darwin!, and in 1973 Io sono nato libero. Right from the start the most striking features of their sound was the complex texture provided by the piano, Hammond organ and synthesizers played by the Nocenzi brothers, plus the original vocals delivered by Francesco Di Giacomo. A careful balance of electronic and acoustic instruments, plus the use of reeds (played by some of the members of the band, in addition to their usual instrument), made the sound of Banco increasingly original and innovative, with a blend of rock, jazz and classical music which did not however forsake the Italian melodic tradition.
Banco del Mutuo Soccorso is the eponymous debut album by Italian progressive rock band Banco del Mutuo Soccorso. The cover of the original vinyl was shaped like a piggy bank; a slit was extracted from a strip of cardboard with the faces of the members of the group. The image on the cover is by illustrator Mimmo Mellino.
Track listing
Music by Vittorio Nocenzi. Lyrics by Vittorio Nocenzi and Francesco Di Giacomo.
- ... passo dopo passo ...
- ... chi ride e chi geme ...
- ... coi capelli sciolti al vento ...
- Compenetrazione
- ... step by step ...
- ... people laugh and groan ...
- ... her hair loose in the wind ...
- Interpenetration