I LEONI - La Foresta

BMG Sony Italy 2009 180gr. Numbered Edition No.0277
A little known group, I Leoni, from Tortona (Piemonte, north-west Italy), had a short career that has just left us two singles and an album, all produced between 1970 and 1971.
They were a trio, led by keyboardist/singer Carlo Riccardi, but all their compositions were by another Riccardi, Enrico, that was not a member of the group and was later an important producer (with popular italian artists like Patty Pravo and Loredana Bertè).

Despite being mostly in the melodic prog field, the ten-track album includes some good instrumental breaks, like in the hypnotic Lo Stregone (with organ, percussion and latin-sung vocals in a Jacula style) and interesting progressive arrangements like in Jena Ridens or the closing Il Tramonto.

1 L'Alba (3:10)
2 Il Rinoceronte (4:35)
3 Jena Ridens (2:26)
4 Lo Stregone (3:51)
5 L'Incendio (3:38)
6 Le Scimmie (3:00)
7 La Rugiada (2:47)
8 Le Giraffe (4:09)
9 Sesso (2:58)
10 Il Tramonto (3:25)

Backing Vocals - Wanda Radicchi
Bass, Guitar, Vocals - Giorgio Borgarelli
Drums - Pierluigi Bertolini
Keyboards, Vocals - Carlo Riccardi
Written-By, Producer - Enrico Riccardi