01	Prologo						04:56
	02	Un villaggio un'illusioni						03:51
	03	Realta						04:12
	04	Immagini sfocate						02:56
	05	Il cieco						04:08
	06	Dialogo						03:39
	07	Verso la locanda						05:12
	08	Sogno, risveglio e...						05:15
	09	Villa Doria Pamphili						05:26
	10	A forma di...						04:06
	11	Il tempo della gioia						06:16
	12	Un giorno, un amico						09:40
	13	E accaduto una notte						08:17

Quella Vecchia Locanda [Italy]
Quella Vecchia Locanda (72), Il Tempo Della Gioia (74)

They released two albums, their classic self-titled debut and Il Tempo Della Gioia Much like PFM yet with more of a violin presence, their classical arrangements were rather overt yet worked beautifully making these musts for Italian collectors.

Though Quella Vecchia Locanda's first album is most often cited as the classic from their pair of releases, I have Il Tempo Della Gioia from 1974 and it's very good. The first one must be great! Il Tempo della Gioia is very pastoral which draws a comparison to Celeste's excellent Principe di un Giorno. QVL's emphasis is violin, piano, flute, clarinet, and, to some extent, vocals. There is a strong classical feel to the compositions, mainly due to the instrumentation. Some of the violin solos could be lifted from a violin concerto. Though soft and quiet at the beginning, by the half-way point the album has increased both in drive and energy. Some of the songs sound a little forced, as if they were trying to be unique without a real good idea of how to be unique. This brings the album down a notch in comparison to Celeste or PFM. If you like Celeste and want more, check out QVL. If you haven't heard either, start with Celeste. -- Mike Taylor

Quella Vecchia Locanda is the band's debut. The group includes keyboards, guitars, vocals/flute, violin, bass and drums. You can hear the classical/symphonic influences and the variety of arrangements that would later make the reputation of Italian bands. The music includes tasty parts with vocals (in Italian), guitar, violin and piano but also offers more intense moments where the sound becomes a bit raw. For Italian rock fanatics. Like many of the Italian productions of this era, Il Tempo Della Gioia offers a charming mixture of classical music, rock and jazz. The delightful arrangements usually feature piano, violin, guitar, flute and vocals (in Italian), and sometimes take on a more electric tone to the rhythms of the bass and drums. Clarinet and saxophone are also heard. The performances certainly show virtuosity and emotion but the sound maintains a lightness not typical of the usual symphonic rock. This canalso be observed when compared to their previous release. Fans of the Italian style from the '70s will want to file this one not far from their copies of PFM discs. -- Paul Charbonneau


Artist

QUELLA VECCHIA LOCANDA



1972:
Giorgio Giorgi (vocals, flute)
Raimondo Maria Cocco (guitar, vocals, clarinet)
Massimo Roselli (keyboards, vocals)
Donald Lax (violin)
Romualdo Coletta (bass)
Patrick Traina (drums, percussioni)

1974:
Lax and Coletta replaced by
Claudio Filice (violin)
Massimo Giorgi (bass, vocals)



Like Procession this band from Rome started with small Help label (a RCA subsidiary), then after two years with a new line-up changed record company, this time going to RCA.

Quella Vecchia Locanda released their first album after a successful live activity, and the LP is still regarded as a classic in its field, with an original fusion of classical influences and the use of flute and electric violin in evidence. The album starts with the nice Prologo, and though some foreign bands' influences are clear (like Jethro Tull in some flute passages), there are some great moments like in Un villaggio, un'illusione.

Second album Il tempo della gioia came after two years and a line-up change, with eclectic violinist Donald Lax replaced by Claudio Filice. The album has a better production than the first, but probably lacks its sheer enthusiasm, and is a very good album indeed with nice tracks such as the title track.

The group sadly disbanded soon after the second album leaving us two more gems both with beautiful covers.





LP
Quella Vecchia Locanda Help (ZSLH 55091) 1972 gatefold cover with top opening
Help/Contempo (NL 74528) 1988 gatefold cover with side opening
Il tempo della gioia RCA (TPL-1 1015) 1974 gatefold cover
RCA/Contempo (NL 74113) 1988 as above
Both albums have also been reissued on CD, first by RCA (ND 74528 - deleted) and Vinyl Magic (VM 054), the second on RCA/BMG (74321-26544-2)


PROMO-ONLY AND JUKEBOX SINGLES (with blank cover)
Villa Doria Pamphili
A forma di... RCA (TPBO 1031) 1974 promo white label - no cover
both tracks from Il tempo della gioia

Both QVL albums are very rare in their original form but have been reissued in late 80's by RCA with Contempo distribution, keeping the same covers as the first pressings.

Quella Vecchia Locanda had a thin gatefold cover with the record inserted from the top. The reissue has a standard gatefold cover with side opening.

No counterfeit exist. Both albums also exist in japanese and korean issues.




Quella Vecchia Locanda
Il Tempo Della Gioia
BMG (74321-26544-2)
Italy 1974

Claudio Gilice, violin;
Giorgio Giorgi, vocals, flute, piccolo;
Massima Giorgi, bass, contrabass, vocals;
Massimo Roselli, vocals, keyboards;
Patrick Fraina, vocals, drums;
Raimondo Cocco, vocals, clarinet, guitar

Tracklist:
1. Villa Doria Pamphili - 5:27
2. A Forma Di - 4:07
3. Il Tempo Della Gioia - 6:15
4. Un Giorno, un Amico - 9:39
5. E Accaduto una Notte - 8:16

total time 33:52

joe

Quella Vecchia Locanda was one of those symphonic rock bands that Italy seemed to produce by the barrel. You know the kind, with an emphasis on acoustic, stringed instruments, soft vocals, and flute. This is QVL's second album, and truth be told, I was a bit disappointed that the music wasn't as strange as the magnificently odd album cover leads you to believe. No, the sound is pretty conservative, in the accustomed Italo-symph manner.
"Villa Doria Pamphili" is perhaps the most memorable track of the album. In fact, hearing a sample of it is what sold me on its purchase in the first place. A great opener, with cascading piano arpeggios and striding phrases after each verse. Unfortunately, in my estimation, the album slowly dwindles downward from here. "A Forma Di" is a canon-like piece, with agitated string and piano passages that repeat and slowly build on each other. It's okay, but I see nothing especially interesting or novel about it. By the dynamic lapses in "Un Giorno, un Amico," I found myself ho-hummin' out, and though perhaps the album regains a bit on the last track, it's not enough. Overall, this is a decent album, and doesn't overstay its welcome being only slightly over 30 minutes in length. Though many consider it a classic of Italian prog, I would not suggest it to others as a priority.

sean

The second and final album from Italy's Quella Vecchia Locanda, Il Tempo della Gioia is another fine, if brief, slice of Romantic-era influenced progressive rock. "Villa Doria Pamphili" alternates softer, acoustic, violin-led passages with more bombastic fanfares derivative of King Crimson's "In the Court of the Crimson King". The solo piano interlude closing the track is its highlight, a reprise of an earlier theme presented in a more pleasant light. "A Forma Di..." begins with a gradual crescendo of piano, violin, acoustic guitar and flute in a similar fashion to "La Mente Vola", the stunning track from the first Alphataurus album. In this case, the crescendo leads into a High Romantic territory with clavinet (I think) and chanting. In all, an archetypical example of what separates the top-flight Italian bands from the British, with a refinement and class Emerson could only dream of.
The title track starts out like a Moody Blues knock-off before breaking into a spirited, frenetic 6/8 romp coming a bit closer to the rowdier side of the Italian family tree occupied by bands like Osanna. While it's not their strongest style of music, they pull it off quite well. "Un Giorno, Un Amico" begins with a lengthy jam serving mainly as a showcase for Claudio Filice's violin, who alternately solos over the rest of the band and plays solo when they drop out. The others get their turn; Raimondo Cocco's clarinet then gets the lead, with bass and drums, before giving away to a piano and violin duet. Finally the vocals comes in, with a lush, ballad-style, and it's hard not to be reminded of the compositional style of Banco's first album, although in this case I find it a bit more aimless. The last piece, to be honest, just floats by without leaving any lasting impression whatsoever. Sometimes overlauded, this is still a strong example of the Italian progressive rock sound, and is worth picking up for the strength of the three pieces that make up the first side.

3-30-03






Quella Vecchia Locanda


Discography
Quella Vecchia Locanda (1972)
Il Tempo Della Gioia (1973)


County Of Origin: Italy
Established: 1970
Styles: Symphonic


Biography

One of the more highly regarded of the 70s Italian symphonic groups, QVL released two albums which are both considered essential releases from that particular scene. QVL was fairly typical of the style, especially on their second album, Il Tempo Della Goia, which ranks as one of the finest examples of classical, pastoral Italian symphonic along the lines of PFM, Celeste, Alusa Fallax or Locanda Delle Fate. The first album is widely adored, being an amalgamation of early 70s hard rock and typical Mediterranean influences, but hasn't done as much for me as of yet. As far as I know, the group disappeared after the second release, though I believe a posthumous live album may be floating around. - Greg Northrup [May 2001]
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Quella Vecchia Locanda (1972)

Quella Vecchia Locanda's debut album is considered a classic of Italian progressive in some circles, and differs slightly from the more refined and classically inspired atmosphere of their second album, Il Tempo Della Goia. The most frequently made commentary on this album is the early Jethro Tull feel. There are definitely moments that come off as Tull-ish, especially considering the manic flute playing, which when combined with the chunky guitar riffs gives off a strikingly similar vibe. The hard rock feel of the album is one of its defining characteristics, and one of the reasons why its so beloved, but I definitely prefer the more distinctive and romantic feel of the subsequent release. To me, many of the structures depend too much on emphatic guitar and bass riffs, without as much surrounding complexity. Additionally, the mix suffers somewhat, as the potentially fantastic piano lines are stifled by the bass and guitar, further emphasizing the hard rock aspect over the "romantic" and pastoral potential. Still, "Prologo" is a pretty fantastic opener, utterly phenomenal melodies highlighted by violin and flute. On the other hand, "Un Villagio, Un'Illusione" is a hefty bore, pretty much a straight ahead rock song with a painfully dull main riff. The same goes for "Immagini Sfuocate" and "Il Cieco", which feature the vocalist simply singing along to the fairly boring main guitar/bass theme, although the latter does feature a fantastic instrumental interlude with some phenomenal flute playing. "Sogno, Risveglio E..." is a fine closer, a piano led piece that foreshadows the more classically inspired direction of the next album. Overall, this album is nice, but certainly not a classic. I think its worth getting, but its just not as good as Il Tempo Della Goia. - Greg Northrup [May 2001]

Click Here for Tracklist and Lineup Info
1. Prologo
2. Un Villaggio, Un'Illusione
3. Realta
4. Immagini Sfuocate
5. Il Cieco
6. Dialogo
7. Verso La Locanda
8. Sogno, Risveglio E...

Massimo Roselli - Keyboards, Vocals
Giorgio Giorgi - Vocals, Flute
Patrick Traina - Drums, Percussion
Romuldo Colleta -Bass
Raimondo Maria Cocco - Guitar, Vocals
Donald Lax - Violin

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Il Tempo Della Gioia (1973)

Il Tempo Della Gioia is Quella Vecchia Locanda's second album and is one that actually wasn't a huge priority, but when I finally got around to getting it I was definitely pleased. In many ways, this album is almost prototypical Italian prog, extremely classical and darkly romantic, with a heavy emphasis on beatiful string orchestrations. Think the folkiness of PFM mixed with the baroque classicism of Locanda Delle Fate and ability to rock out in the vein of early Jethro Tull. A great combination filled with depth and nuance that makes this album better every time I listen to it.

"Villa Doria Pamphili" is a phenomenal opening track with great vocal melodies and that build into a bombastic classical chorus riff. The second track, "A Forma Di..." is one of the best instrumentals I've ever heard, the piece is utterly gorgeous. It features an very slow lead-in into a melodic wordless vocal part, before shifting into a brilliant classical theme with churning cello (or contrabass?) rumbling away beneath a soaring violin melody. The title track is similarly brilliant, and the band tends to stretch out more on the second half of the album, created some beautiful and dynamic instrumental portions along with the style fantastic vocal melodies. This is among the finest Italian releases and I rank it among my favorites in the school of mellow, symphonic Italian prog, preferring it even to releases from such luminaries as Celeste and PFM. - Greg Northrup [2001]


1. Villa Doria Pamphili
2. A forma di...
3. Il tempo della gioia
4. Un giorno, un amico
5. E' accaduto una notte

Massimo Roselli - Keyboards, Vocals
Giorgio Giorgi - Vocals, Flute
Patrick Traina - Drums, Percussion
Massimo Giorgi -Bass
Raimondo Maria Cocco - Guitar, Vocals
Claudio Filice - Violin