Quella Vecchia Locanda was a Roman music group formed in Monteverde in the early seventies, known for crafting progressive rock with symphonic elements. The band's initial lineup included Giorgio Giorgi on vocals and flute, Raimondo Cocco on guitar and clarinet, Patrick Traina on drums, Romualdo Coletta on bass, Donald Lax on violin, Massimo Roselli on keyboards, and Carlo Mariani on piano (who left shortly after). All members had classical musical training and a deep appreciation for baroque composers, especially Vivaldi, Bach, and Brahms. The whimsical name originated from the band's early rehearsals in an abandoned inn. Their first phase, from early 1970 to mid-1972, saw active live performances and moderate success.
In 1971, one of their pieces was selected for the progressive rock compilation titled "Progressive Voyage." Towards the end of that year, the group recorded a concert at Voom Voom in Rome, later released on CD by Mellow Records in 1993. The band's breakthrough occurred in the following year with a performance at the Villa Pamphili Pop Festival, leading to a contract with the small label Help!.
The eponymous debut album was released in 1972. With a splendid cover, it featured a melodic musical line, frequent symphonic passages enhancing dreamy and fairy-tale-like atmospheres in the themed lyrics, and occasional harder prog-style sections. Notable were the Vivaldi-inspired voice-piano phrases, and prominent instruments like the flute and electric violin played by virtuoso Donald Lax. Buoyed by the album's success, the band continued live performances, participating in events like Controcanzonissima organized by Ciao 2001 and two editions of the Avant-garde Music and New Trends Festival. In 1973, they took part in the Viterbo Pop Festival alongside artists like Alan Sorrenti and Mauro Pelosi. Meanwhile, the band underwent lineup changes, with Lax and Coletta departing and being replaced by Filice on violin and Giorgi on bass.
By 1974, the group released their second and final LP, "Il tempo della gioia," published by RCA Italiana. This album showcased a more refined sound than its predecessor, featuring a particularly melodious piano, and making various concessions to a precious style. However, despite an excellent title track, the overall reception from both the audience and critics was less enthusiastic.
Facing challenges in carving a niche in a crowded music market and the diminishing support from critics, the group eventually disbanded.
Lineup:
Giorgio Giorgi - vocals, flute (1970-1974)
Raimondo Maria Cocco - guitar, clarinet (1970-1974)
Massimo Roselli - keyboards, vocals (1970-1974)
Romualdo Coletta - bass (1970-1972)
Massimo Giorgi - bass (1974)
Patrick Traina - drums, percussion (1970-1974)
Donald Lax - violin (1970-1972)
Claudio Filice - violin (1974)
Discography:
Studio Albums
1972 - Quella Vecchia Locanda
1974 - Il tempo della gioia
Live Album
1993 - Live
Singles
1974 - Villa Doria Pamphili
1993 - Io Ti Amo
Prologo
Quella Vecchia Locanda Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Vivo in questa selva oscura che
non vedrà altra vita fuori che me
amo il mondo, ma lui odia me
il suo rifiuto vuol dire morte per me
morte per me, morte per me
vita non è certo questa...
Un vecchio rudere è casa mia
più freddo e lugubre della vita mia
e anche i vermi trovan posto là
in ogni luogo stanno, fuori che qua
fuori che qua, fuori che qua
ah... potessi ora morire.
Buio senza calore
buio senza calore
son queste mura
solo dolore
luce, ti sto cercando...
vita, ti sto inseguendo...
The song Prologo by Quella Vecchia Locanda opens with a sombre tune of la la la's that quickly sets the tone for the lyrics that follow. The singer of the song paints a picture of living in a dark forest, where he is the only inhabitant. He acknowledges his love for the world but laments the fact that it seems to hate him in return. The rejection he feels is so strong that he believes it will lead to his death. The lyrics acknowledge that life is not what the singer is currently experiencing. He lives in an old ruin that is colder and more depressing than his actual life. The only welcome inhabitants are the worms, and the singer wishes for death to come to him.
As the song progresses, the lyrics delve deeper into the darkness the singer feels. He describes his home as a place of darkness without any warmth, and the walls only bring him pain instead of any comfort. The singer longs for light and life, as he feels that he is still chasing it without any avail. The song culminates in a plea for life and light, with the singer still persistently seeking an escape from the darkness.
In conclusion, Prologo evokes intense feelings of despair and hopelessness. It uses vivid imagery to show the depths of darkness and depression that the singer feels. Despite the sombre nature of the song, its lyrics are not futile, as the singer still has hope for a better future, which shines through with his plea for life and light.
Line by Line Meaning
La, la la la la la la .....
The song begins with a wordless melody that serves as an introduction.
Vivo in questa selva oscura che
I am living in this dark forest, lonely and isolated from everything else outside of it.
non vedrà altra vita fuori che me
This forest will not witness any other life form apart from me.
amo il mondo, ma lui odia me
Despite my love for the world, it seems like the world doesn't reciprocate my feelings.
il suo rifiuto vuol dire morte per me
The rejection that I feel from the world could ultimately lead to my death.
morte per me, morte per me
Death, and the thought of it, is consuming me.
vita non è certo questa...
This can't be what life is supposed to feel like.
Un vecchio rudere è casa mia
I am living in an old ruin, and this is my home.
più freddo e lugubre della vita mia
This place is even colder and more sorrowful than my own life.
e anche i vermi trovan posto là
Even worms are able to find a place to live here.
in ogni luogo stanno, fuori che qua
These creatures can survive anywhere, except in the place I am residing in.
fuori che qua, fuori che qua
Anywhere but here, anywhere but here.
ah... potessi ora morire.
Oh, how I wish I could die right now.
Buio senza calore
Darkness with no warmth.
buio senza calore
Darkness with no warmth.
son queste mura
These walls, and the environment that they are in.
solo dolore
Are only causing me pain.
luce, ti sto cercando...
Light, I am searching for you...
vita, ti sto inseguendo...
Life, I am chasing after you...
Contributed by Victoria S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
MassiveObsession
Testi di Giacomo Dell'Orso.
Prologo – 00.00
Un villaggio, un'illusione – 04:59
Realtà – 08:53
Immagini sfuocate – 13:09
Il cieco – 16:08
Dialogo – 20:19
Verso la locanda – 24:00
Sogno, risveglio e... –29:16
Formazione
Giorgio Giorgi - voce solista, flauto, ottavino.
Raimondo Maria Cocco - chitarra elettrica, chitarra acustica, chitarra 12 corde, voce, clarinetto
Massimo Roselli - pianoforte, organo, mellotron, Moog, cetra elettronica[non chiaro], spinetta, voce
Romualdo Coletta - basso, generatore di frequenze
Patrick Traina - batteria, percussioni
Donald Lax - violino classico/elettrico
MassiveObsession
Testi di Giacomo Dell'Orso.
Prologo – 00.00
Un villaggio, un'illusione – 04:59
Realtà – 08:53
Immagini sfuocate – 13:09
Il cieco – 16:08
Dialogo – 20:19
Verso la locanda – 24:00
Sogno, risveglio e... –29:16
Formazione
Giorgio Giorgi - voce solista, flauto, ottavino.
Raimondo Maria Cocco - chitarra elettrica, chitarra acustica, chitarra 12 corde, voce, clarinetto
Massimo Roselli - pianoforte, organo, mellotron, Moog, cetra elettronica[non chiaro], spinetta, voce
Romualdo Coletta - basso, generatore di frequenze
Patrick Traina - batteria, percussioni
Donald Lax - violino classico/elettrico
lorenzo iacuzio
Che fine hanno fatto i componenti della band? Musicisti e creativi di altissimo livello, con grandi testi. Peccato che abbiano fatto solo due album insieme. GRANDI!
Ettore Ballista
@yeah yeah nn...ti...rendi...conto..ki..canta..dolore..spazio...amore...e.emarginato..e,isolato...ekko,xke...nn.sono..sbocciati...peter.poeta..per.dolore...baj. baj.b.fortuna....
yeah yeah
veramente geniali
cucù
Un salto indietro nel tempo, è l'effetto che fa ascoltando questo disco, tra i più significativi di questo genere, una piccola grande gemma del prog italiano, apprezzato molto anche all'estero.
Mister Arnauna
Che bravi, peccato che non poterono godere della "spinta" giusta! Quanti grandi artisti non ebbero il loro giusto riconoscimento anche dal punto di vista economico. Grazie MassiveObsession
Mister Arnauna
@Simone Ribas Obrigado! Ciao
Simone Ribas
Verdade Mister!!!! Apoteosi, Alphataurus, Garibaldi, Campo di Marte entre outros.
Eduardo Szuszko
Sin duda esto es lo mejor del rock sinfònico universal. Excelente
Angelo Mezzadri
Riscoprire il Prog anni 70 è fantastico. Che Gruppi avevamo.